Mud shale is characterized by low strength and strong swelling, with rheological effects and deformation caused by drilling fluid and formation water. Establishing a rheological model to characterize the deformation characteristics is key to solving the problem of wellbore stability. The influence of moisture content on rock strength and creep mechanical properties were studied by means of water absorption, uniaxial compression, and creep tests. The tests showed that with the increase in moisture content, the elastic modulus and strength of hard brittle mud shale decreased. Further, under the same load, the instantaneous strain increased with increasing moisture content. Meanwhile, under various loading stresses, rock creep exhibited non-linear characteristics, which can be divided into three different creep stages: attenuated creep, stable creep, and accelerated creep. Starting with a non-linear viscous dashpot, and then introducing aging degradation and water-bearing weakening effects, based on the water-bearing creep characteristics of hard brittle shale as well as the modeling ideas of the classic component combination model, a new improved creep model based on the Nishihara model was established to describe the characteristics of the accelerated creep stage of hard brittle mud shale with various moisture contents. Subsequently, the Levenberg–Marquardt non-linear, least-squares method was adopted to invert the creep parameters. The results showed that the simulated creep curves achieved by employing the new creep model were consistent with the experimental results, thereby confirming the ability of the new non-linear creep model to provide a theoretical reference for the study of wellbore stability of hard brittle mud shale.

To investigate the influence of clay mineral microstructures on mechanical properties across varying hydration levels, this study employed molecular dynamics simulations to conduct uniaxial tensile strength tests in three orthogonal directions (x, y, z) using illite, montmorillonite and kaolinite. The moisture content was varied from 0% to 10% in 1% increments and from 0% to 50% in 10% increments. The observations highlight the role of water molecules in disrupting the inherent microscopic atomic structure of clay minerals, leading to diminished stability and a decline in tensile strength. As moisture content increased, there was a pronounced increase in the layer spacing of all three clay minerals, indicative of their hydration expansion behaviour. Concurrently, discernible reductions in both the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the clay minerals were observed.

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.

Interchangeable effects of temperature, moisture content and oxygen on seed longevity have been mostly examined to estimate seed viability during long-term dry storage, whereas few experiments have studied seed viability under near-natural conditions to evaluate seed persistence in the soil. To this end, we artificially aged seeds of Ranunculus baudotii, a hydrophyte widely distributed in temporary ponds constituting an abundant soil seed bank. Seeds were exposed to controlled ageing at three different relative humidities (RH) under both aerobic and anoxic conditions. Their viability, water content, membrane damage, oxidative stress and anti-oxidant enzymatic defence activity were evaluated. Seed survival was longer at higher relative humidity (97% RH), and lowest at a relative humidity (90% RH) simulating moist but not waterlogged soils. Anoxic conditions showed a protective role on viability at lower moisture contents (70% RH). Seed viability was negatively associated with hydrogen peroxide content and correlated with anti-oxidant enzyme activities, but not with membrane damage. Altogether, these results suggest negative roles for moist soils and anoxia in determining seed persistence in the field, but at higher moisture contents the negative effects of anaerobia diminished. The anti-oxidant system activation, even under unfavourable conditions, might recover seeds once all protective processes can operate, pointing out the plasticity of mechanisms involved in seed loss viability.

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.

The premise of this paper is that the chemical potential of water strongly influences aging reactions in seeds, and that there will be an optimal chemical potential of water for seed longevity. If this is true, the optimum moisture content for storage and the optimal drying protocols should vary with the storage temperature, but should be predictable from water sorption isotherms. Isotherms for pea, soybean and peanut are given for temperatures between 65° and −150°C. Relative humidity/moisture content relationships were determined directly for temperatures between 5° and 50°C using saturated salt solutions. At extreme temperatures, isotherms were calculated from heat capacity measurements using differential scanning calorimetry or extrapolations of van't Hoff analyses. The family of isotherms was used to predict optimum moisture contents at storage temperatures between 65°C and −150°C. The optimal moisture contents for these three species are consistently shown to increase as the storage temperature is lowered.

Three seedlots of Agathis australis (Lambert) Steud. (kauri pine) were stored hermetically at moisture contents of 1.5–15.5% and at temperatures from −20° to 42°C; and one seedlot of Agathis macrophylla was stored at 7%, 9% or 13% moisture content and at 26°, 6° or −13°C. Seeds of A. australis showed orthodox storage behaviour; except that viability was progressively reduced with drying below about 5% moisture content, and, depending on seedlot, subsequent storage longevities were reduced at all temperatures. Seeds of A. macrophylla again showed essentially orthodox characteristics at 9 and 13% moisture content; but drying to 7% moisture content reduced viability significantly, and of those seeds surviving, a further proportion died as a result of transfer to −13°C, and the remainder survived for 2500 d with little further viability loss. Seeds of neither species conformed fully to orthodox characterisics, nor to those of the intermediate category. The results are discussed in relation to possible causes of this ‘sub-orthodox’ behaviour, especially current seed-harvesting methods, and the limits put upon ex situ conservation of these species in seed banks by their predicted comparatively short storage lives.

Storage of tomato seeds under deteriorating conditions reduced the rate of germination, the uniformity of germination, total germination and the proportion of normal seedlings. Pre-storage humidification and hydropriming of seeds resulted in a significant increase in resistance to deterioration. In contrast, osmoprimed seeds were more deterioration sensitive. Humidification or hydropriming for one day did not allow nuclei to enter the S phase of the cell cycle. Osmopriming strongly increased the percentage of nuclei with replicated DNA in the embryonic root tip, indicating initiation of the cell cycle and progression towards the G2 phase. The interaction between the prestorage treatments, cell cycle progression and deterioration resistance, is discussed. Based on the changes in moisture content equilibrium and cell cycle activity it is hypothesized that the beneficial effects of pre-storage humidification and hydropriming were related to metabolic activities induced by the partial hydration and that the adverse effects of osmopriming were caused by a decrease in DNA repair activity due to progression in the cell cycle.

The decline of embryo moisture content from approx. 82 to 53% in 1997 and 56% in 1998 in recalcitrant seeds of Acer saccharinum during maturation was accompanied by decreased mitotic activity in the meristems and an increase in the percentage of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. DNA synthesis and mitosis in the root apex ceased at approx. 53% embryo moisture content, and 67% of the cells were arrested in the G1 phase. During post-maturation drying, cell division in the shoot apex and embryonic leaves continued as long as the embryo moisture content was higher than 50 and 45%, respectively. Mitotic activity in the drying embryo may be controlled by its moisture level. Increased proliferation of the root, shoot and leaf meristems of the mature seeds was already recorded at 24 h of germination, before the root protruded through the seed coat. However, the increase in the embryo moisture content was small – from 56 to 59%. In the 3 d seedlings (10–15 mm long) the mitotic index reached 8% in the root apex and 12% in the shoot apex with leaves. Placing mature seeds in moist conditions might be necessary for the switch from proliferation decline towards its activation. Thus, in contrast with orthodox seeds, the preservation of cell division capacity and increased mitotic activity may be essential for rapid germination immediately after shedding in mature Acer seeds.

Soils and the underlying permafrost from undisturbed sites and sites that had been disturbed by construction activities at Marble Point and Pram Point in the McMurdo Sound region were sampled from excavated pits and drill cores. Gravimetric moisture (ice) contents and particle size distribution were determined. Volumetric moisture contents were calculated from these results. At undisturbed sites soil moisture contents within the active layer (to c. 60 cm depth) were low and ranged from 0.5% by weight at the soil surface to 10% above the permafrost. The permafrost was generally completely saturated with ice, but sometimes contained considerable excess ice, with ice contents rising as high as 80% by volume. At disturbed sites, soil moisture contents within the active layer were similar to those of the undisturbed sites (generally <10% by weight) but within the permafrost, moisture contents were lower and less variable than in the undisturbed sites, rarely exceeding 20% by weight. The release of considerable quantities of water from the permafrost as a result of land disturbance during construction activities caused stream flows, soil shrinkage, land slumping and salinisation, resulting in significant permanent environmental damage. At Marble Point there has been no significant re-establishment of icy permafrost in the disturbed soils in the 30 years since land disturbance occurred.

Introduction. Les transferts de matière intervenant au cours du procédé de DII influencent la composition finale du produit. Ces transferts dépendent essentiellement de la forme et de la taille des produits immergés, ainsi que de la température, la concentration et la nature de la solution d'immersion. Afin de parvenir à une bonne maîtrise de ces paramètres et d'obtenir, après traitement, un produit de qualité, les cinétiques de certains éléments constitutifs de mangues (Mangifera indica) ont été suivies au cours d'un traitement par DII. Matériel et méthodes. Des morceaux de mangues d'une variété camerounaise locale, de 9 mm d'épaisseur et de 31 mm de diamètre, ont été immergés dans une solution de saccharose à 50, 60 ou 70 °Brix, maintenue à une température stabilisée à 30, 50 ou 60 °C. Pour les échantillons, les paramètres suivis au cours du temps ont été la perte d'eau, la réduction de poids, le gain en soluté et le degré Brix, tandis que, pour la solution, ce sont la concentration en vitamine C, le pH et la conductivité qui ont été mesurés. Résultats et discussion. La perte d'eau et le degré Brix final des produits ont augmenté avec la température et la concentration de la solution. Au-delà de 50 °C, l'augmentation de la température n'a pas influencé significativement la réduction de poids qui, pour une température donnée, a augmenté avec la concentration de la solution d'immersion. Le gain en solutés a diminué avec l'augmentation de la concentration. Enfin, pour les conditions opératoires testées, les pertes en vitamine C ont augmenté avec la température et diminué avec l'augmentation de la concentration de la solution de saccharose.

Introduction. Les comportements de trois fruits tropicaux - papaye (Carica papaya), mangue (Mangifera indica) et banane (Musa acuminata) - traités par déshydratation-imprégnation par immersion (DII) en solutions concentrées de saccharose ont été comparés. Matériel et méthodes. Les cinétiques ont été conduites en bain thermostaté, avec des températures variant de 30 à 60 °C et une concentration initiale de la solution d'immersion fixée à 50 g de saccharose × 100 g-1 de solution. Les fruits ont été parés puis découpés en disques de 9 mm d'épaisseur et 31 mm de diamètre. Le comportement des fruits en DII a été caractérisé par la perte d'eau, le gain en solutés issus de la solution et la perte en solutés propres (vitamines, sels minéraux) du fruit pendant 300 min. Le rapport [fruits/solution] de [1/6,5] a permis d'évaluer le transfert de solutés (vitamines, sels minéraux, acides) du fruit vers la solution, grâce à des mesures directes de teneur en vitamine, conductivité et pH. Résultats et discussion. Le gain en soluté a été d'autant plus important que la teneur initiale du fruit en sucre était faible. Pour les trois fruits et pour les conditions opératoires testées, les pertesen vitamine C estimées à partir de la solution de déshydratation ont été inférieures à5 mg × 100 g-1 de produit initial. Ces pertes ont été plus importantes lors du traitement des mangues. Enfin, l'augmentation de la température a favorisé les transferts de matière.

Competition between Dermestes maculatus Degeer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) and Necrobia rufipes Degeer (Coleoptera: Cleridae) in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), was studied at four population levels (16,30,48 and 60), three moisture-content levels (12,15 and 20%) and three temperatures (20, 27 and 32°C). Experiments were carried out using adult insects of both species in mixtures of equal and unequal numbers. Interspecific competition between N. rufipes and D. maculatus was found to have an effect on the population growth of both beetles but to different extents. The intensity of competition is dependent on temperature, moisture content and the initial density ratio. Using the replacement series approach, it was predicted that at high adult population and moisture content, N. rufipes becomes extinct and D. maculatus dominates a mixed culture. At a temperature of 20°C, D. maculatus outcompetes N. rufipes while at 32°C, both species co-exist. This observation possibly accounts for the low occurrence or absence of N. rufipes relative to D. maculatus in commercial dried fish in areas with temperatures of 20 to 30°C.

Storage method encompasses the patterns and periods of storage as well as particular storage techniques. Storage management is therefore a major determinant of post-harvest losses in stored cereals: affecting the magnitude of losses and their susceptibility to reduction. Key issues are the location and scale of grain storage which, in most developing countries, involves both rural domestic storage and larger seal “buffer” storage at district centres, commonly near towns.

Various storage techniques are described and discussed against the background of available informatio on storage losses and with regard to the common patterns and periods of storage in Africa at the farr level and in “centralized” storage. The importance of long-term development planning for cereal crop production and utilization is stressed as a major factor in storage pest management and the reduction of storage losses.

The handling of imported food grains is discussed with regard to storage management problems arising from moisture content/relative humidity equilibria as affected by grain temperature.

The effect of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 adult Sitophilus zeamais on the quality of 1 kg lots of white maize maintained at 25−30°C and 65−85% r.h. was observed. Per cent moisture, oil, Free Fatty Acid (FFA) content and germination were determined at 2-week intervals for 10 weeks.

Moisture content of infested maize ranged from 11.51 to 12.92%. There was a significant correlation between moisture content and degree of infestation (r = 0.88; P < 0.05; Y = 11.908 + 0.006 x). The range of oil content of infested maize was 4.83−5.75%. There was a significant correlation between oil content and degree of infestation (r = −0.097; P < 0.05; Y = 5.08 −0.0076 x). The free fatty acid (FFA) of infested maize was 5.82−6.86%. The heterogeneity at various infestation levels was significant (F = 81.38; d.f. = 5; P < 0.001). There was an increase in FFA, with increasing infestations, although the correlation was not significant.

The germination of maize, 10 days after planting, at various infestation levels was 43.0−97.5%. There was a decrease in germination, as level of infestation increased. The heterogeneity in germination at various infestation levels was significant (F = 19.21; d.f. = 5; P < 0.001). Possible reasons for the results obtained, are presented.