ABSTRACT
The arrangement of water molecules at charged aqueous interfaces is an important question in biology, electrochemistry, and geochemistry. Theoretical studies suggest that the molecules become arranged in several layers adjacent to a solid interface. Using atomic force microscopy we have measured the water dielectric-permittivity profile perpendicular to mica surfaces. The measured variable permittivity profile starting at epsilon approximately 4 at the interface and increasing to epsilon=80 about 10 nm from the surface suggests a reorientation of water molecule dipoles in the presence of the mica interfacial charge.
Subject(s)
Aluminum Silicates , Biophysics , Microscopy, Atomic Force/methods , Water/chemistry , Biophysical Phenomena , Models, Theoretical , Silicon/chemistry , Surface PropertiesABSTRACT
A cellular automata model is proposed to analyze the progress of citrus variegated chlorosis epidemics in São Paulo orange plantations. In this model epidemiological and environmental features, such as motility of sharpshooter vectors that perform Lévy flights, level of plant hydric and nutritional stress, and seasonal climatic effects, are included. The observed epidemic data were quantitatively reproduced by the proposed model on varying the parameters controlling vector motility, plant stress, and initial population of diseased plants.
