Moisture data for 12 years from the period 1940 to 1963 were summarized to determine the relation between kernel moisture and time. The rate of kernel moisture reduction was determined for five arbitrary moisture phases and used to predict when specified moisture levels would be attained from pollination date. Correlation studies were made between rate of kernel moisture reduction and four weather factors (air temperature, saturation deficit, wet bulb depression, and relative humidity).The average daily rates of kernel moisture reduction varied considerably from year to year within the five phases of corn growth. Above 30% kernel moisture content the rate of moisture reduction was significantly related to the temperature of the air. Below 30% kernel moisture the reduction rate was significantly related to saturation deficit, wet bulb depression, and relative humidity of the air.A curve, along with a 95% confidence band, was constructed to show the average number of days for corn to go from pollination to a given kernel moisture.

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A large amount of design information from different areas has become common in most organizations, this knowledge is dispersed in different formats and locations, and shared among different members of the design team; this fact hinders a synergic knowledge management and prevents its proper use by design engineers. Therefore, it is imperative that companies worry about the organization and adequate availability of this knowledge, by creating collaborative environments. In this sense, it is possible to associate the Knowledge-Based Engineering (KBE) approach. Through the concepts of KBE, this study proposes an expert system based on an ontology model to assist the decision-making process, from the storage and adequate availability of knowledge at the right time. Based on a literature review and a diagnosis made in a company of the agricultural machinery sector, the present work presents a solution able to meet the needs of its users (i.e. designers), as well as to improve the quality of decisions taken at the detailed design phase of a New Product Development (NPD) process. For that, a case of hydraulic hose design is explored. The application of the present proposal aims to facilitate the access to information, significantly reduce the appearance of failures along the NPD, as well as allow acquired knowledge to be used in subsequent projects (e.g., lessons learned).