Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Moisture Loss'

Moisture loss from stacked alfalfa was measured at various times of the year and at various baling moistures. Total moisture loss over two month time periods varied from 4.5% to 8.3% with considerable fluctuation occurring due to environmental conditions.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The export of Japanese plums from South Africa is challenging. Exporting late season plums require fruit to last as long as 8 weeks in cold-storage. Prolonged storage periods can cause some cultivars to develop a shrivelled appearance due to moisture loss. Moisture loss from perishable commodities manifests mainly as shrivelling due to a loss in the turgidity of the surface cells of the fruit, or weight loss. ‘African DelightTM’ (highly susceptible to shrivel), ‘Laetitia’ (shrivel susceptible), ‘Sapphire’ (shrivel susceptible) and ‘Songold’ (not shrivel susceptible) plums were investigated by means of fluorescent microscopy for cracks and openings in the fruit peel. Only ‘African DelightTM’ had open hairline cracks in its peel, and fruit with wider cracks were associated with higher water vapour permeabilities. Open lenticels were found in the peels of ‘African DelightTM’, ‘Laetitia’ and ‘Sapphire’ plums. For ‘Songold’ no peel cracking or open lenticels were observed. The fact that the cuticle of this cultivar is mostly intact may be the reason why it is not susceptible to postharvest shrivel manifestation. The water vapour permeance of the fruit peel determines how easily fruit lose moisture. In this study it was determined to what extent fruit, trees, orchards, harvest date and cultivar contribute to the total variation in plum peel water vapour permeability. The permeabilities of ‘African DelightTM’, ‘Laetitia’, and ‘Songold’ were determined weekly from 4 weeks before harvest until post optimum maturity. Fruit to fruit variation made the largest contribution towards the total variation (> 45%), followed by harvest date (> 20%) and orchard (> 15%) effects. The permeability across all cultivars increased two-fold as fruit became over mature. The contribution of cultivar differences to fruit peel permeability varied greatly between seasons (42% in 2013/2014 and 5% in 2014/2015). Differences between cultivars may include cuticle thickness and composition, micro cracks in the peel and/or open lenticels. Current handling protocols suggest that fruit should be cooled as soon as possible after harvest, but this is not always possible. ‘African DelightTM’ plums were exposed to various handling scenarios in order to determine the handling protocol with the least risk of moisture loss. The control consisted of packaging and cooling the fruit within 6 h of harvest. Fruit quality was comparable or even better than the control when the fruit were pre-cooled to 0 °C and 15 °C for up to 72 h. High vapour pressure deficits caused fruit to lose more moisture, especially when fruit were exposed to ambient temperatures for 48 h and 72 h. It is recommended that handling protocols for plums should be followed stringently in order to reduce mass loss and shrivel manifestation. Since other studies found that silicate (Si) has positive effects on fruit quality, we applied potassium silicate preharvest to ‘African DelightTM’ trees. However, we did not find significant differences between treatments regarding crack width or crack incidence in the fruit peel, shrivel, decay, internal browning, gel breakdown or aerated tissue levels. Currently preharvest potassium silicate applications are not recommended to improve plum quality.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die uitvoer van die Japanese pruime uit Suid-Afrika is 'n uitdaging, omrede daar verwag word dat laatseisoen kultivars tot 8 weke in koelopberging moet bly. Lang opbergingsperiodes veroorsaak dat sommige kultivars 'n verrimpelde voorkoms ontwikkel a.g.v. vogverlies. Vogverlies uit vars produkte manifesteer hoofsaaklik as verrimpeling a.g.v. 'n verlies in die turgiditeit van die selle in en onder die vrugskil, en as massaverlies. ‘African DelightTM’ (hoogs vatbaar vir verrimpeling), ‘Laetitia’ (vatbaar vir verrimpeling), ‘Sapphire’ (vatbaar vir verrimpeling) en ‘Songold’ (nie vatbaar vir verrimpeling) pruime is ondersoek deur middel van fluoressensie mikroskopie vir krake en openinge in die vrugskil. Slegs ‘African DelightTM’ het oop haarlyn krake in sy skil gehad en vrugte met wyer krake het ʼn hoër waterdamp deurlaatbaarheid gehad. Oop lentiselle is gevind in die skille van ‘African DelightTM’, ‘Laetitia’ en ‘Sapphire’ pruime. ‘Songold’ het geen krake of oop lentiselle getoon nie. Die feit dat ‘Songold’ se kutikula meestal ongeskonde was, mag die rede wees waarom hierdie kultivar nie vatbaar vir verrimpeling is nie. Die waterdamp deurlaatbaarheid van 'n vrugskil bepaal hoe maklik vrugte vog verloor. In hierdie studie is bepaal tot watter mate vrugte, bome, boorde, oesdatum en kultivar bydra tot die totale variasie in die pruimskil se waterdamp deurlaatbaarheid. Die deurlaatbaarheid van ‘African DelightTM’, ‘Laetitia’, en ‘Songold’ is weekliks bepaal vanaf 4 weke voor die verwagte oesdatum tot die vrugte oorryp was. Vrug tot vrug variasie het die grootste bydrae tot die totale variasie gemaak (> 45%), gevolg deur oesdatum (> 20%) en boord (> 15%). Die skildeurlaatbaarheid van al die kultivars het verdubbel in die tyd van net voor oes tot die vrugte oorryp was. Die kultivar se bydrae tot die deurlaatbaarheid van die vrugskil het baie gewissel tussen seisoene (42% in 2013/2014 en 5% in 2014/2015). Verskille in skil-deurlaatbaarheid tussen kultivars kan kutikula-dikte en -samestelling, mikro-krake in die skil en/of oop lentiselle insluit. Huidige hanteringsprotokolle stel voor dat vrugte so spoedig moontlik afgekoel word na oes, maar dit is nie altyd moontlik nie. In hierdie studie is 'African DelightTM' pruime is blootgestel aan verskeie hantering scenario's om die hanteringsprotokol met die laagste risiko vir vogverlies te bepaal. Die kontrole vrugte is gepak en onder geforseerde verkoeling geplaas binne 6 ure na oes. Vrugkwaliteit was vergelykbaar of selfs beter in vergelyking met die kontrole wanneer die vrugte voorverkoel is tot 0 °C en 15 °C vir tot 72 uur. Hoë dampdrukverskille het veroorsaak dat vrugte meer vog verloor, veral wanneer vrugte aan kamertemperatuur blootgestel was vir 48 h en 72 h na oes. Dit word aanbeveel dat hanteringsprotokolle vir pruime streng gevolg moet word om massaverlies en verrimpeling te beperk. Aangesien ander studies gevind het dat silikaat (Si) ‘n positiewe uitwerking op vrugkwaliteit het, het ons kaliumsilikaat vooroes aan ‘African DelightTM’ bome toegedien. Daar was egter geen beduidende verskille tussen behandelings met betrekking tot kraakbreedte of kraakvoorkoms in die vrugskil of t.o.v. gehalte eienskappe soos die voorkoms van verrimpeling, bederf, interne verbruining, gelverval of deurlugte weefsel nie. Tans word voor-oes kaliumsilikaat spuite nie aanbeveel om pruimkwaliteit te verbeter nie.

"Susceptibility of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) mixes to moisture induced damage is one of the main reasons for premature failures of asphalt pavements. Hence, the evaluation of mixes for the moisture susceptibility is an essential part of the mix design. The existing methods are found to be in-sufficient to characterize mixes in terms of their moisture damage potential, and many studies have been conducted to establish an improved methodology that can better address the issue. Most of these methods involve the determination of changes in mix properties due to moisture conditioning in the laboratory or to verify the mix performance in the field or the laboratory. In the field moisture susceptible mixes are also found to lose material to extents that are dependent upon the properties of the mix and materials. So far, there has been no comprehensive study to investigate the loss of materials due to moisture induced damage. The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate a conditioning and a test method that can be used on a regular basis to detect moisture susceptible mixes and to understand the combined problem of moisture induced material loss and change in strength/stiffness of the mix. The Moisture Induced Stress Tester (MIST), Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV), Dynamic Modulus in Indirect tensile mode, and Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) tests were utilized in the study. The effluent from the MIST was checked for the gradation of dislodged aggregates and the Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) content. A system dynamics (SD) approach was also adopted to investigate the problem and establish a model to reproduce field observations. The results showed that the use of MIST in combination with UPV or ITS is able to identify moisture susceptible mixes, in particular for mixes with the potential of aggregate breakdown. The mixes with a higher loss of asphalt binder during conditioning exhibit higher tensile strengths, and those with a loss of finer materials, which is indicative of aggregate breakdown, show a lower tensile strength. For the mixes used in this study, the rate of change in indirect tensile strength during moisture conditioning was found to be strongly correlated to the pre-conditioning modulus of the mix. A step-by-step framework to characterize the moisture susceptible mixes was presented."

Thesis (PhD(Agric))--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Postharvest quality of fresh table grapes is usually preserved through cooling using cold air. However, cooling efficiencies are affected by the multi-scale packaging that is commercially used for handling grapes after harvest. There is usually spatial temperature variability of grapes that often results in undesirable quality variations during postharvest handling and marketing. This heterogeneity of grape berry temperature inside multi-packages is largely due to uneven cold airflow patterns that are caused by airflow resistance through multi-package components. The aims of this study were therefore to conduct an in-depth experimental investigation of the contribution of grape multi-packaging components to total airflow resistance, cooling rates and patterns of grapes inside the different commercially used multi-packages, and to assess the effects of these multi-packages on table grape postharvest quality attributes. A comprehensive study of moisture loss from grapes during postharvest storage and handling, as well as a preliminary investigation of the applicability of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling in predicting the transport phenomena of heat and mass transfer of grapes during cooling and cold storage in multi-packages were included in this study. Total pressure drop through different table grapes packages were measured and the percentage contribution of each package component and the fruit bulk were determined. The liner films contributed significantly to total pressure drop for all the package combinations studied, ranging from 40.33±1.15% for micro-perforated liner film to 83.34±2.13 % for non-perforated liner film. The total pressure drop through the grape bulk (1.40±0.01 % to 9.41±1.23 %) was the least compared to the different packaging combinations with different levels of liner perforation. The cooling rates of grapes in the 4.5 kg multi-packaging were significantly (P<0.05) slower than that of grapes in 5 kg punnet multi-packaging, where the 4.5 kg box resulted in a seven-eighths cooling time of 30.30-46.14% and 12.69-25.00% more than that of open-top and clamshell punnet multi-packages, respectively. After 35 days in cold storage at -0.5°C, grape bunches in the 5 kg punnet box combination (open-top and clamshell) had weight loss of 2.01 – 3.12%, while the bunches in the 4.5 kg box combination had only 1.08% weight loss. During the investigation of the effect of different carton liners on the cooling rate and quality attributes of ‘Regal seedless’ table grapes in cold storage, the non-perforated liner films maintained relative humidity (RH) close to 100 %. This high humidity inside non-perforated liner films resulted in delayed loss of stem quality but significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased the incidence of SO2 injury and berry drop during storage compared to perforated liners. The perforated liners improved fruit cooling rates but significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced RH. The low RH in perforated liners also resulted in an increase in stem dehydration and browning compared to non-perforated liners. The moisture loss rate from grapes packed in non-perforated liner films was significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to the moisture loss rate from grapes packed in perforated liner films (120 x 2 mm and 36 x 4 mm). The effective moisture diffusivity values for stem parts packed in non-perforated liner films were lower than the values obtained for stem parts stored without packaging liners, and varied from 5.06x10-14 to 1.05x10-13 m2s-1. The dehydration rate of stem parts was inversely proportional to the size (diameter) of the stem parts. Dehydration rate of stems exposed (without liners) to circulating cold air was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the dehydration rates of stems packed in non-perforated liner film. Empirical models were successfully applied to describe the dehydration kinetics of the different parts of the stem. The potential of cold storage humidification in reducing grape stem dehydration was investigated. Humidification delayed and reduced the rate of stem dehydration and browning; however, it increased SO2 injury incidence on table grape bunches and caused wetting of the packages. The flow phenomenon during cooling and handling of packed table grapes was also studied using a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model and validated using experimental results. There was good agreement between measured and predicted results. The result demonstrated clearly the applicability of CFD models to determine optimum table grape packaging and cooling procedures.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Naoes kwaliteit van vars tafeldruiwe word gewoonlik behou deur middel van verkoeling van die produk met koue lug. Ongelukkig word die effektiwiteit van dié verkoeling beïnvloed deur die multivlakverpakking wat kommersieel gebruik word vir die naoes hantering van druiwe. Daar is gewoonlik ruimtelike variasie in die temperatuur van die druiwe wat ongewenste variasie in die kwaliteit van die druiwe veroorsaak tydens naoes hantering en bemarking. Die heterogene druiwetemperature binne die multivlakverpakkings word grootliks veroorsaak deur onegalige lugvloeipatrone van die koue lug as gevolg van die weerstand wat die verskillende komponente van die multivlakverpakkings teen lugvloei bied. Die doel van hierdie studie was dus om ‘n indiepte eksperimentele ondersoek te doen om die bydrae van multivlakverpakking op totale lugvloeiweerstand, verkoelingstempo’s en –patrone van druiwe binne kommersieël gebruikte multivlakverpakkings te ondersoek, asook die effek van die multivalkverpakking op die naoes kwaliteit van druiwe te bepaal. ‘n Omvattende studie van vogverlies van druiwe tydens naoes opberging en hantering, asook ‘n voorlopige ondersoek na die bruikbaarheid van ‘n berekende vloei dinamika (BVD) model om die bewegingsfenomeen van hitte en massa oordrag van druiwe tydens verkoeling en koelopberging in multivlakverpakkings te voorspel, was ook by die studie ingesluit. Die totale drukverskil deur verskillende tafeldruif verpakkingssisteme is gemeet en die persentasie wat deur elke verpakkingskomponent en die vruglading bygedra is, is bereken. Van al die verpakkingskombinasies wat gemeet is, het die voeringfilms betekenisvol tot die totale drukverskil bygedra, en het gewissel van 40.33±1.15% vir die mikro geperforeerde voeringfilm tot 83.34±2.13 % vir die nie-geperforeerde voeringfilm. Die totale drukverskil oor die druiflading (1.40±0.01 % to 9.41±1.23 %) was die minste in vergelyking met die verskillende verpakkingskombinasies met die verskillende vlakke van voeringperforasies. Die verkoelingstempos van die druiwe in die 4.5 kg multiverpakking was betekenisvol (P<0.05) stadiger as vir die druiwe in die 5 kg handmandjie (‘punnet’) multiverpakking. Die 4.5 kg karton het ‘n seweagstes verkoelingstyd van 30.30-46.14% en 12.69-25.00% langer, respektiewelik, as oop-vertoon en toeslaan-‘punnet’ multiverpakkings gehad. Na 35 dae van koelopberging by -0.5°C het druiwetrosse in die 5 kg ‘punnet’-kartonkombinasies (oop-vertoon en toeslaan-’punnet’) ‘n massaverlies van 2.01 – 3.12% gehad, terwyl die trosse in die 4.5 kg kartonkombinasie slegs ‘n 1.08% massaverlies gehad het. In die ondersoek na die effek van verskillende kartonvoerings op die verkoelingstempo en kwaliteitseienskappe van ‘Regal seedless’ tafeldruiwe tydens koelopbering, het die nie-geperforeerde kartonvoerings ‘n relatiewe humiditeit (RH) van byna 100 % gehandhaaf. Hierdie hoë humiditeit in die nie-geperforeerde voeringfilms het ‘n verlies in stingelkwaliteit vertraag, maar het die voorkoms van SO2-skade en loskorrels betekenisvol (P < 0.05) verhoog in vergelyking met geperforeerde voerings. Die geperforeerde voerings het vrugverkoelingstempos verbeter, maar het die RH betekenisvol (P ≤ 0.05) verlaag. Die lae RH in die geperforeerde voerings het gelei tot ‘n verhoging in stingeluitdroging en –verbruining in vergelyking met die nie-geperforeerde voerings. Die vogverliestempo uit druiwe verpak in nie-geperforeerde voeringfilms was betekenisvol (P<0.05) stadiger in vergelyking met druiwe verpak in geperforeerde voeringfilms (120 x 2 mm and 36 x 4 mm). Die effektiewe vogdiffusiewaardes vir stingelgedeeltes verpak in nie-geperforeerde voeringfilms was stadiger as vir stingelgedeeltes wat verpak is sonder verpakkingsvoerings, en het gevarieer van 5.06x10-14 – 1.05x10-13 m2s-1. Die uitdrogingstempo van stingelgedeeltes was omgekeerd eweredig aan die grootte (deursnit) van die stingelgedeeltes. Die uitdrogingstempo van stingels wat blootgestel was (sonder voerings) aan sirkulerende koue lug was betekenisvol (P<0.05) hoër as die uitdrogingstempos van stingels wat verpak was in nie-geperforeerde voeringfilms. Empiriese modelle is gebruik om die uitdrogingskinetika van die verskillende stingelgedeeltes te beskryf. Die potensiaal van koelkamer humidifisering in die vermindering van die uitdroging van druifstingels is ondersoek. Humidifisering het stingeluitdroging vertraag en het die tempo van stingeluitdroging en -verbruining verminder, maar dit het die voorkoms van SO2-skade op die tafeldruiftrosse verhoog en het die verpakkings laat nat word. Die bewegingsfenomeen tydens verkoeling en hantering van verpakte tafeldruiwe is ook ondersoek deur gebruik te maak van ‘n BVD model en is bevestig met eksperimentele resultate. Daar was goeie ooreenstemming tussen gemete en voorspelde resultate. Die resultaat demonstreer duidelik die toepaslikheid van BVD-modelle om die optimum tafeldruifverpakkings- en verkoelingsprosedures te bepaal.
PPECB and Postharvest Innovation Programme (PHI-2) for their financial support

It was hypothesized that Respiratory heat and moisture loss (RHML) would be altered in patients with Asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to the effects of airway inflammation and re-modeling. By designing a novel device incorporating humidity, temperature and flow sensors, RHML was measured in 25 normal controls, 33 asthmatics and 17 patients with COPD. In normal subjects RHML was found to be dependent on breathing pattern as defined by tidal volume and minute ventilation whereas no association was found between RHML and body surface area. At matched breathing patterns asthmatics whether in the exacerbation or stable group showed a small but significantly increased RHML compared to controls (exacerbation group-93.2 (SD=8.0), p=0.0003, stable group - 89.3 (SD=7.4), p=0.025 and controls 85 (SD=4.3) Joules/L). No significant difference was found in RHML between the asthmatics with an exacerbation and those with stable disease. COPD patients showed no significant difference in RHML (stable group-83 (SD=4.8), p=0.23 and exacerbation group-81 (5D=5.8), p=0.06 Joules/L) compared to controls or between exacerbation and stable groups. Evaporative heat loss accounted for the major heat transfer modality (up to 3-times the dry convective heat loss). It can be concluded that asthma is associated with a measurable increase in heat and moisture loss in breath and that this may reflect the inflammatory and vascular changes known to occur in the asthmatic airway. Further studies are required to assess whether the technique developed in this study may provide a practical means to measure inflammation in asthma.

Master of Science
Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Aleksey Y. Sheshukov
Soil erosion is one of the main reasons for agricultural land degradation in the world. Losses of land because of high soil erosion rates and rapidly expanding population result in significant reduction of cultivated land area per capita, and shortage of food on the global scale. Soil erosion can be a major source of sediment in the aquatic systems leading to reduction of organism population and poor water quality. Many factors affect soil erodibility, such as, soil properties, rainfall, topographic features, land use, and management practices, among others. The impacts of soil moisture content, however, are not well understood and. therefore, the primary goal of this study was to quantify two soil erodibility parameters, the erodibility coefficient and critical shear stress, under different soil moisture conditions using the jet erosion test (JET). The JET test uses the apparatus (called mini-JET) that creates an impinging jet of water into the soil and records the resulting scour depth over time. The scour depth time series are then fitted into a non-linear soil erosion equation, yielding the sought values of erodibility parameters. For this study, more than 40 soil samples were collected from several sites in Kansas, processed, and prepared to conduct JET tests in the lab setting. The effects of tillage and soil moisture content were of interest to this study. The results showed varied effects of soil type and sample soil moisture condition on the scour depth development and parameters sensitivity. The critical shear stress decreased and the erodibility coefficient increased with the increase of initial moisture content for clay loam soil, while critical shear stress did not change for sandy loam soil. The study also revealed higher erosive properties of soil collected from the tilled field compared to the no-till field.

The PhD investigated novel methods to extend the shelf-life of vacuum-packaged beef by reducing the moisture loss associated with purge and drip formation while maintaining eating quality. Using a combination of meat and material sciences, this study generated a comprehensive understanding of edible coatings’ interaction with the meat structure and developed a sustainable, ecofriendly packaging system.

The major objective of the research was to improve lychee postharvest management, through a greater understanding of mechanical injury and moisture loss. Mechanical injury is a known cause of postharvest loss in lychee, but previously published information has been limited to broad observations. In this study, the symptoms of mechanical damage in lychee were defined, including quantitative measurement of colour changes. Impact injury caused protuberance tip darkening, cracking of the pericarp and significant changes in skin colour. Compression also typically caused tip darkening, and severe loads were capable of puncture, shape distortion and skin cracking. Abrasion and vibration injuries were characterised by strong yellowing of pericarp colour, possibly due to the leakage of cell contents onto the fruit surface. Vibration also caused significant darkening and loss of colour saturation. Vibration has not previously been mentioned as an issue in lychee postharvest management, but appeared to be as important a problem as desiccation browning at the wholesale level, both in incidence and severity. Mechanically damaged fruit consistently showed increased ethylene and carbon dioxide synthesis, and moisture loss was increased by up to 30%. Some significant changes in skin biochemistry and cuticle properties were also detected. The study of damaged tissue by SEM revealed distinctive patterns of surface tissue disruption. Open pericarp cracking was a particularly detrimental injury, causing significantly increased electrolyte leakage and rapid pathogen development. The effects of load characteristics, such as magnitude, method of application, site, repetition and cushioning, on the extent of damage were defined. Fruit characteristics such as cultivar, gross morphology, temperature, hydration and surface wetness were shown to significantly affect damage levels. Small seed size was correlated with increased cracking susceptibility. Fruit surface wetness exacerbated vibration or abrasion damage. Turgid fruit were less susceptible to vibration and abrasion damage, but showed increased susceptibility to impact cracking. Previously neglected aspects of desiccation browning research were studied, including cultivar and maturity effects, sites of moisture loss and the role of air currents. Cultivar effects on moisture loss were obscured by pre-harvest factors, but consistent cultivar differences were detected in desiccation browning, possibly related to skin thickness. In contrast, maturity levels over a marketable range had little effect on weight loss or browning. Moisture was lost fairly evenly over the fruit surface, but poor postharvest handling appeared to massively increase loss from the protuberance tips. Moisture loss was shown to substantially increase ethylene synthesis. The crucial role of air currents in exacerbating lychee moisture loss was emphasised, and the relationship between air speed and weight loss was defined. The research contributed to a greater understanding of the processes of mechanical damage and moisture loss in lychee, leading to improved protocols for the postharvest management of the fruit. Improved management of mechanical damage and moisture loss will ultimately improve fruit quality and reduce postharvest losses, hence increasing returns to industry.

The major objective of the research was to improve lychee postharvest management, through a greater understanding of mechanical injury and moisture loss. Mechanical injury is a known cause of postharvest loss in lychee, but previously published information has been limited to broad observations. In this study, the symptoms of mechanical damage in lychee were defined, including quantitative measurement of colour changes. Impact injury caused protuberance tip darkening, cracking of the pericarp and significant changes in skin colour. Compression also typically caused tip darkening, and severe loads were capable of puncture, shape distortion and skin cracking. Abrasion and vibration injuries were characterised by strong yellowing of pericarp colour, possibly due to the leakage of cell contents onto the fruit surface. Vibration also caused significant darkening and loss of colour saturation. Vibration has not previously been mentioned as an issue in lychee postharvest management, but appeared to be as important a problem as desiccation browning at the wholesale level, both in incidence and severity. Mechanically damaged fruit consistently showed increased ethylene and carbon dioxide synthesis, and moisture loss was increased by up to 30%. Some significant changes in skin biochemistry and cuticle properties were also detected. The study of damaged tissue by SEM revealed distinctive patterns of surface tissue disruption. Open pericarp cracking was a particularly detrimental injury, causing significantly increased electrolyte leakage and rapid pathogen development. The effects of load characteristics, such as magnitude, method of application, site, repetition and cushioning, on the extent of damage were defined. Fruit characteristics such as cultivar, gross morphology, temperature, hydration and surface wetness were shown to significantly affect damage levels. Small seed size was correlated with increased cracking susceptibility. Fruit surface wetness exacerbated vibration or abrasion damage. Turgid fruit were less susceptible to vibration and abrasion damage, but showed increased susceptibility to impact cracking. Previously neglected aspects of desiccation browning research were studied, including cultivar and maturity effects, sites of moisture loss and the role of air currents. Cultivar effects on moisture loss were obscured by pre-harvest factors, but consistent cultivar differences were detected in desiccation browning, possibly related to skin thickness. In contrast, maturity levels over a marketable range had little effect on weight loss or browning. Moisture was lost fairly evenly over the fruit surface, but poor postharvest handling appeared to massively increase loss from the protuberance tips. Moisture loss was shown to substantially increase ethylene synthesis. The crucial role of air currents in exacerbating lychee moisture loss was emphasised, and the relationship between air speed and weight loss was defined. The research contributed to a greater understanding of the processes of mechanical damage and moisture loss in lychee, leading to improved protocols for the postharvest management of the fruit. Improved management of mechanical damage and moisture loss will ultimately improve fruit quality and reduce postharvest losses, hence increasing returns to industry.

This study focuses on soil hydrological parameters that are expected to be related to burn severity in forests; infiltration rate, soil moisture, grain size distribution and carbon content along a burn severity gradient in Västmanland Sweden, where a major fire occurred in 2014. Hälleskogsbrännan was divided into two burn severities: a moderate severity and a high severity, and a control area. Ten soil samples were taken for laboratory analyses at each severity level. Soil moisture and infiltration rate was measured in situ. Infiltration rates and soil moisture were highest in the most severely affected site, whereas fire effects on soil texture were insignificant. Soil organic carbon content was highest at the low fire severity site, followed by control and high severity fire sites. Inorganic carbon content followed the opposite trend. These results had clear trends but were insignificant, this call for more comprehensive sampling to separate possible confounding site effects.

[Abstract]Grain harvest represents a period of high risk and is also a bottleneck in a grain production. This study develops a climate-based systems simulation model toinvestigate the economics of high moisture grain harvesting in Australia. The optimum harvesting and drying strategies were determined. The role of grain aeration cooling was also examined. The model software was developed in MATLAB. This model was run on an hourly basis using 15 years of historical weather data (1991-2005) for three main wheat production areas in Australia, represented by Goondiwindi (QLD), Tamworth (NSW) and Scaddan (WA).The Wheat Harvest System Simulation Model (WHSSM) consists of four submodels of weather data, machinery performance, crop loss and economic calculations. Each submodel is represented by mathematical functions and supportedby available theoretical and field data. The weather submodel is used to predict dynamic grain moisture contents for a standing crop in the field. Machinerysubmodel was developed to calculate machinery performance and its operating costs at different grain and weather conditions. The main machinery involved are combineharvester, cooling aerator, and four categories of grain driers. Crop loss submodel is used to quantify grain losses involved during harvest and storage periods, including shedding (yield) losses, header losses, threshing losses, crop quality downgrading losses (due to rainfalls), and storage spoilage losses.The model has been used to predict and compare the possible return for different harvesting and postharvest management strategies. For the reference case (a 1000 ha farm with a high-capacity harvester and medium-capacity drier in Goondiwindi), it is found that the optimum harvest moisture content for using continuous flow drier and batch drier is 14 and 13% (wet basis) respectively. Foraeration simulation, it is found that the use of an aeration cooling system would slightly increase grower’s return when the drier capacity is inadequate. No positiveimpact can be achieved on return if growers use either high or medium capacity driers. Generally, high capacity harvester travelling at lower speed is preferred.It is also demonstrated that local weather conditions/rainfall patterns can have a very significant influence on grower returns. Growers in dry and warmlocation (e.g. Goondiwindi) will gain better return. It is predicted that at the given model control values, the long-term optimum harvest moisture contents for Goondiwindi, Scaddan and Tamworth are 14, 15 and 17% respectively.

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Fundação Araucária
The aim of this work was to evaluate the genetic diversity and map genomic regions associated with grains maturation in common corn lineages. The phenotypic attributes of 81 elite inbred lines of corn were assessed in field experiment implanted in square lattice design with three repetitions. The variance and multivariate analysis were carried out considering complete randomized blocks due to its equivalence with the estimation for the lattice efficiency. For the mapping by linkage disequilibrium, 72 elite inbred lines have been genotyped for SNP markers at platform 650K (Affymetrix®) and associated with the genotypic values of the traits related to maturation: number of days for the male flowering (DFM) and female (DFF), and the grain moisture loss, determined by the area below the moisture curve (AACUM). The results of the variance analysis pointed out the existence of genetic diversity in the germplasm for all the assessed traits, detecting a wide variability for DFM, DFF and AACUM. Weak genetic correlations between yield and maturation components indicated the possibility of selection for earliness without compromising the grain yield. The genetic diversity quantified by the distances of Mahalanobis enabled the suggestion of hybrid combinations of higher heterotic effect for earliness and grain yield. There were similarities in the Tocher and UPGMA grouping, which were efficient to classify the genetic variability. By the mixed linear model (MLM) it was possible to detect associations among days for male and female flourishing with SNP markers in all chromosomes, with predominance of chromosomes 1 and 3 and for the loss of moisture in the chromosomes 5 and 6. With of multiple regression analysis of stepwise for DFM, DFF and AACUM, the complete models explained 79%, 93% and 56% of the variation for the genotypic values, respectively, being found predominantly significant markers in the chromosomes 1 and 3. The detection of similar and also different genomic regions for these traits, which are highly correlated, makes possible to raise the hypothesis of the importance of the genetic linkage and pleiotropy to explain the maturation of grains in corn inbred lines. The results obtained are promising and the genomic regions associated with DFM, DFF and AACUM, will be evaluated in validation experiments, which will be useful in selection programs of genotypes with the maturity sought by the breeder
O trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar a diversidade genética e mapear regiões genômicas associadas com maturação de grãos em linhagens de milho comum. Os atributos fenotípicos de 81 linhagens elites de milho foram avaliados em experimento de campo implantado em delineamento de látice quadrado com três repetições. Procedeu-se a análise de variância e multivariada considerando blocos completos casualizados devido a sua equivalência com a estimação para eficiência do látice. Para o mapeamento por desequilíbrio de ligação, 72 linhagens elites foram genotipadas para marcadores SNP na plataforma 650K (Affymetrix®) e associados aos valores genotípicos dos caracteres relacionados à maturação: número de dias para o florescimento masculino (DFM) e feminino (DFF), e perda de umidade dos grãos, determinada pela área abaixo da curva de umidade (AACUM). Os resultados da análise de variância indicaram a existência de diversidade genética no germoplasma para todos os caracteres avaliados, detectando-se ampla variabilidade para DFM, DFF e AACUM. Correlações genéticas fracas entre os componentes de rendimento e de maturação indicaram a possibilidade de seleção para precocidade sem comprometer a produtividade. A diversidade genética quantificada pelas distâncias de Mahalanobis permitiu sugerir combinações hibridas de maior efeito heterótico para precocidade e produtividade. Houve semelhanças no agrupamento de Tocher e UPGMA, que foram eficientes para classificar a variabilidade genética. Pelo modelo linear misto (MLM) foi possível detectar associações entre dias para o florescimento masculino e feminino com marcadores SNP em todos os cromossomos, com predominância nos cromossomos 1 e 3, e para perda de umidade nos cromossomos 5 e 6. Com a análise de regressão múltipla de stepwise para DFM, DFF e AACUM, os modelos completos explicaram 79%, 93% e 56% da variação para os valores genotípicos, respectivamente, encontrando-se predominantemente marcadores significativos nos cromossomos 1 e 3. A detecção de regiões genômicas semelhantes e também distintas para esses caracteres, que são altamente correlacionados, torna possível levantar a hipótese da importância de ligação gênica e de pleiotropia para explicar a maturação de grãos em linhagens de milho. Os resultados obtidos são promissores e as regiões genômicas associadas com DFM, DFF e AACUM, serão avaliadas em experimentos de validação, que poderão ser úteis em programa para seleção de genótipos com a maturidade buscada pelo melhorista

Abstract The main objective of this thesis was to research and develop a sensitive characterization method for dielectric powdery substances which could be utilized in various industrial and research fields. With modern electromagnetic simulation tools and the presented experimental measurements, the characterization of dielectric powders using an indirectly coupled open-ended coaxial cavity resonator operating in TEM mode at 4.5 GHz was found to have potential. The modelling and the experimental measurement results of commonly used dielectric powders revealed that, from the nine classical mixing rules, it was possible to derive reliable inclusion permittivity values when using the properties of the perturbed resonator and the Bruggeman symmetric and the Looyenga mixing theories. In addition, the determination accuracy of the inclusion permittivity was found to be greatly improved with the correction factor included into the previously presented permittivity equation of the quarter wave coaxial resonator. Determination of the dielectric losses was found to be reliable when using the differences between the perturbed and unperturbed resonator and the general mixing model equation. The sensitivity of the characterization method was researched with both humidity exposed and surfactant treated modified SiO2, Al2O3 and ZrO2 powders. Experimental results showed that the effect of adsorbed water on the particles was most pronounced when measuring the dielectric losses of the inclusions. Furthermore, a clear correlation with the theory of the general mixing model was found. Thus, in addition to the changed dielectric properties between dry and humidity exposed powders, it was also possible to determine the moisture content with reasonable accuracy. This correlated well with the traditional, mass based, determination. Stearic acid coating of the particles induced only a small change in inclusion permittivity but a notable change in dielectric losses. Unlike the cases with the larger particle sized SiO2 and Al2O3, the dielectric loss of ZrO2 inclusions, with stearic acid coating, was decreased significantly from 6.2 × 10-3 to 3.8 × 10-3. When characterizing magnesium and calcium titanate composite powders, with CaTiO3 molar ratios of 0.0, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.1, the method was found to have good sensitivity and accuracy. Additions of CaTiO3 exhibited a clear increase in net inclusion permittivities from 13.4 up to 14.9 and in dielectric loss tangents from 7.1 × 10-3 up to 8.5 × 10-3. In addition, a good correlation was found in the theoretical determination of the CaTiO3 molar ratios using the resonator measurement results and the general mixing model. The characterization method was proved to be capable of measuring the dielectric properties and detecting even very slight changes in the powders. Thus, the method could be utilized in various types of powdery material characterization, for example, in the analysis and quality control of different composite powders
Tiivistelmä Väitöstyön päätavoitteena oli tutkia ja kehittää herkkä jauhemaisten eristemateriaalien karakterisointimenetelmä, jota voitaisiin hyödyntää usealla teollisuuden ja tutkimuksen alueella. Hyödyntäen nykyaikaisia sähkömagnetiikan simulointityökaluja sekä kokeellisia mittauksia, havaittiin TEM -moodissa 4,5 GHz taajuudella toimivan avoimen epäsuorasti kytketyn koaksiaalionteloresonaattorin soveltuvan karakterisoimaan eristejauheita. Sähkömagneettinenmallinnus yhdessä yleisesti käytettyjen eristejauheiden kokeellisten mittausten kanssa osoitti, että partikkelin permittiivisyysarvot voitiin johtaa luotettavasti. Tällöin käytettiin näytemateriaalilla täytetyn resonaattorin ominaisuuksia, sekä yhdeksästä vertaillusta klassisesta sekoitusyhtälöstä Bruggeman symmetristä ja Looyengan sekoitusteorioita. Tämän lisäksi tarkkuutta voitiin parantaa huomattavasti lisäämällä korjauskerroin aikaisemmin julkaistuun neljännesaalto-koaksiaaliresonaattorin permittiivisyyden määrittävään yhtälöön. Eristehäviöiden määrittäminen havaittiin luotettavaksi, kun käytettiin mitattavalla materiaalilla muutetun ja tyhjän resonaattorin ominaisuuksien eroja, sekä general mixing model -yhtälöä. Karakterisointimenetelmän herkkyys tutkittiin ilmankosteudelle altistetuilla, sekä pintakäsittelyllä muutetuilla SiO2, Al2O3 ja ZrO2 -jauheilla. Mittaustulokset osoittivat, että partikkelin pinnalle adsorpoituneen veden vaikutus oli kaikkein korostunein, kun mitattiin partikkelien eristehäviöitä. Tämän lisäksi havaittiin myös selkeä korrelaatio general mixing model -teorian kanssa. Näin ollen muuttuneiden eristeominaisuuksien määritysten lisäksi voitiin määrittää jauheen kosteussisältö riittävällä tarkkuudella. Tulokset korreloivat hyvin perinteisen massaeroihin perustuvan määrittämisen kanssa. Partikkelien pinnoitus steariinihapolla aiheutti ainoastaan pienen muutoksen permittiivisyyteen mutta merkittävän muutoksen eristehäviöihin. Toisin kuin suuremman partikkelikoon SiO2:lla ja Al2O3:lla ZrO2 -partikkelin eristehäviö laski huomattavasti steariinihappopinnoituksen jälkeen, 6,2 × 10-3:sta 3,8 × 10-3:een. Karakterisoitaessa magnesium- ja kalsiumtitanaattikomposiittijauheita käyttämällä CaTiO3 -moolisuhteita 0,0, 0,02, 0,05 ja 0,1 menetelmällä havaittiin olevan hyvä herkkyys ja tarkkuus mitattavan materiaalin muutoksille. CaTiO3 -määrän lisäykset aiheuttivat selkeän nousun partikkelien kokonaispermittiivisyyksissä, joka kasvoi 13,4:sta 14,9:ään, sekä häviötangentissa, joka kasvoi 7,1 × 10-3:sta aina 8,5 × 10-3:een. Tämän lisäksi resonaattorin mitattuihin ominaisuuksiin sekä general mixing model -yhtälöön perustuvan teoreettisen määrityksen havaittin korreloivan hyvin CaTiO3 -moolisuhteisiin. Karakterisointimenetelmän osoitettiin soveltuvan eristeominaisuuksien mittaukseen sekä havaitsemaan jopa erittäin pienet muutokset jauheiden eristeominaisuuksissa. Menetelmää voitaisiin hyödyntää usean tyyppisissä jauhemateriaalien ominaisuuksien määrityksissä, kuten esimerkiksi erilaisten komposiittijauheiden analysoinnissa ja laaduntarkkailussa

Tyrimų tikslas – laboratorinėmis sąlygomis eksperimentiškai nustatyti džiovinimo vainikinio išlydžio elektriniame lauke efektyvumą ir palyginti jį su džiovinimu elektromechaniniu ventiliatoriumi. Darbe aptariami kviečių ir gražgarstės lapų džiovinimo vainikinio išlydžio lauku eksperimentinio tyrimo rezultatai naudojant elektrodų sistemą „lygiagrečių laidų tinklelis virš įžemintos plokštumos“. Darbe apžvelgtos technologijos pagrįstos vainikinio išlydžio lauko naudojimu Tyrimai atlikti Kauno technologijos universitete elektromagnetinių laukų įtaisų mokslinėje laboratorijoje, su įtaisu kurį sudaro aukštos įtampos šaltinis ir elektrodų sistema „lygiagrečių laidų tinklelis virš įžemintos plokštumos“. Atliktas joninio ir elektromechaninio ventiliatoriaus oro srautų palyginimas.
The aim of the research is to establish experimentally the effectiveness of drying affected by the corona field in comparison with the effectiveness of drying affected by the external airflow driven by electromechanical ventilator. Review of various techniques applying of corona field is given. Results of wheat drying by using the corona field of electrode system „ a set of parallel wires under the grounded plate“ are presented and discussed. Experimental study of drying is performed in Research laboratory of electromagnetic field devices of Kaunas university of technology. Test drying device consists of the high voltage source and the electrode system „a set of parallel wires under the grounded plate“. Comparison of corona field airflow and electromechanical ventilator airflow is given.

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
A operação de escarificação altera a estrutura do solo, afetando a dinâmica da emissão de CO2 do solo em curto período de tempo. Assim, com este estudo, objetivou-se: i - investigar a variação temporal da emissão de CO2 do solo após escarificação para o plantio da cana-de-açúcar em Latossolo e em Argissolo; ii - caracterizar a emissão de CO2, associada à distribuição de poros, em Latossolo e em Argissolo, submetidos à escarificação na linha de plantio e escarificação em área total para o plantio da cana-de-açúcar. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em parcelas grandes pareadas. Os tratamentos utilizados consistiram na escarificação na linha de plantio (ELP) e escarificação em área total (EAT), em Latossolo e em Argissolo, localizados nos municipios de Guariba e Monte Alto, respectivamente. Para atender ao primeiro objetivo, avaliaram-se a emissão de CO2, a temperatura do solo (Tsolo) e a umidade do solo (Usolo) ao longo de 12 dias no Latossolo e em 11 dias no Argissolo, na camada de 0-0,10 m de profundidade. No Latossolo, não foi observado correlação entre a emissão de CO2, tanto com a Usolo como para Tsolo. No Argissolo, a emissão de CO2 foi correlacionada à Usolo, tanto no solo sob ELP (R2 = 0,86) quanto no solo sob EAT (R2 = 0,58). As emissões totais de CO2 no período de estudo foram maiores no Latossolo, no solo sob escarificação em linha de plantio e em área total (ELP = 1,042.6 kg CO2 ha-1 e EAT = 1,336.3 kg ha-1 de CO2), e menores no Argissolo (ELP = 659,1 kg CO2 ha-1 e EAT = 702,8 kg CO2 ha-1). No Latossolo, a emissão de CO2 foi menor no solo sob preparo com escarificação somente na linha de plantio do que no solo sob preparo com escarificação em área total. No Argissolo, a emissão de CO2 não diferiu em função do preparo. Para atender ao segundo objetivo, além de avaliar a emissão de CO2, temperatura e umidade do solo, avaliaram-se também a distribuição do tamanho de poros, o carbono orgânico associado aos minerais (COAM) e o carbono orgânico particulado (COP) na camada de 0-0,10 m de profundidade. No Latossolo, somente as propriedades: emissão de CO2, COP e classe de poro C4 (ɸ ≤ 0,04 mm) diferiram em função da escarificação. O modelo de regressão múltipla explicou 72% da variabilidade da emissão de CO2 no solo submetido a ELP para o COAM e C2 (0,05 < ɸ ≤ 0,1 mm). No Argissolo, a emissão de CO2, temperatura, umidade do solo, COAM, COP e as classes de tamanho de poros não diferiram em função das escarificações. Na regressão múltipla, a umidade do solo, C1 (ɸ ≥ 0,1 mm) e o COAM explicaram, juntas, 82% da variabilidade da emissão de CO2 no solo sob ELP. No Latossolo, a escarificação em linha de plantio e em área total afetaram diretamente a estrutura do solo, causando mudanças na porosidade e alterações na emissão de CO2 do solo. No Argissolo, a escarificação em linha de plantio e em área total não afetaram a emissão de CO2.
The chiseling operations alters the soil structure and affects the dynamics of the soil CO2 emission in a short period of time. Thus, the aim of this study was to: i- Investigate the temporal variation of CO2 emission after chiseling for the planting of sugarcane in Latossolo and Argissolo, ii – Characterize and correlation the soil CO2 emission and pore distribution in Latossolo and Argissolo with chiseling at line and total area to sugarcane planting. The experimental design used was in paired large plots. The treatments consisted of chiseling at the planting line (ELP) and chiseling at total area (EAT) in Latossolo and Argissolo, located in the municipalities of Guariba and Monte Alto, respectively. In order to attend the first aim, the CO2 emission, temperature and soil moisture were observed for 11 and 12 days, respectively at Argissolo and Latossolo, in the 0-0.10 m depth layer. The Latossolo did not show relationship among CO2 emission, Usoil and Tsoil to both chiseling. However, the Argissolo showed a significant relationship between the CO2 emission and Usoil to both chiseling, ELP (R2 = 0.86) and EAT (R2 = 0.58). The total CO2 emission was higher at Latossolo in both chiseling (ELP = 1,042.6 kg CO2 ha-1 and EAT = 1,336.3 kg ha-1 CO2) when compared with the Argissolo (ELP = 659.1 kg CO2 ha-1 and EAT = 702.8 kg CO2 ha-1). In the Latossolo, CO2 emission was lower in the soil under preparation with chiseling only in the planting line than in the soil under preparation with chiseling in the total area. In the Argissolo, the CO2 emission did not differ according to the preparation. In order to attend the second aim, the CO2 emission, temperature and soil moisture were also observed. Moreover, the distribution of pores size, organic carbon associated with minerals (COAM) and particulate organic carbon (COP) were also evaluated, in the 0-0.10 m depth layer. To Latossolo, the CO2 emission, COP and the distribution of pores size (C4; ɸ ≤ 0.04 mm) had significate difference between the chiseling. The multiple regression model was able to explain 72% of the CO2 emission variability to COAM and C2 (0.05 <ɸ ≤ 0.1 mm) at soil under ELP. To Argissolo, the CO2 emission, temperature, soil moisture, COAM, COP and distribution of pores size were not different between the chiseling. The soil moisture, C1 (ɸ ≥ 0,1 mm) and COAM were able to explain 82% of CO2 emission variability at soil under ELP. Therefore, the chiseling affected the soil porosity and soil CO2 emission directly at Latossolo. However, the chiseling did not affect the soil CO2 emission at Argissolo.

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES
Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq
This study aimed to investigate the performance of conservation techniques in experimental plots in the Ultisol abrúptico Eutrophic, to support planning and management of rainfed agriculture and availability of water resources in Pesqueira / PE. In additionally, it was determined the influence of mulching on soil and water losses by erosion in dystrophic Ultisol, using simulated rainfall in laboratory. This experiment was conducted with soil different from the previous due to the high cost of transporting the same. We performed the analysis of the dynamics of moisture and productivity of maize, considering natural rainfall in plots under different land cover types: bare soil (SD); growing corn vegetative drawstring with cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica Mill., (P) to form barriers to contain runoff, spaced 0.25 x 0.5 x 3.0 m, soil with natural cover (CN), corn cropped using stones, with approximately 8 cm high and 10 cm wide with 1 m distance between the rails, associated with mulch (BCM) and maize cultivation downhill (MA). Maize (Zea mays L.) in the period from April 14 to July 19 of the year 2011, and mulch used, available in the region, was the straw elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), with a density of 7 Mg ha -1, applied 20 days after sowing of maize. It was conducted biweekly monitoring of soil moisture, as well as biometrics culture. For the tests performed in the laboratory, used a rainfall simulator and experimental plots of dimensions 1.0 x 0.5 (0.5 m2), and 20 cm deep, with three replicates for each treatment, which were made 9 tests in total, with the absence and presence of mulch. The density of soil mulch, used the plots were 6 and 12 Mg ha-1 straw of sugar cane. Among the treatments evaluated in the field as well as in the laboratory, the mulch allowed greater control water erosion and maintaining humidity, to contribute to the process of water infiltration into the soil in relation to treatment with bare soil, and encourage the development maize under rainfed conditions.
Este trabalho visou investigar o desempenho de técnicas conservacionistas em escala de parcelas experimentais no Argissolo Amarelo Eutrófico abrúptico, como suporte ao planejamento e manejo da agricultura de sequeiro e disponibilidade de recursos hídricos, em Pesqueira/PE. Além disso, determinou-se a influencia do mulching nas perdas de solo e água por erosão hídrica, no Argissolo Amarelo Distrófico, utilizando chuva simulada em laboratório. Este experimento foi realizado com solo diferente do anterior devido ao custo elevado em transportar o mesmo. Foi realizada a análise da dinâmica da umidade e da produtividade da cultura do milho, considerando chuvas naturais, em parcelas sob diferentes tipos de cobertura do solo: solo descoberto (SD); cultivo de milho com cordão vegetativo com palma forrageira, Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. (P), de modo a formar barreiras para contenção do escoamento superficial, no espaçamento de 0,25 x 0,5 x 3,0 m; solo com cobertura natural (CN); cultivo do milho em nível com barramento em pedras, com aproximadamente 8 cm de altura e 10 cm de largura, com distância de 1 m entre os barramentos, associado com cobertura morta (BCM); e cultivo do milho morro abaixo (MA). O milho (Zea mays L.) foi cultivado no período de 14 de abril a 19 de julho do ano de 2011, e a cobertura morta utilizada, disponível na região, foi a palha de capim elefante (Pennisetum purpureum Schum), com densidade de 7 Mg ha-1, sendo aplicada 20 dias após o semeio do milho. Foram realizados monitoramentos quinzenais da umidade do solo, bem como biometria da cultura. Para os testes realizados em laboratório, utilizou-se um simulador de chuvas e parcelas experimentais de dimensões de 1,0 x 0,5 (0,5 m2), com 20 cm de profundidade, com três repetições para cada tratamento, no qual foram feitos 9 testes no total, com ausência e presença de cobertura morta. A densidade de cobertura morta do solo, usadas nas parcelas, foram de 6 e 12 Mg ha-1 de palha de cana-de-açúcar. Dentre os tratamentos avaliados em campo, como também em laboratório, a cobertura morta permitiu uma maior redução da erosão hídrica e manutenção da umidade, ao contribuir com o processo de infiltração da água no solo em relação ao tratamento com solo descoberto, e favorecer ao desenvolvimento do milho em regime de sequeiro.

En utmaning under produktionen är uttorkning av byggfukt i byggnadens betongbjälklag. Om uttorkningen försenas kan golvbeläggningar inte appliceras i rätt tid, men att arbetet forceras är inte ett alternativ, då risken finns att fuktskador uppkommer under driftsskedet. Avgörande för att uttorkningen skall fortskrida enligt plan är att torkklimatet i byggnaden är gynnsamt för uttorkningsprocessen. För att kontrollera torkklimatet genomför företaget ett omfattande arbete genom att mäta klimatet, där dataloggar på olika platser i byggnaden registrerar luftens temperatur och relativa fuktighet. Tillsammans med trendmätningar i betong är tanken att insamlad data skall ge en bild av hur uttorkningen fortskrider. Svårigheten med torkklimat är att ämnesområdet i många avseenden är abstrakt och teoretiskt, just därför att parametrarna som beskriver torkklimatet ständigt varierar. För att insamlad data skall addera värde för produktionen måste datamängderna analyseras och visualiseras på ett tydligt sätt, som medför att produktionsledningen kan agera utifrån informationen utan att nödvändigtvis besitta spetskompetens inom ämnesområdet. Examensarbetet syftar till att bistå företaget med ökade kunskaper om torkklimat under byggproduktion, kopplat till uttorkning av byggfukt. Under arbetet har förutsättningarna för en effektiv uttorkning studerats, med avseende på torkklimatets variation. Under arbetet har också en undersökning gjorts för att ta reda på när företaget i ett generellt fall bör komplettera torkklimatet med ökad ventilation och/eller avfuktning för att hålla ett jämnt torkklimat i byggnaden året om. Som bakgrund till ämnesområdet redovisas en beskrivning av de styrande faktorerna för torkklimatet, teoretiskt och projektspecifikt. Resultatet av studien visar att förutsättningarna för en effektiv uttorkning har funnits på de platser i byggnaden som studerats, i det avseendet att en majoritet av klimattrenderna följer uppsatta kriterier i projektets fuktsäkerhetsplan.  Studien visar också att en komplettering med ökad ventilation och/eller avfuktning bör starta under perioden mars till april och under oktober till november kan uttorkningsstrategin återgå till att enbart värma inomhusluften.
A challenge during construction is drying of construction moisture in the building's concrete slab. If the drying is delayed, the flooring can’t be applied at the right time, but forcing the process is not an option, because of the risk of moisture damage during the operating phase. Crucial to the planed drying is that the climate in the building is favorable for the drying process. In order to control the drying climate the company is conducting an extensive work by measuring, where data logs at different locations in the building records air temperature and relative humidity. Along with the trend measurements of moisture levels in the concrete slab, the idea is that the data series should provide a picture of how the drying progresses. The difficulty with drying climates is that the subject in many respects is abstract and theoretical, because the parameters that describe the drying climate are continuously changing. If the collected data should add value to the construction site, the amount of data needs to be analyzed and visualized in a clear way, which means that the company's construction management services can act based on the information without necessarily possessing expertise in the subject area. This bachelor degree project aims to assist the company with knowledge of drying climate during construction condition, linked to the drying of construction moisture. During the work, the conditions for effective drying of construction moisture have been studied with respect to variations in drying climate.  Another study also conducted, was to find out when the company in a general case may complement drying climate with increased ventilation and/or dehumidification to keep the drying climate at a steady level in the building year round. As background to the subject, a description of the factors controlling the drying climate is presented in the report, theoretical and specifically for the project. The results of the study show that the conditions for effective drying of construction moisture have been the case of the building sites that has been sampled, in the sense that a majority of climate trends follow the established criteria in the project's moisture safety plan. The study also shows that increased ventilation and/or dehumidification may be applied as a supplement in the period from March/April until October/November at which time the dehydration strategy can revert back to warming indoor air only.

Within the UK, levels of timber processing are set to increase as the plantation grown forest resource reaches financial maturity. Made up predominately of exotic coniferous species, this resource has been the focus of many recent studies as wood users look to improve their fundamental knowledge of the primary characteristics that will enable them to make more appropriate decisions and capitalise on future opportunities. As a further contribution to this knowledge base, it was the aim of this thesis to determine moisture content variation within Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr) standing trees and roundwood logs. Within standing trees, moisture content was found to vary significantly in both the longitudinal and radial directions (P<0.001). Longitudinally, the base and top of the trees contained higher quantities of moisture than did the lower and mid sections. Radially, the moisture content at the centre of each disk was very low and this extended outwards before rapidly increasing mid-radius and then reaching a plateau near to the cambium. A sigmoid regression model successfully explained two-thirds of the radial moisture content variation as well as explaining the longitudinal moisture content variation. The radial variation with tree height was described by a shortening of the low moisture content extending outwards from the pith and a softening of the steepness of the increase with the duration extending as tree height increased. Seasonal variation within standing spruce trees was assessed within a plantation forest in northern England. Removing samples from 81 trees throughout a period covering 42 calendar weeks of 2012 revealed no significant effect of season on the moisture content although a link was identified with short-term variation in temperature. However, further analysis on the radial sections confirmed that when the moisture content data were converted to a percentage of total lumen saturation, a significant effect of seasonal variation was observed within the outer sapwood region (P<0.001). Whilst the standing trees as a whole did not demonstrate seasonal variation in moisture content, variation due to seasonal weather did have an effect on the drying of roundwood within the forest. Analysis of c. 25,000 samples, collected over a 6-year period, confirmed that season (dormant or growing) had a significant effect on sample moisture content (P<0.001). Temperature was recorded as having the greatest effect on moisture variation within roundwood whilst the effect of rainfall was not significant, due principally to the unpredictable nature of this variable throughout the year. To identify the radial and longitudinal moisture content change of roundwood during drying, an experiment was carried out to accelerate the drying process on short logs using an industrial oven at a constant temperature (40°C). Total drying time varied between 7 and 28 days prior to post drying analysis of the logs to determine the longitudinal and radial moisture profiles. All logs lost a constant quantity of moisture each day with the logs dried for 28 days losing more than 50% of their starting weight. Longitudinally, moisture was lost from all points along the length of each log with the log ends remaining driest, although these dry areas only accounted for 40% of the total log length. Radially, moisture declined across the log with the greatest amount removed from the outer radius. In order to provide some relevance of the impact moisture content variation has on the forest industry value chain, data collected from a working timber harvesting operation confirmed that variation existed between volume to weight conversions of different products. Within this even-aged Sitka spruce clearfell, volume to weight conversion factors ranged from 1.02 to 1.19. Differences of this magnitude can not only lead to a lack of understanding of between tree variation within a single site, but can also result in an impact on the optimum value recovery expected by each of the parties engaged within the value chain. The results presented within this thesis will help guide timber growers, agents, managers and purchasers in their future decision making when considering the most suitable markets for standing trees or roundwood logs. Improving knowledge of spatial and temporal moisture content variation will potentially result in maximising the forestry value chain and enable the forestry sector in the UK to make more from wood.

’African Bamboo PLC’ has the vision to become the first and the leading bamboo-based floorboard producer in Africa with export markets in Europe and America. African alpine bamboo (Yushania alpina), common in the highlands of Ethiopia, was used to develop woven strand board (WSB) products. Research on thermal modification was part of the product development. Samples were mainly collected in Tetechia (6°33‘ 34‘‘ N 38°32‘25‘‘ W, 2,650-2,700 m a.s.l.), located in the Sidama region. Three culms each of two, three, four and five years of age were harvested. Samples were taken from the middle of each internode to determine the moisture content and density. Samples used to assess the effects of thermal modification were cut next to them. Further test specimens from different areas and other species such as the lowland bamboo (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) were also investigated. The thermal treatment was applied in a kiln with steam as an inert blanket to reduce oxidative processes. Eight modifications were performed at temperatures of 160 °C, 180 °C, 200 °C and 220 °C, at durations of three or five hours each. Mass loss, sorption behaviour, impact resistance, resistance to indentation and contents of chemical components were analysed for the modified and unmodified samples. Yushania alpina is a thin-walled bamboo with a maximum diameter of 6 cm, moisture content of up to 150 % and densities of between 0.5 g/cm² and 0.8 g/cm². Moisture content, diameter and wall thickness decreased from the bottom to the top of the culms, whereas density increased. Two year old bamboo had the lowest and three year the highest density. The mass loss followed an exponential trend, with about 2 % loss at 160 °C and 16 % at 220 °C. This mainly reflected the degradation of hemicellulose, which was fully removed at 220 °C. Extractive contents, at less than 5 %, fluctuated. Lignin amounted to 30 % and increased appreciably. Cellulose reached contents of about 45 % and decreased slightly at high temperatures. The chemical change, which was based more on the temperature than on the duration of treatment, influenced the sorption behaviour and mechanical properties most of all. The equilibrium moisture content was reduced by between 10 % to 40 %, depending on the climate and modification temperature chosen. This reduction stabilised between temperatures of 200 °C and 220 °C. The impact resistance of untreated bamboo was 3.8 J/cm², compared to only 1.4 J/cm² for modified samples. Resistance also differed between samples from the outer and inner part of the culm in the transverse section. The resistance to indentation declined also. Unmodified samples had 47 N/mm², compared to only 20 N/mm² for strongly modified samples. The results of the analysis and the experience gained indicate that temperatures between 180 °C and 200 °C, held for three hours, lead to the best results for woven strand board production using Ethiopian highland bamboo
’African Bamboo PLC’ setzt sich zum Ziel, als erstes Unternehmen Holzwerkstoffe aus Bambus nach Europa und Amerika zu exportieren. Afrikanischer Hochgebirgsbambus (Yushania alpina), welcher vor allem im Hochland von Äthiopien vorkommt, wurde dazu verwendet ”woven strand boards” (WSB) zu entwickeln. Untersuchungen zur thermischen Modifizierung waren dabei Bestandteil der Produktentwicklung. Die dafür notwendigen Bambusproben wurden hauptsächlich in Tetechia (6°33‘34‘‘ N 38°32‘25‘‘ W, 2650-2700 m ü. NN), einem Dorf in Sidama, entnommen. Es wurden dazu je drei Bambushalme der Altersklassen zwei, drei, vier und fünf Jahre geerntet. Proben für die Bestimmung von Holzfeuchte und Dichte wurden in der Mitte jedes Internodiums entnommen. Diese spielten als Referenzprobe eine große Rolle. Neben den Referenzprobekörpern wurden die jeweiligen Stücke für die thermische Behandlung heraus gesägt, wobei dies nach einer bestimmten Systematik erfolgte. Neben den Proben aus Tetechia wurden für die Untersuchungen zudem Proben aus anderen Gebieten und von einer anderen Art, dem Tieflandbambus (Oxytenanthera abyssinica), hinzugefügt. Die thermische Modifizierung erfolgte unter Wasserdampf, welcher oxidative Prozesse verhinderte. Insgesamt erfolgten acht Modifizierungen bei Temperaturen von 160 °C, 180 °C, 200 °C und 220 °C und einer jeweiligen Haltezeit von drei oder fünf Stunden. In Anbetracht der unbehandelten und behandelten Proben wurden der Masseverlust, die Bruchschlagarbeit, der Eindruckswiderstand und die chemische Zusammensetzung analysiert. Yushania alpina ist ein dünnwandiger Bambus mit Durchmessern bis zu 6 cm, Holzfeuchten bis 150 % und Dichten zwischen 0,5 g/cm² und 0,8 g/cm². Holzfeuchte, Durchmesser und Wandstärke verringerten sich mit der Halmhöhe, wobei die Dichte hingegen anstieg. Zweijähriger Bambus hatte die geringsten und dreijähriger Bambus die höchsten Dichten. Der Masseverlust folgte einem expontiellem Verlauf mit Werten von 2 % bei 160 °C und 16 % bei 220 °C. Er widerspiegelte den Abbau der Hemicellulose, welche bei 220 °C schon nicht mehr vorhanden war. Exktraktgehalte fluktuierten mit Werten unter 5 %. Der Ligningehalt lag bei ungefähr 30 % und stieg merklich an. Der Cellulosegehalt erreichte Werte von etwa 45 %, wobei die Cellulose bei höheren Temperaturen leicht abgebaut wurde. Die chemischen Veränderungen, welche maßgeblich von der angewandten Temperatur statt der Behandlungsdauer beeinflusst wurden, wirkten sich auf das Sorptionsverhalten und mechanische Eigenschaften aus. Je nach ausgesetztem Klima und erfolgter Modifikation wurde die Ausgleichsfeuchte der Proben um 10 % bis 40 % reduziert. Die Abnahme der Ausgleichsfeuchte stabilisierte sich im Temperaturbereich von 200 °C bis 220 °C. Die Bruchschlagarbeit des unbehandelten Bambus betrug 3,8 J/cm², die des behandelten nur 1,4 J/cm². Die Bruchschlagarbeit variierte unabhängig von der Modifikation zwischen dem inneren und äußeren Abschnittes innerhalb des Halmquerschnitts. Der Eindruckswiderstand nahm mit der thermischen Behandlung ebenfalls ab. Unbehandelte Proben hatten 47 N/mm², während die modifizierten Proben nur noch 20 N/mm² aufwiesen. Anhand der Ergebnisse und erworbenen Erfahrungen lies sich schlussfolgern, dass Temperaturen zwischen 180 °C und 200 °C bei einer Haltezeit von drei Stunden für die thermische Modifizierung von Äthiopischem Hochlandbambus in Bezug auf die Entwicklung von ”woven strand boards” empfehlenswert waren

Aspen (Populus tremula L.) accounts for about 2% of the total wood stock in Sweden. Sawmills use only a small part (about 5,000 m³fub) of round wood aspen per year. Since there are no Swedish gradings and design values for aspen, no aspen is used for structural purposes. This also applies to other hardwood trees in Sweden. Aspen is mainly used for pulp and paper with a mass consumption of 800,000 m³fub per year of which about 50% is imported. Most imported aspen is from Russia and the Baltics. The other major use of aspen is in match industries. Consumption for matches amounts to approximately 30,000 m³fub per year in Sweden. The aim of the research work was to increase knowledge on the wood quality of aspen used in the production of matches. Aspen (Populus tremula L.) logs were collected from two different sites in Sweden and a non-destructive tools weas used to estimate the modulus of elasticity in logs. To measure the dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEdyn), Fakopp resonance log grader used. Other properties like density and moisture content were measure and were correlated with the MOEdyn values in order to identify the site that has a better log quality. Besides, horizontal and vertical variation of different wood properties were measured and compared within and between trees from two different sites in order to justify the variation of log quality. A total of 20 trees from Askaremåla and Vimmerby, Sweden were felled and used in this study. From each tree, 3 m long logs were sampled from each base, middle and top. After that, non-destructive evaluations were performed in those logs. Besides, 5 cm thick discs were collected in every tree height (base, middle and top) to measure horizontal and vertical variations. This study shows that there were differences in MOEdyn between and within trees. It was evident that trees collected from Vimmerby had a better log property than that in Askaremåla. Using non-destructive tools, it is possible to sort out quality logs for the production of Swedish matches.

The need for modern transportation systems together with the high demand for sustainable pavements under applied loads have led to a great deal of research on concrete pavements worldwide. Development of finite element techniques enabled researchers to analyse the concrete pavement under a combination of axle group loadings and environmental effects. Consequently, mechanistic approaches for designing of concrete pavements were developed based on results of finite element analyses. However, unpredictable failure modes of concrete pavements associated with expensive maintenance and rehabilitation costs have led to the use of empiricalmechanistic approach in concrete pavement design. Despite progressive knowledge of concrete pavement behaviour under applied loads, concrete pavements still suffer from deterioration due to crack initiation and propagation, indicating the need for further research. Cracks can be related to fatigue of the concrete and/or erosion of materials in sub-layers. Although longitudinal, midedge and corner cracks are the most common damage modes in concrete pavements, Austroads method for concrete pavement design was developed based on traditional mid-edge bottom-up transverse cracking introduced by Packard and Tayabji (1985). Research presented in this thesis aims to address the most common fatigue related distresses in concrete pavements. It uses comprehensive finite element models and analyses to determine the structural behaviour of concrete pavements under vehicular loads and environmental effects. Results of this research are supported by laboratory tests and an experimental field test. Results of this research indicate that the induced tensile stresses within the concrete pavement are significantly affected by vehicle speed, differential temperature gradient and loss of moisture content. Subsequently, the interaction between the above mentioned factors and concrete damage modes are discussed. Typical dynamic amplifications of different axle groups are presented. A new fatigue test setup is also developed to take into consideration effects of pavement curvature on fatigue life of the concrete. Ultimately, results of the research presented in this thesis are employed to develop a new guide for designing concrete pavements with zero maintenance of fatigue damage.

The need for modern transportation systems together with the high demand for sustainable pavements under applied loads have led to a great deal of research on concrete pavements worldwide. Development of finite element techniques enabled researchers to analyse the concrete pavement under a combination of axle group loadings and environmental effects. Consequently, mechanistic approaches for designing of concrete pavements were developed based on results of finite element analyses. However, unpredictable failure modes of concrete pavements associated with expensive maintenance and rehabilitation costs have led to the use of empiricalmechanistic approach in concrete pavement design. Despite progressive knowledge of concrete pavement behaviour under applied loads, concrete pavements still suffer from deterioration due to crack initiation and propagation, indicating the need for further research. Cracks can be related to fatigue of the concrete and/or erosion of materials in sub-layers. Although longitudinal, midedge and corner cracks are the most common damage modes in concrete pavements, Austroads method for concrete pavement design was developed based on traditional mid-edge bottom-up transverse cracking introduced by Packard and Tayabji (1985). Research presented in this thesis aims to address the most common fatigue related distresses in concrete pavements. It uses comprehensive finite element models and analyses to determine the structural behaviour of concrete pavements under vehicular loads and environmental effects. Results of this research are supported by laboratory tests and an experimental field test. Results of this research indicate that the induced tensile stresses within the concrete pavement are significantly affected by vehicle speed, differential temperature gradient and loss of moisture content. Subsequently, the interaction between the above mentioned factors and concrete damage modes are discussed. Typical dynamic amplifications of different axle groups are presented. A new fatigue test setup is also developed to take into consideration effects of pavement curvature on fatigue life of the concrete. Ultimately, results of the research presented in this thesis are employed to develop a new guide for designing concrete pavements with zero maintenance of fatigue damage.

This work deals with the study of diagnostic methods suitable for monitoring of the drying process of brick raw materials. Based on the extensive literature search, several parameters are selected, which are appropriate to monitoring during drying. In addition, a methodology for measuring these selected parameters is proposed. In the experimental part, the use of all described methods is gradually verified on the brick raw material with and without shortening additive (also known as grog). Was carried out: measurement of the surface temperature in the climatic chamber, determination of humidity distribution in the sample, determination of moisture diffusivity, determination of tensile strength, determination of ultrasonic wave velocity and determination of dynamic E-modulus of elasticity. Results of experiments and the gained experiences show, that at least two of the above-mentioned monitoring methods are very appropriate and beneficial – determination of moisture diffusivity and determination of tensile strength. In the work was described in detail the procedure of determination of moisture diffusivity of material. The dependence of moisture diffusivity on the moisture content of the dried material, has been described. Also, differences between raw material with grog and without grog has been described. As part of the practical verification of the experiment designed to determine the tensile strength at different humidity levels of test samples. A new shape of the test specimens and a new device were designed to allow them to be attached to a hydraulic press. The results of this work show that the tensile strength of the ceramic green bodies is primarily dependent on the moisture content of the material. The type of raw material almost does not affect the tensile strength.

Postharvest moisture loss leads to wilting of horticultural produce which shortens their shelf life and reduces their commercial value. Effects of preharvest water stress, potassium (K), cultivar, water vapour pressure deficit (WVPD) and recharging (rehydration in water) on postharvest moisture loss of carrots (Daucus carvta L.) during short term storage were studied. In greenhouse experiments, carrots subjected to water stress for 4.5 weeks preceding harvest had higher postharvest moisture loss, compared to unstressed carrots. Root water potential followed by relative solute leakage (RSL), accounted for most of the variation in moisture loss. It is suggested that preharvest water stress increases carrot tissue permeability which enhances moisture loss. Increase in K fertilization to 1.0 mM increased carrot size and lowered cell \\k and osmotic potentials (ip^ and RSL from the root tissue. Regression analysis showed that K affects moisture loss mainly by influencing carrot size and tissue permeability, and that the benefit of K fertilization in improving shelf life is limited to conditions of low K availability. Consistent differences in postharvest moisture loss among eight field-grown, late harvested carrot cultivars were observed at low relative humidity. These differences, which accounted for up to 6 days of difference in shelf life, were associated with specific surface area and transpiration coefficient of carrot roots. Carrots at high WVPD lost more moisture. The results showed carrot tissue permeability increases during storage at high WVPD which further enhances the rate of moisture loss. Increase in duration of recharging increased carrot weight gain but had no effect on the rate of moisture loss during subsequent storage. Weight gain was greatest during the first week after harvest. Recharging, therefore, should be explored as a means to replace moisture lost and extend shelf life of carrots. The effects of preharvest water stress, nutrition and cultivar on specific surface area, \j4 and tissue permeability were found to be important in determining the shelf life of carrots, It may be possible to improve the shelf life by reducing preharvest water stress, K fertilization, cultivar selection, storage at high relative humidity, and recharging.

Yes
Soft silicone's flexibility, adhesive capacity and non-toxic, non-odourous and hypoallergenic nature have made it an established material for adhesive and protective therapeutic devices. In wound care, silicone is a component of contact layer dressings for superficial wounds and silicone gel sheeting for reducing the risk of scarring, as well as of barriers for incontinence-associated dermatitis. Regarding stoma accessories, silicone is established in barrier films to prevent contact dermatitis, adhesive removers to prevent skin stripping and filler gels to prevent appliance leaks. Until recently, silicone has not been used in stoma appliances flanges, as its hydrophobic nature has not allowed for moisture management to permit trans-epidermal water loss and prevent maceration. Traditional hydrocolloid appliances manage moisture by absorbing water, but this can lead to saturation and moisture-associated skin damage (MASD), as well as increased adhesion and resultant skin tears on removal, known as medical adhesive-related skin injury (MARSI). However, novel silicone compounds have been developed with a distinct evaporation-based mechanism of moisture management. This uses colloidal separation to allow the passage of water vapour at a rate equivalent to normal trans-epidermal water loss. It has been shown to minimise MASD, increase wear time and permit atraumatic removal without the use of adhesive solvents. Trio Healthcare has introduced this technology with a range of silicone-based flange extenders and is working with the University of Bradford Centre for Skin Sciences on prototype silicone-based stoma appliance flanges designed to significantly reduce the incidence of peristomal skin complications, such as MARSI and MASD. It is hoped that this will also increase appliance wear time, reduce costs and improve patient quality of life.

This thesis consists of two essays that each discuss a major component of the post-harvest management of maize in sub-Saharan Africa: drying and storage. The first essay uses cross-country data about on-farm storage decisions between 2013 and 2015 to assess the severity of storage loss in the absence of improved storage technologies. We find that while losses are low, farmers report on average that they lose more than expected and sell earlier than originally intended at harvest. Additionally, we look for evidence that farmers use adaptation strategies for the purpose of mitigating storage loss and find that storage chemicals are effective at both reducing loss and increasing storage duration. The second essay introduces a third-party moisture testing service to traders in western Kenya to elicit willingness to pay for external quality verification using two moisture detection devices, a low-cost hygrometer and a commercial grade moisture meter. We find that while traders value the moisture meter service more, the hygrometer service is more profitable for potential service providers. Further, when offered a chance to purchase the hygrometer device at/around market price ($2.50), only 15% of traders accepted the offer, suggesting that a service provider model is a viable way to make moisture testing more widely accessible and standard practice in the future.

Increasing differences in United States energy consumption and production has influenced the passing of legislation for biomass fuel production. To determine feasibility of energy crops for alternative fuels, research is needed to investigate dry matter yield over an extended harvest season; physical characteristics need to be described for potential harvesting problems; chemical characteristics described to identify selective harvest potential, optimal harvest timing, losses during harvest and storage; various harvest techniques investigated to identify potential cost savings; and impact of various storage techniques on quantity and quality of deliverable biomass. This study investigated the use of two sorghum varieties as a potential bioenergy feedstock where 20 ha were planted for three years. Standing crop samples were collected from August through January to document changes in dry matter yield, moisture, height, fiber content, proximate and ultimate analysis. The sorghum was cut and conditioned – as a two-cutting ratoon or single-cutting – using various mower-conditioners and windrow samples taken daily to determine best method of field drying, quantify dry matter loss and soil entrainment. Two storage methods were utilized – baling with wrapping in a tubeline, and chopping and compressing in bag using a modified cotton module builder – to determine best method of storage for reduced dry matter loss. The optimal time of harvest for maximum dry matter occurred with the November once-cut where 30 Mg ha^-1 was documented, but comparable yields were observed with the two-cutting scenario. Fiber content increased with maturity, peaked, and declined, while ash content and moisture decreased with maturity. The achievement of 55% moisture in January shows field curing to be necessary for transportation at any significant distance, but soil entrainment – as measured by ash concentration – was not found to be a significant problem after conditioning, multiple windrow inversions, and harvesting. The geometric mean length of particle was determined to be 1.4 to 3.7 times lower than nominal chop length, indicating potential cost savings in comminution. Dry matter loss estimates during storage proved difficult due to mobility of moisture throughout the packages, where losses were documented up to 40%. Module packages tended to have lower dry matter and constituent losses than bales.

’African Bamboo PLC’ has the vision to become the first and the leading bamboo-based floorboard producer in Africa with export markets in Europe and America. African alpine bamboo (Yushania alpina), common in the highlands of Ethiopia, was used to develop woven strand board (WSB) products. Research on thermal modification was part of the product development. Samples were mainly collected in Tetechia (6°33‘ 34‘‘ N 38°32‘25‘‘ W, 2,650-2,700 m a.s.l.), located in the Sidama region. Three culms each of two, three, four and five years of age were harvested. Samples were taken from the middle of each internode to determine the moisture content and density. Samples used to assess the effects of thermal modification were cut next to them. Further test specimens from different areas and other species such as the lowland bamboo (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) were also investigated. The thermal treatment was applied in a kiln with steam as an inert blanket to reduce oxidative processes. Eight modifications were performed at temperatures of 160 °C, 180 °C, 200 °C and 220 °C, at durations of three or five hours each. Mass loss, sorption behaviour, impact resistance, resistance to indentation and contents of chemical components were analysed for the modified and unmodified samples. Yushania alpina is a thin-walled bamboo with a maximum diameter of 6 cm, moisture content of up to 150 % and densities of between 0.5 g/cm² and 0.8 g/cm². Moisture content, diameter and wall thickness decreased from the bottom to the top of the culms, whereas density increased. Two year old bamboo had the lowest and three year the highest density. The mass loss followed an exponential trend, with about 2 % loss at 160 °C and 16 % at 220 °C. This mainly reflected the degradation of hemicellulose, which was fully removed at 220 °C. Extractive contents, at less than 5 %, fluctuated. Lignin amounted to 30 % and increased appreciably. Cellulose reached contents of about 45 % and decreased slightly at high temperatures. The chemical change, which was based more on the temperature than on the duration of treatment, influenced the sorption behaviour and mechanical properties most of all. The equilibrium moisture content was reduced by between 10 % to 40 %, depending on the climate and modification temperature chosen. This reduction stabilised between temperatures of 200 °C and 220 °C. The impact resistance of untreated bamboo was 3.8 J/cm², compared to only 1.4 J/cm² for modified samples. Resistance also differed between samples from the outer and inner part of the culm in the transverse section. The resistance to indentation declined also. Unmodified samples had 47 N/mm², compared to only 20 N/mm² for strongly modified samples. The results of the analysis and the experience gained indicate that temperatures between 180 °C and 200 °C, held for three hours, lead to the best results for woven strand board production using Ethiopian highland bamboo.
’African Bamboo PLC’ setzt sich zum Ziel, als erstes Unternehmen Holzwerkstoffe aus Bambus nach Europa und Amerika zu exportieren. Afrikanischer Hochgebirgsbambus (Yushania alpina), welcher vor allem im Hochland von Äthiopien vorkommt, wurde dazu verwendet ”woven strand boards” (WSB) zu entwickeln. Untersuchungen zur thermischen Modifizierung waren dabei Bestandteil der Produktentwicklung. Die dafür notwendigen Bambusproben wurden hauptsächlich in Tetechia (6°33‘34‘‘ N 38°32‘25‘‘ W, 2650-2700 m ü. NN), einem Dorf in Sidama, entnommen. Es wurden dazu je drei Bambushalme der Altersklassen zwei, drei, vier und fünf Jahre geerntet. Proben für die Bestimmung von Holzfeuchte und Dichte wurden in der Mitte jedes Internodiums entnommen. Diese spielten als Referenzprobe eine große Rolle. Neben den Referenzprobekörpern wurden die jeweiligen Stücke für die thermische Behandlung heraus gesägt, wobei dies nach einer bestimmten Systematik erfolgte. Neben den Proben aus Tetechia wurden für die Untersuchungen zudem Proben aus anderen Gebieten und von einer anderen Art, dem Tieflandbambus (Oxytenanthera abyssinica), hinzugefügt. Die thermische Modifizierung erfolgte unter Wasserdampf, welcher oxidative Prozesse verhinderte. Insgesamt erfolgten acht Modifizierungen bei Temperaturen von 160 °C, 180 °C, 200 °C und 220 °C und einer jeweiligen Haltezeit von drei oder fünf Stunden. In Anbetracht der unbehandelten und behandelten Proben wurden der Masseverlust, die Bruchschlagarbeit, der Eindruckswiderstand und die chemische Zusammensetzung analysiert. Yushania alpina ist ein dünnwandiger Bambus mit Durchmessern bis zu 6 cm, Holzfeuchten bis 150 % und Dichten zwischen 0,5 g/cm² und 0,8 g/cm². Holzfeuchte, Durchmesser und Wandstärke verringerten sich mit der Halmhöhe, wobei die Dichte hingegen anstieg. Zweijähriger Bambus hatte die geringsten und dreijähriger Bambus die höchsten Dichten. Der Masseverlust folgte einem expontiellem Verlauf mit Werten von 2 % bei 160 °C und 16 % bei 220 °C. Er widerspiegelte den Abbau der Hemicellulose, welche bei 220 °C schon nicht mehr vorhanden war. Exktraktgehalte fluktuierten mit Werten unter 5 %. Der Ligningehalt lag bei ungefähr 30 % und stieg merklich an. Der Cellulosegehalt erreichte Werte von etwa 45 %, wobei die Cellulose bei höheren Temperaturen leicht abgebaut wurde. Die chemischen Veränderungen, welche maßgeblich von der angewandten Temperatur statt der Behandlungsdauer beeinflusst wurden, wirkten sich auf das Sorptionsverhalten und mechanische Eigenschaften aus. Je nach ausgesetztem Klima und erfolgter Modifikation wurde die Ausgleichsfeuchte der Proben um 10 % bis 40 % reduziert. Die Abnahme der Ausgleichsfeuchte stabilisierte sich im Temperaturbereich von 200 °C bis 220 °C. Die Bruchschlagarbeit des unbehandelten Bambus betrug 3,8 J/cm², die des behandelten nur 1,4 J/cm². Die Bruchschlagarbeit variierte unabhängig von der Modifikation zwischen dem inneren und äußeren Abschnittes innerhalb des Halmquerschnitts. Der Eindruckswiderstand nahm mit der thermischen Behandlung ebenfalls ab. Unbehandelte Proben hatten 47 N/mm², während die modifizierten Proben nur noch 20 N/mm² aufwiesen. Anhand der Ergebnisse und erworbenen Erfahrungen lies sich schlussfolgern, dass Temperaturen zwischen 180 °C und 200 °C bei einer Haltezeit von drei Stunden für die thermische Modifizierung von Äthiopischem Hochlandbambus in Bezug auf die Entwicklung von ”woven strand boards” empfehlenswert waren.

MENVSC
Department of Geography and Geo-Information Sciences
Out of all rain-producing weather systems, cut-off lows (COLs) are linked with the occurrence of high impact rainfall and in some cases short-lived floods which can last for 24 hours over South Africa. This study examined the characteristics associated with the present occurrence of the severe COL systems over South Africa from 2011 to 2017. The accuracy of the 4.4 km Unified Model (UM) which is currently in use for simulating areas of deep moist convection in South Africa was evaluated. The UM simulated geopotential height at 500 hPa as well as the associated 24 hours precipitation which were compared against the daily fields of geopotential height and 6-hourly precipitation from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). COL events were categorized and analyzed according to the associated surface circulation patterns at 850 hPa. The seasonal distribution and duration of the systems over northern (10°E-33°E //22°-32°S) and southern (10°E-33°E //32°-35°S) regions of the study area were also analyzed. Results show COL systems shifting with season towards the north eastern parts of the country, with an increased number of events during the austral winter season during the study period. Systems which lasted for long time were observed during the austral winter and spring seasons. The UM tends to simulate areas of heavy precipitation accurately with poor simulation during the initial stages of the systems. The UM provided a more realistic-looking closed geopotential height and rainfall fields for systems which are coupled with a cold front at the surface. Application of the knowledge about the evolution in the characteristics of COL events from this study can improve the operational forecasting of these weather systems over the country.
NRF