The talk describes novel
methods for characterising the interaction of nails
and water in-vivo and in-vitro. We use Opto-thermal Transient Emission
Radiometry (OTTER) to measure water concentration depth profiles within
the top ~10 microns of nails. We
also use the AquaFlux condenser-chamber method with purpose-designed
accessories to measure Trans-Onychial Water Loss (TOWL), water desorption
dynamics and water transpiration. The time-lag method was used to calculate
diffusion coefficients from transpiration measurements of water in
nail and hoof.
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