Moisture sorption isotherms of fresh and blanched pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Role of enthalpy and entropy in moisture sorption behavior of pineapple pulp powder produced by different drying methods

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Degradation of the surface of a metasilicate glass due to atmosphere moisture

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Thermodynamic properties of water sorption of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) as a function of moisture content

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Germination of Styrax camporum Pohl. seeds in response to substrate types, moisture contents and the seed morphology

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Chemical treatment of post-harvest Marandu grass seed residues with different moisture contents

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do tratamento químico com ureia (3 ou 5% na MS) e amônia anidra (3% na MS) no feno de resíduo pós-colheita de sementes de Brachiaria brizantha, cv. Marandu, contendo diferentes teores de umidade (15, 25 ou 30%). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com oito tratamentos e quatro repetições (camadas de fardos dentro das pilhas). O feno tratado com 3% de amônia anidra com 15% de umidade ocasionou redução de 84,3 para 79,1% nos teores de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e elevação de 37,3 para 55,5% na digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (MS) em relação ao grupo controle. A variação na umidade não alterou de maneira significativa a ação da amônia, cujos valores médios foram 77,6% de FDN e 57,3% de digestibilidade in vitro da MS. O feno com 5% de ureia reduziu os teores de FDN de 84,3 para 79,6% em relação ao feno não-tratado, o que tornou necessário o aumento da umidade para 30% para maior efeito sobre a digestibilidade da MS, que aumentou 12 unidades percentuais.

Determination of the probable ontogenic time of action of lethal factors on the second chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster derived from a natural population

From the study of the genetic load of second chromosome factors in a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster, 15 lethal-bearing strains were recovered and maintained in the laboratory balanced against Ins (2L + 2R), Cy, L-4. For each lethal factor, the probable time of action during development was determined by the appearance of a sharp reduction, at any given stage, in the frequency of individuals compared to that expected in the absence of the lethal factor. Carried out in this way, the analysis suggested that seven were embryonic lethals, two larval lethals and three pupal lethals. Additionally, three gave no evidence of affecting any of the above-mentioned stages; these are interpreted as gametic lethals.

Drying of persimmon: Mathematical model for diffusivity as a simultaneous function of moisture content and shrinkage

Fresh persimmon has a high moisture content (about 85% wet basis) making it highly perishable and requiring adequate drying conditions to obtain an acceptable dehydrated product. Drying kinetics of persimmon cv. Rama Forte was studied in a fixed bed dryer at temperatures ranging from 50 to 80 degreesC and air velocity of 0.8 m/s. Shrinkage during drying was described by a linear correlation with respect to water content. Evaluation of effective diffusivity as a function of moisture content, with undergoing shrinkage during drying was based on Fourier series solution of Fick's diffusion equation. Effective diffusivity values at moisture contents between 0.09 - 4.23 kg water/kg dry matter were found to be in the range of 2.6 x 10(-10) m(2)/s to 5.4 x 10(-10) m(2)/s, and its dependence on air drying temperature was represented by an Arrhenius type equation. Activation energy increased with decreasing water content in persimmons.

Influence of moisture absorption on mechanical behaviour of composites

Because of their application that normally demands high mechanical strength combined with low weight, the fibre/matrix interface became an important parameter concerning structural life. The problem of moisture absorption in materials has received attention in experimental studies on a composite systems as well as from a theorical point of view. The fibre/matrix interface plays an important role in the structural behaviour of composites due to the fact that load transfer from matrix to reinforce occurs at the interface. In this case the study of compatibility of fibre/matrix/environmental is essential to ensure a product that attend structural objectives, many times without failure possibilities. The composite used in this investigation is the carbon fibre/matrix epoxy composite, which was immersed in sea water standard during 94 days at 60 degrees C, submitted to tensile and compressive tests to study the influence of moisture absorption on mechanical behaviour. The interface was investigated through fracture surface analysis by SEM and a strong interface and a good adhesion fibre/matrix was observed.

The effect of soil moisture and cabbage amendment on the thermoinactivation of Phytophthora nicotianae

The analysis of the effect of soil water matric potential and temperature regimes on the inactivation of chlamydospores of Phytophthora nicotianae in cabbage amended soils was evaluated using three matric potentials (0, -10, and -30 kPa), temperature regimes of 1.5 h at 44 degreesC, 5 h at 41 degreesC and 8 h at 35 degreesC, or 3 h at 47 degreesC, 5 h at 44 degreesC and 8 h at 35 degreesC, with a baseline temperature of 25 degreesC during the rest of the day. The results indicated that survival of P. nicotianae was lowest in saturated soil; and as temperature increased, survival of the pathogen decreased at all soil water matric potentials evaluated. Cabbage amendments can enhance the effect of the heat treatment, further decreasing the pathogen population. The soil water matric potentials evaluated represent optimum levels for the study of thermal inactivation. However, under field conditions lower potentials may be found. Extending the range of soil water matric potentials and the treatment time would allow better comparisons with the field data. There is a clear indication that one irrigation period prior to solarization would provide enough moisture to inactivate the primary inoculum of P. nicotianae in the top soil under field conditions; however, other factors may affect the effectiveness of solarization, reducing or enhancing its potential.