The influence of selected chemical compounds used in winter road maintenance on the active capillarity of soils

Purpose

Winter road maintenance involves the use of various chemical compounds which affect the active capillarity of soils. The main goal of the study was to determine a model to predict changes in the active capillarity of soils using distilled water and water solutions of chemical compounds which are used in winter road maintenance. The purpose of the first part of the experiment was to determine a model to predict changes in the height of capillarity rise and the rate of capillary rise with time. The second part of the experiment investigated how water solutions of selected chemical compounds altered the soils’ active capillarity as determined using distilled water.

Materials and methods

The research was carried out on three soils from deposits in west-central Poland, and their separated fractions. Active capillarity was investigated with the use of distilled water and 5 and 10 % solutions of ten chemical compounds used in winter road maintenance. The rate and height of capillary rise were measured in transparent vertical tubes, placed vertically in a glass tank into which the distilled water or solutions of chemical compounds were poured.

Results and discussion

The rate of capillary rise was decreasing as a function of time. After the first part of the experiment had been completed, an analysis was made of the statistical fit between the experimental data for capillary rise of distilled water in the studied soils and soil fractions, and the model described by the formula $ h(t) = {h_1} + {v_1} \times ln(t) $ , where h ₁ denoted the height of capillary rise in the first second, v ₁ denoted the rate of capillary rise, and t denoted time. High determination coefficients indicated a good fit of the model to the experimental data. In the second part of the study, it was found that solutions of chemical compounds caused a reduction in the active capillarity of the studied soils relative to the capillarity determined using distilled water. It was possible to determine a capillarity coefficient w _k so as to compare the capillary rises in soil of distilled water and of the various chemical compounds in 5 and 10 % solution. Analysis of the results showed that the capillarity coefficient w _k is a characteristic feature which depends on the type and concentration of the chemical subject to capillary action and on the type and fraction of soil.

Conclusions

The active capillarity of soil depends on the type and concentration of the capillary fluid such as distilled water or water solutions of chemical compounds used in winter road maintenance and other factors. The relation between the height of capillary rise h and time t can be described using the formula $ h(t) = {h_1} + {v_1} \times \ln (t) $ . The water solutions of chemical compounds used in winter road maintenance caused a reduction in the active capillarity of the studied soils relative to the capillarity determined using distilled water. It was found that the susceptibility of soil to capillary rise can be determined based on the capillarity coefficient w _k . This coefficient depends on the type and concentration of the chemical compound in the soil and on the soil type and fraction. The effect of these factors can be accounted for using the formula $ h(t) = {w_k} \times {h_1} + {w_k} \times {v_1} \times ln(t) $ .     

Anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of a 1:1 mixture of propofol and thiopental sodium in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of a 1:1 (vol:vol) mixture of propofol and thiopental sodium with either drug used alone in dogs. DESIGN: Randomized crossover study. ANIMALS: 10 healthy Walker Hounds. PROCEDURE: Dogs received propofol (6 mg/kg [2.7 mg/lb] of body weight), thiopental (15 mg/kg [6.8 mg/lb]), or a mixture of propofol (6 mg/kg) and thiopental (15 mg/kg) at 1-week intervals. Drugs were slowly administered i.v. over 90 seconds or until dogs lost consciousness. Increments of 10% of the initial dose were administered until intubation was possible. Amount of drug required for intubation, quality of induction and recovery, times from induction to intubation and to walking with minimal ataxia, and duration of intubation and lateral recumbency were recorded. Heart and respiratory rates, mean, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin saturation of oxygen (SpO2), and end-tidal CO2 concentration (ETCO2) were determined before and after intubation. RESULTS: Amounts of propofol and thiopental required to permit intubation were less, but not significantly so, when administered in combination than when administered alone. Duration of lateral recumbency and time from induction to walking were greater and recovery quality was worse in the thiopental group, compared with the other groups. Dogs in all groups remained normotensive. Respiratory rate, heart rate, ETCO2, and SpO2 did not differ among groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A 1:1 mixture of propofol and thiopental induced anesthesia of similar quality to propofol or thiopental alone. Recovery quality and recovery times were similar to those of propofol and superior to those of thiopental.     

Influence of preservation methods on the quality of colostrum sourced from New Zealand dairy farms

Abstract

AIMS: To assess the effect of two temperatures (ambient temperature and 4°C), three preservation methods (no preservative, yoghurt and potassium sorbate), and two periods of storage (3 and 7 days) on Brix and total bacterial and coliform counts of colostrum collected from New Zealand dairy farms.

METHODS: One litre of colostrum destined to be fed to newborn calves was collected from 55 New Zealand dairy farms in the spring of 2015. Six aliquots of 150 mL were obtained from each colostrum sample, with two aliquots left untreated, two treated with potassium sorbate and two with yoghurt, and one of each pair of aliquots stored at ambient temperature and the other at 4°C. All samples were tested for Brix, total bacterial counts and coliform counts before treatment (Day 0), and after 3 and 7 days of storage. The effect of preservation method and storage temperature on the change in Brix, bacterial and coliform counts after 3 or 7 days of storage was analysed using multivariable random effects models.

RESULTS: For all outcome variables there was a temperature by preservation interaction. For aliquots preserved with potassium sorbate, changes in Brix and bacterial counts did not differ between aliquots stored at ambient temperature or 4°C, but for aliquots preserved with yoghurt or no preservative the decrease in Brix and increase in bacterial counts was greater for aliquots stored at ambient temperature than 4°C (p<0.001). For aliquots preserved with potassium sorbate, coliform counts decreased at both temperatures, but for aliquots preserved with yoghurt or no preservative coliform counts increased for aliquots stored at 4°C, but generally decreased at ambient temperatures (p<0.001). There was also an interaction between duration of storage and temperature for bacterial counts (p<0.001). The difference in the increase in bacterial counts between aliquots stored at 4°C and ambient temperature after 3 days was greater than between aliquots stored at 4°C and ambient temperature after 7 days.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of potassium sorbate to preserve colostrum for 3 or 7 days resulted in little or no reduction in Brix and a lower increase in total bacterial counts than colostrum stored without preservative or with yoghurt added. Colostrum quality was not affected by storage temperature for samples preserved with potassium sorbate, but storage at 4°C resulted in better quality colostrum than storage at ambient temperatures for colostrum with no preservative or yoghurt added.