The extent of the reduction of maize (Zea mays L.) kernel moisture content through drying is closely related to field temperature (or accumulated temperature; AT) following maturation. In 2017 and 2018, we selected eight maize hybrids that are widely planted in Northeastern China to construct kernel drying prediction models for each hybrid based on kernel drying dynamics. In the traditional harvest scenario using the optimal sowing date (OSD), maize kernels underwent drying from 4th September to 5th October, with variation coefficients of 1.0–1.9. However, with a latest sowing date (LSD), drying occurred from 14th September to 31st October, with variation coefficients of 1.3–3.0. In the changed harvest scenario, the drying time of maize sown on the OSD condition was from 12th September to 9th November with variation coefficients of 1.3–3.0, while maize sown on the LSD had drying dates of 26th September to 28th October with variation coefficients of 1.5–3.6. In the future harvest scenario, the Fengken 139 (FK139) and Jingnongke 728 (JNK728) hybrids finished drying on 20th October and 8th November, respectively, when sown on the OSD and had variation coefficients of 2.7–2.8. Therefore, the maize kernel drying time was gradually delayed and was associated with an increased demand for AT ⩾ 0°C late in the growing season. Furthermore, we observed variation among different growing seasons likely due to differences in weather patterns, and that sowing dates impact variations in drying times to a greater extent than harvest scenarios.

Physical dormancy (PY) is typically induced by seed coat impermeability that develops once the moisture content of seeds drops below a species-specific threshold. Considering this, we utilized Albizia julibrissin (Fabaceae) to ask (i) whether seeds that mature on the outer branches of trees (directly exposed to sunlight) are more likely to be impermeable than seeds matured under canopy cover; (ii) whether this difference might be explained by the maternal environment in which the seeds mature; and (iii) which conditions impose secondary dormancy following dispersal? Temperature was tracked in both shaded and sun-exposed seed pods throughout the growing season using data-loggers. Temperatures remained lower in pods under canopy cover than those exposed to direct sunlight. Consequently, the moisture content of seeds collected from sun-exposed branches were significantly lower than seeds matured under canopy cover, thereby producing a higher percentage of impermeable seeds. A dispersal-mimicking experiment revealed that seeds matured in sun-exposed branches and subsequently dispersed to an open site for 4 months were more likely to develop impermeability (i.e. secondary dormancy). The opposite was found to be true for seeds matured in shaded branches and subsequently dispersed to a canopy-covered site. We conclude that the microclimate of both the maternal environment in which seeds mature, and the site to which they disperse, determines the development of primary and secondary dormancy, respectively.

Extensive drying of smectites can cause the interlayer space to break down (collapse). This can affect the properties of bentonites as geotechnical barriers of HLRW (highly radioactive waste) repositories. If and to what extent the collapse occurs depends strongly on the type of interlayer cation. In particular K is known to lead to ready dehydration, in contrast to Ca and Mg. In the present study, various bentonites and one illite/smectite clay were dried/heated at 90ºC for 1.5 a and in a different experiment at 120ºC for 4.5 a and investigated with respect to mineralogical and geochemical changes of the smectite.

Smectite alteration after extensive drying was restricted to changes of the exchangeable cations. The CEC decreased by 9% (90ºC test) and 14% (120ºC test). A slight decrease of exchangeable Na+ was observed following the 90ºC test. No significant further decrease was observed after the 120ºC test. In contrast, the larger cation exchange capacity (CEC) decrease after the 120ºC test could be explained by increased Ca/Mg fixation. A possible mechanism for the observations is presented.

Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to describe the root system of honeyvine milkweed [Cynanchum laeve (Michx.) Pers.], and to study factors affecting the growth of plants from root fragments of shallow, ascending roots. The root system of a typical plant was composed of lateral roots radiating from a sparsely-branched, vertical taproot. Laterals tended to concentrate in a boundary area between a loamy surface soil and a zone of clay accumulation, this boundary area being below the zone of cultivation. Vertical taproots were found to a depth of 2 m, with sections collected at this and shallower depths demonstrating the ability to produce aerial shoots. In laboratory studies, root sections were killed either by freezing for 2 h or by drying at either 20 or 30 C for 24 h. The optimum temperature for shoot development from root sections was between 20 and 30 C. Shoot emergence and growth from buried root sections were generally unaffected by either depth of planting or root length. As many as 45 daughter shoots were produced from a single plant originating from seed, and 27 daughter shoots were developed from a root section 131 days after planting. The maximum distance daughter shoots were observed from original plants 131 days after planting was 111 cm.

The drying effect associated with utilizing transmission electron microscopy to study deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) remains largely uninvestigated, though this technique is frequently utilized to characterize nanoparticle–DNA interactions. Investigation of the drying effect is essential to the progress of the many fields that utilize AuNPs, including cancer research. In this study, we compare DNA hybridization-directed nanoparticle assemblies with control samples omitting the necessary complementary DNA, effectively blocking directed assembly, in both the liquid state and the dry state, within a scanning transmission electron microscope. We show that the dry samples contain AuNPs spaced at significantly smaller intervals than identical samples measured in situ, with no dependence on the DNA bound to the AuNPs in the dry samples. A partially wet sample, with distances measured along the drying edge, provided an intermediate binding distance, strengthening the conclusion that drastic differences observed between the dry and in situ samples are due to a pronounced drying effect. This drying effect will falsely indicate certain grouping arrangements and will change the impression of the size of the groups formed, providing misinformation for the development of these controlled assemblies that could impact applications such as targeted drug vehicles for cancer treatment.

Introduction. Several studies have demonstrated that foodprocessing affects nutrients such as bioactive compounds, protein, starch, fat, fiber,minerals and antioxidant capacity. Our study examined how heat changes the physicochemicalcomposition and antioxidant capacity of peach-palm fruit (Bactrisgasipaes H.B.K.) during flour production. Materials and methods.Five commercial batches of fruit were assessed for total contents of phenolic compoundsand carotenoids, and hydrophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (H-ORAC). The fruitwas then cooked and eventually processed into flour. Results and discussion.No significant changes were found for contents of fat, protein, starch and dietary fiberduring flour production. Cooked peach-palm fruit is a source of Mg, Mn, Cu and K, with100 g of fruit containing between 5% and 13.5% of the recommended daily intake. Cookingalso increased carotenoids by 17%, thus helping to compensate for the 28% loss duringdrying. No stage of processing affected polyphenol contents or H-ORAC.Conclusion. Because of its high bioactive compound content, peach-palmflour shows potential for use in the development of functional foods.

In order to optimise the pre-ripening of pasta filata cheeses, two traditional Italian cheeses, Caciocavallo and Scamorza, were dried for different times at 15 °C, 50% relative humidity and airflow rate of 1000 m3/h, by using a pre-ripening plant. During ripening, microbiological, chemical-physical and sensorial analyses were applied to the products in order to evaluate the impact of the innovative pre-ripening technique used on the cheese characteristics. The used plant led to commercial time saving and to the standardisation of the process, making it unaffected by the effects of temperature and humidity variations, common in small industries. The final products showed good chemical-physical and sensorial qualities and resulted in a higher microbiological safety, preserving their traditional characteristics.

Une étude expérimentale du séchage convectif à haute température en vapeur d’eausurchauffée et du séchage à l’air d’une particule poreuse et sphérique du bois (hêtre) estprésentée. Un dispositif de macro-TG, dans lequel une particule est suspendue etcontinuellement pesée au cours du séchage, est utilisé. En prenant deux valeurs de lavitesse du fluide séchant (vapeur d’eau surchauffée ou air), nous avons mesuré la teneuren eau et la température du produit au cours des deux procédés de séchage. Aussi, on amontré que le bois séché en vapeur d’eau surchauffée est nettement de qualité supérieure àcelle obtenue à l’air. En effet, la particule du bois séchée en vapeur d’eau surchaufféegarde sa couleur naturelle alors que celle séchée à l’air noircit. Le procédé de séchageen vapeur d’eau surchauffée répond alors au mieux à l’exigence la plus demandée par lesindustriels qui est qualité du produit. Parmi les applications possibles de séchage de cesparticules est la fabrication du bois aggloméré.

The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the effects of placing newborn piglets under the heat lamp or both drying and placing them under the heat lamp on piglet mortality. Sixty-seven healthy (Landrace × Yorkshire) sows were divided equally into three different experimental groups: a control group where the farrowings occurred without supervision from the farmer (C; n = 23 litters), another group where the piglets were placed under the heat lamp in the creep area immediately after birth (HL; n = 22 litters) and a third group where the piglets were dried with straw and paper towels followed by placing them under the heat lamp in the creep area immediately after birth (DHL; n = 22 litters). The sows were individually loose-housed in farrowing pens during farrowing and lactation. The piglets were not closed inside the creep area, but were free to move around in the pen. The routines in the experimental groups required the stock person to attend the farrowings from the onset of birth of the first piglet until the last piglet was born. All the dead piglets were weighed and subjected to a post mortem examination at the farm to ascertain the causes of death. Postnatal mortality (% of live born) was significantly lower in the HL and DHL groups than in the control group (P < 0.0001). This was significant concerning all causes of mortality. Compared to the control group, crushing occurred in significantly fewer litters when the piglets were both dried and placed under the heat lamp (P < 0.05). In the DHL treatment, crushing of one or more piglets by the sow occurred in only 13.6% of the litters, whereas this was increased to 34.8% in the HL and to 47.9% in the control group, respectively. All causes of death, except the proportion of stillborn piglets, increased significantly with increasing litter size. Because of the relatively large potential that these rather simple routines may have to improve piglet survival, different types of management or human interference around the time of farrowing should be compared on a larger scale, both experimentally and on commercial farms.

Ce travail porte sur l'élaboration d'un modèle mathématique, unidimensionnel en régime permanent, pour la simulation des fours rotatifs de séchage du phosphate. L'objectif du modèle est de prédire la température et l'humidité des gaz et du produit le long du tube sécheur, ainsi que la température des parois, interne et externe, dudit tube. Le modèle est élaboré à partir des bilans thermiques et massiques appliqués à des tranches fines du four en tenant compte d'hypothèses appropriées. Des essais ont été réalisés sur un four rotatif du Complexe de Séchage d'Oued-Zem (COZ) situé à Khouribga (Maroc). Le four a été équipé d'instruments nécessaires pour la réalisation de mesures au cours de son fonctionnement. Les essais ont porté sur la détermination de l'humidité et de la température du produit le long du tube sécheur. Ils ont permis de valider le modèle mathématique élaboré et de vérifier les hypothèses simplificatrices introduites lors de son développement.

The effects of development of leek seeds at 20/10°, 25/15° and 30/20°C (day/night) and drying of seed harvested at different developmental stages on subsequent performance were examined in each of 3 years. An increase in temperature from 20/10° to 30/20°C reduced mean seed weight from 2.90 to 2.55 mg as a result of a reduction in the duration of seed growth from 80 to 55 days; seed growth rate was unaffected. Seed moisture content reached a minimum, up to 35 days after the attainment of maximum seed dry weight and 115, 90 and 70 days after anthesis at 20/10°, 25/15° and 30/20°C, respectively. The curves relating seed moisture to time for each temperature regime were mapped onto a single line accounting for >90% of the variation in moisture content, using accumulated day-degrees >6°C instead of chronological time. Seeds were capable of germinating when seed moisture contents were >60% (fresh weight basis), but maximum viability and minimum mean time to germination were not attained until seed moisture contents at harvest had fallen to 20–30%. Germination was little affected by temperature of seed development. Drying immature seeds increased percentage germination. Growing seeds at 30/20°C and drying at 35°C and 30% RH raised the upper temperature limit of germination compared with growing at 20/10°C and drying at 15°C and 30% RH.

Herbal medicine is used worldwide either as a sole treatment method or as part of a comprehensive treatment plan alongside orthodox methods of diagnosis and treatment. A survey reported that, in the USA, nearly one-sixth of women took at least one herbal product in 2000. Despite their widespread use, numerous reports show that the herbal products available to consumers are of variable quality. This disparity in quality of herbal preparations can be attributed to the fact that their production is complicated. To produce high-quality herbal products, attention must be paid to, among others, phytochemical variations due to plant breed, organ specificity, stages of growth, cultivation parameters, contamination by microbial and chemical agents, substitution, adulteration with synthetic drugs, heavy metal contamination, storage and extraction. This review focuses on organ specificity, seasonal variations, the effect of drying and storage, and the extraction of phytochemical constituents. Special emphasis is placed on the four most frequently used herbal products in the USA: echinacea, Ginkgo biloba, ginseng and St John's Wort.

Introduction. Au Cameroun, la production du manguier (Mangifera indica) est forte pendant la période de récolte qui dure (2 à 3) mois·an-1 suivant les régions. En zone rurale, il y a alors un problème de surproduction. Des travaux ont montré que le séchage de la mangue serait une voie intéressante pour la conservation de cette surproduction. En zone rurale, les séchoirs électriques qui permettent pourtant un séchage rapide et constant ne peuvent être utilisés du fait de l'absence d'électricité. Afin d'inciter les producteurs à utiliser le séchage comme technique de conservation des mangues excédentaires en certaines saisons, l'aptitude au séchage de quelques variétés de mangues produites au Cameroun a été étudiée en comparant les produits obtenus par séchage électrique ou solaire. Matériel et méthodes. Les fruits de trois variétés de mangue améliorées (Amélie, Zill et Irwin) et d'une variété locale (Horé Wandou) ont été récoltés à deux degrés de maturité : maturité commerciale et maturité avancée. Après préparation des fruits, la pulpe a été découpée en lamelles et séchée soit par séchoir solaire, soit par exposition directe au soleil. La composition physico-chimique des échantillons de pulpe a été étudiée avant et après séchage. Résultats et discussion. Après un séchage à 50 °C pendant 24 h (séchoir électrique), les lamelles de mangue séchée obtenues ont présenté une teneur en eau comprise entre (16 et 24) %. Des différences significatives sont apparues dans les rendements au séchage des variétés étudiées. Les teneurs des différents constituants physico-chimiques analysés ont varié en fonction des variétés et du degré de maturité des fruits récoltés. Les taux moyens de conservation des constituants (vitamine C, sucres réducteurs, extraits secs solubles) après séchage ont été supérieurs à 56 % sauf pour la teneur en fibres dont le taux de conservation a été de 16 %. Les mangues séchées directement au soleil ont été semblables à celles obtenues par passage en séchoir électrique malgré une durée de séchage plus longue et un moindre taux en vitamine C. Conclusion. Les variétés Amélie, Zill, Irwin et la variété locale Horé Wandou se prêtent bien au séchage qui conserve les principaux éléments nutritifs avec des rendements importants.