Effective Storage Method Research Articles

In vitro germination and cryopreservation technique for long-term pollen conservation of underutilized legume: Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus)

Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is an underutilized pulse crop which can withstand adverse environmental conditions such as drought, heat, salinity, waterlogging, pest and diseases. To facilitate hybridization studies, pollen cryoconservation was attempted in L. sativus. Among the different media combination tested for in vitro pollen germination, BK medium with 15% sucrose was optimal. Pollen viability was tested at different storage regimes, viz. 25, 4, -20 and -196 ºC at different storage duration (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 24 h, 1 week, 2 week and 6 months). For long-term pollen cryopreservation, an ideal MC of 14–16% was achieved by desiccating the pollen for 10 min in a laminar air flow (LAF) chamber. Negative correlation was found between pollen viability, storage duration and temperature (25, 4 and -20°C). Cryopreserved (-196°C) pollen showed significantly higher viability compared to all the other storage conditions. The standardized cryoconservation protocol was applied to 20 accessions of Lathyrus sativus for conservation up to six months without loss of pollen viability. Successful fertilization, fruit and seed set was observed in cross combinations attempted using cryoconserved pollen without any incompatibility barriers. Hence, the present protocol can be used for long-term cryoconservation of L. sativus pollen. The development of an effective long-term storage method of Lathyrus sativus pollen ensures the availability of pollen for grasspea breeding throughout the year.

Recent advancements in hydrogen storage - Comparative review on methods, operating conditions and challenges

Green hydrogen, proposed as a sustainable alternative for conventional fuels, has gained utmost importance due to its reduced carbon footprint and potential application in maintaining balance between energy generation and demand. Utilization of hydrogen-based systems are challenged by cost effective storage methods. Bio-hydrogen storage technologies using cryogenic and adsorptive methods are discussed in this review paper, along with their operating conditions and storage capacities. An analysis of operational challenges and recent advancements in hydrogen storage techniques is presented. With a storage pressure of 70 MP, cryogenic hydrogen is almost twice as dense as compressed hydrogen. Technical challenges such as material cost and explosion risk can be addressed by hydrogen adsorption on activated carbon active sites. Maximum hydrogen storage capacity are reported by activated carbon obtained from Chitosan (6.77 wt%), Bamboo (6.6 wt%) and African palm shell (6.5 wt%) at 77 K and 4–20 Mpa. Further, nanotechnology approaches are presented in detail for increasing hydrogen storage capacity in pristine Si and Mg. The future perspectives in terms of technological, and economic aspects are discussed.

A Review on IoT Blockchain Technology

Our lifestyles are increasingly incorporating the Internet of Things. Every year, a growing number of gadgets gain connectivity and communication capabilities via the Internet. There are currently more than 400 million IoT devices in use worldwide, and by 2025, that number is anticipated to reach 1.5 billion. Keeping track of all IoT devices and figuring out which one to connect to in order to make service requests is getting more and more challenging. The device could also end up malfunctioning or performing poorly. We must determine the most effective method of data storage in order to provide the groundwork for how to build trust amongst devices.

Effects of Storage Method on the Quality of Processed Sea Cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus).

This research aimed to establish an effective storage method to maintain the quality of processed sea cucumbers. In this study, sea cucumbers were stored by various methods including the storage of live sea cucumbers (seawater treatment, oxygen treatment, and ascorbic acid treatment) and the storage of dead sea cucumbers (frozen treatment). The sea cucumber quality was monitored after storage and boiling. The weightlessness rate and WHC of the frozen group increased to 86.96% ± 0.83% and 93.29% ± 0.32%, respectively. Frozen sea cucumbers shrunk with the meat's textural properties deteriorated. During the live sea cucumber storage, the tissue protein degraded from day 3 to day 7 which led to the promotion of TVB-N. Among these, the oxygen group showed the smallest TVB-N increase from day 0 (3.78 ± 0.60 mg 100 g-1) to day 7 (10.40 ± 0.12 mg 100 g-1). The oxygen group exhibited the most moderate change in weightlessness rate (4.24% ± 0.45%) and the most moderate texture parameters decline, such as the hardness of 32.52%, chewiness of 78.98 ± 5.10 N, and adhesion of 0.84 ± 0.00. The oxygen method showed the best condition of sea cucumber after 5 days of storage.

Quantum chemical simulation of hydrogen adsorption in pores: A study by DFT, SAPT0 and IGM methods

Hydrogen as a versatile energy carrier continues to attract research attention in the field of applied chemistry. One of the fundamental issues on the way to hydrogen economy is the difficulty of hydrogen storage. Physical adsorption of hydrogen in pores is a feasible and effective method of hydrogen storage. Among existing hydrogen-adsorbing materials, carbon nanostructures possess a number of advantages due to their high adsorption capacity, significant strength and low weight. In this work, we use the modern methods of quantum chemistry (DFT, SAPT0 and IGM) to study the adsorption of molecular hydrogen in a series of simulated slit-like carbon micropores with a distance between the walls of d = 4–10 Å, including the introduction of an H2 molecule into a pore, filling pores with these molecules and investigating the interactions between H2 molecules inside the pores. It was found that, depending on the value of parameter d, adsorbed hydrogen molecules form one (d = 6, 7 Å) or two layers (d = 8, 9, 10 Å) inside the pore. At the same time, for pores with small d values, high potential barriers to the introduction of H2 into a pore were observed. The decomposition of the interaction energy into components showed dispersion interactions to make a major contribution to the energy of attraction (72–82%). Moreover, an increase in the number of H2 molecules adsorbed in the pore decreases the significance of dispersion interactions (up to 61%) and increases the contribution of electrostatic and induction interactions to intermolecular attraction. Gravimetric density (GD) values were determined for pores with d = 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Å, comprising 1.98, 2.30, 2.93, 3.25 and 4.49 wt%, respectively. It is assumed that the revealed peculiarities of hydrogen adsorption in pores will contribute to the use of carbon porous structures as a medium for hydrogen storage.

SR/GNPs/Pn@SiO2 shape-stabilized phase change composites with low leakage rate and adjustable thermal energy storage

The storage of latent heat using phase change materials (PCM) is an effective method of energy storage. In this study, silicone rubber (SR)/graphene nanoplates (GNPs)/paraffin@SiO2 phase change microcapsules (Pn@SiO2) shape-stabilized phase change materials (SSPCM) with high thermal conductivity, low leakage rate and tunable thermal management capability are prepared by method of add phase change microcapsules and thermal conductivity enhancer graphene nanoplates. The effects of Pn@SiO2 content on properties of the SR/GNPs/Pn@SiO2 (SGP) composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry. The results show that the enthalpy of phase change composites can be adjusted from 25.6 to 78.56 J·g−1 by changing the addition amount of Pn@SiO2 microcapsules. Moreover, the effect of GNPs on the thermal conductivity of SR matrix is greater than that of Pn@SiO2 on SR, as a consequence, the thermal conductivity of SGP composites decreases with the increase of Pn@SiO2. In addition, the thermal conductivity of SGP phase change composites can also reach 0.567 W·m−1K−1 after the addition of microcapsules, which dramatically shortens the response time of the material in the application. In summary, SGP composites have promising applications in the field of thermal storage.

Biological quality of Anisopteromalus calandrae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) reared with cold-stored larvae of Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)

An effective storage method for larvae of the tobacco beetle Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) would be useful for rearing and studying its larval parasitoid Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), which is an idiobiont ectoparasitoid. In this study, we observed the survival of L. serricorne larvae that were refrigerated under different conditions (stored at 7 °C, 10 °C, and 13 °C for 30, 45, 60, and 75 days) and the number of emerging A. calandrae under these conditions, aiming to determine the optimal temperature for L. serricorne larvae storage. Our results showed that 10 °C was the optimum temperature for storing L. serricorne larvae, with no significant differences recorded in the number of parasitoids that emerged from L. serricorne larvae that had been refrigerated for 75 days compared with the control. After refrigeration at 7 °C for 45 days, L. serricorne larvae were almost dead, with no parasitoid emergence, suggesting that dead host larvae were not used for rearing A. calandrae. Interestingly, when stored for more than 45 days at 13 °C, L. serricorne larvae developed abnormally and died, and the number of parasitoids that emerged was also significantly reduced. Subsequently, we tested the adaptive parameters of A. calandrae reared with L. serricorne larvae after cold storage at 10 °C for different periods, including development time, sex ratio, longevity, adult body length, and fecundity. These parameters were not significantly different from those of the control with the exception of fecundity, which indicated that progeny production on refrigerated hosts gradually declined with storage duration. In summary, A. calandrae could successfully parasitize and utilize L. serricorne larvae as hosts for long-term refrigeration at 10 °C for up to 45 days without considerable undesirable effects on offspring suitability. These results may have practical implications regarding the development of efficient mass-rearing systems for A. calandrae.

MULTIDIMENSIONAL DATABASES IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS OF UNIVERSITIES

The article is devoted to the description of the method of multidimensional database,which is an effective method of data storage, which allows analyzing data qualitatively, andmost importantly in a short time. The article discusses the capabilities of multidimensionaldatabases, in particular, multidimensional OLAP (On-Line Analytical Processing) cubes whenanalyzing large amounts of data. Provides an overview and features of a multidimensionaldatabase and discusses the steps you need to take with a multidimensional database tounderstand the structure and capabilities of an OLAP cube. To create a knowledge base, itdescribes the steps you can take to create and execute a multidimensional database thatyou can collect from various sources, save to a database, and then prepare a report usingOLAP analysis. Various information system data processing technologies such as OLTP andOLAP were considered. The algorithm of the data storage process for analysis purposes wasstudied. A model of a multidimensional database in the form of a three-dimensional cubewas presented. Examples of analysis and ways of obtaining information from the data cubewere also given. The use of a multidimensional database in higher education institutions as asimple and effective method of data storage is considered. There are also illustrations of thestructure of a higher educational institution to see the bulkiness of information, and what kindof information database operates in the educational institution.

Evaluating cascaded and tunable phase change materials for enhanced thermal energy storage utilization and effectiveness in building envelopes

The incorporation of phase change materials (PCMs) in envelope is considered an effective thermal energy storage (TES) method for energy savings and load flexibility in buildings. However, an important limitation of PCMs is their fixed and narrow transition temperature range. Because the interior temperature setpoints are typically different in summer versus winter, and the exterior temperature varies substantially above and below the setpoints during the year, PCMs with a fixed transition temperature are utilized only during part of the year. In this study, we provide an extensive numerical analysis of the performance of a lightweight building envelope containing three different types of PCMs: traditional single-layer PCM with a fixed transition temperature, novel cascaded two-layer PCM with different transition temperatures, and a “futuristic” tunable PCM whose transition temperature can be varied in-situ using external excitation. We compare their performances by evaluating the relationship between the PCM utilization and parameters such as latent heat, transition temperature range, PCM thickness, and PCM location. While traditional PCMs are mostly active during one season, properly designed cascaded and tunable PCMs can be active much longer, thereby allowing load shift and energy savings in both heating and cooling seasons. Under the operating conditions considered in this study, tunable PCMs performed best, providing the highest utilization (about 2 times the traditional PCMs) and enhanced effectiveness (up to 99% peak load reduction in cooling season and 34% peak load reduction in heating season) with the same amount of material as the traditional PCMs; however, cascaded PCMs can be a good alternative while tunable PCMs are unavailable.

Methanol Steam Reforming on Bimetallic Catalysts Based on In and Nb Doped Titania or Zirconia: A Support Effect

Methanol steam reforming (MSR) is considered an effective method for hydrogen storage and to generate high-quality hydrogen for fuel cells. In this work, a comprehensive investigation of the methanol steam reforming process using a bimetallic Pt–Rh and Cu–Ni based on different oxide supports is presented. Highly dispersed titania and zirconia doped with indium and niobium ions were synthesized by sol–gel method. The effect of the nature and quantity of the dopant cation (In, Nb) on the catalytic performance of titania supported metal catalysts was investigated. The conclusions obtained show a significant effect of both the metal alloy and the oxide support nature on the activity and selectivity of the methanol steam reforming process. Pt–Rh alloy catalyst shows higher hydrogen yield, but its selectivity in the MSR process is lower than for the catalysts containing the Cu0.8-Ni0.2 alloy. Heterovalent indium doping of titania leads to the catalytic activity increase. It was suggested that this is due to the defects formation in the oxygen TiO2 sublattice. On the contrary, the use of niobium oxide as a dopant decreases the catalyst activity in the methanol steam reforming process but leads to the selectivity increase in the studied process.

Effect of nitric oxide fumigation on microorganisms and quality of dried apricots during storage

The effect of nitric oxide (NO) on microorganisms and quality of dried apricots during storage was investigated. The results showed that NO fumigation at various concentrations could effectively reduce natural disease and moth pest incidence, as well as decrease the total number of microorganisms on dried apricots during storage. Compared with the control (CK), NO fumigation maintained higher levels of total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, and reducing sugar in dried apricots. Additionally, the fumigated apricots displayed lower levels of total color change, degree of browning, and decline of nutrients compared with control. Furthermore, although the concentrations of nitrate and nitrite ions in dried apricots after NO fumigation were higher than those of the CK group, their levels were in line with the standard limits. Among the different concentrations of NO, 1,500 μl/L showed the best results regarding natural diseases, moth pests, and microbial inhibition, while 900 μl/L maintained the best quality of dried apricots during storage. These findings demonstrated that NO fumigation has potential to be a safe and effective treatment method to control microbial contamination and preserve the storage quality of dried apricots. Practical applications Nitric oxide (NO) fumigation can be used as a safe and effective storage method for dried fruits. This is the theoretical and technical foundation for the industrial application of NO fumigation technology, which provides new ideas and directions for the storage of dried fruits.

Spatial differences in pressure and heat transfer characteristics of CO2 hydrate with dissociation for geological CO2 storage

The submarine CO2 hydrate-based geological storage is an effective method for carbon capture and storage, which is significant for mitigating the greenhouse effect. The pressure and temperature variation can affect the storage stability of CO2 hydrate. In order to investigate the spatial differences in pressure and heat transfer characteristics of CO2 hydrate mixed system and the morphological evolvement process with dissociation during depressurization stage, a 100 L high-pressure reactor is used to take comprehensively experimental study. Furthermore, the effects of environmental heat flux and hydrate volume fraction on dissociation behavior and hydrate stability are also analyzed. The results indicate that the energy of hydrate mixed system is spatially inhomogeneous during dissociation and the heat flux flows to the region where the sensible heat is greatly consumed. And the bottom temperature is approximately 1.4-fold versus upper temperature. The depressurization dissociation process can be divided into dissociation stable stage (DSS) and dissociation weakening stage (DWS). The duration of DSS at depressurization stage of 1.5–1.2 MPa is around 3-fold versus stage of 2.5–2.0 MPa.

Research on the reproductive biological characteristics of Amomum villosum Lour. and Amomum longiligulare T. L. Wu.

ObjectiveTo explore the influence of biological characteristics on the yield of Amomum villosum Lour. and Amomum longiligulare T. L. Wu, to find an effective pollen viability evaluation method and storage method to solve the problem of the low yield of Amomum plants.MethodsFive germplasm of Amomum plants were used to investigate the effects of the phenological phase, pollen viability, and stigma receptivity on natural and artificial fruit set.ResultsAmomum longiligulare T. L. Wu showed late flowering, and its natural pollination rate is higher than that of Amomum villosum Lour. In all germplasm, the artificial pollination rate and fruit setting rate are more than 3 times higher than that under natural conditions. Fruits begin to drop seven days after successful pollination, and the fruit drop is basically stable after one month. The hybridization verification showed that TTC method was simpler and more accurate than in vitro germination method. Optimal storage conditions for pollen are 4°C and high humidity. After 36 h of storage, pollen can still be used for artificial cross-pollination or as hybrid parents.ConclusionThe special biological characteristics are the fundamental reason for the low natural pollination rate of Amomum plants. The accurate measurement method of Amomum plants pollen is the TTC method, and storage at 4°C and high humidity can increase the yield, which was six times that of the natural yield.

Thermo-photo synergic effect on methanol steam reforming over mesoporous Cu/TiO2–CeO2 catalysts

Methanol steam reforming (MSR) is considered as an effective method for hydrogen storage and generating high-quality hydrogen for fuel cells. In this work, mesoporous Cu/TiO2–CeO2 catalysts are proposed to achieve efficient MSR based on synergetic effects of thermal and photon energies. Optimal Ti/Ce molar ratio is found to be 2:1, for which excellent methanol conversion of 100% and extremely low CO selectivity of 2.2% are achieved for thermal catalysis. Further applying UV light (280–400 nm) irradiation while keeping the same temperature, the hydrogen production rate is enhanced to be 78.8 mmol/h/g from 58.6 mmol/h/g. The underlying mechanism is attributed to photogenerated electron hole pairs promoting the REDOX reaction of intermediate product methyl formate based on in situ diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectra (DRIFTS). This work provides a new method to enhance methanol steam reforming performance via thermo-photo synergic effects, and paves a way for the development of direct solar driven MSR techniques.

Thermodynamic investigation of a novel hydrogen liquefaction process using thermo-electrochemical water splitting cycle and solar collectors

Hydrogen production and liquefaction using solar thermo-electrochemical water splitting systems can as an effective method for long-term renewable energy source storage are suggested. In this paper, a novel integrated configuration for the cogeneration of liquid hydrogen and oxygen by magnesium-chlorine thermo-electrochemical water splitting cycle, hydrogen liquefaction unit, and solar dish collectors is developed. The novel integrated structure produces 7116 kg/h liquid hydrogen and 57597 kg/h oxygen. Through the magnesium-chlorine cycle, pure hydrogen is produced and the required energy is supplied through solar renewable energy based on the climatic conditions of Isfahan city in Iran. Then the produced hydrogen enters the liquefaction process to generate liquid hydrogen. The heat and power consumption of the whole system for the cogeneration of liquid hydrogen and oxygen are 207.9 MW and 373.9 MW, respectively. The heat waste of the integrated structure is used to produce hot water as a by-product. The specific power consumption of the liquefaction cycle is 7.6 kWh/kg LH2 and also the total thermal efficiency of the whole integrated system is 71.4%. Through the pinch method, heat exchanger networks related to multi-stream heat exchangers of the present system are extracted. Sensitivity analysis is used to investigate the effects of changes in major parameters including operating conditions of the thermo-electrochemical cycle as well as changes in the solar dish collector main parameters and the results are reported.

Determination of Biochemical Contents of Fresh, Oven-Dried, and Sun-Dried Peels and Pulps of Five Apple Cultivars (Amasya, Braeburn, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Starking)

This study aimed to investigate the biochemical compounds of five different apple cultivars (Amasya, Braeburn, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Starking) grown in the same location and to reveal the differences between peel and pulp in the fresh, oven-dried, and sun-dried samples. Sugar and organic acid contents were analyzed through high-performance liquid chromatography. Besides, antioxidant activity, total flavonoid, and total phenolic contents were analyzed with a spectrophotometer. The results of these analyses showed that the compounds varied between peel and pulp and among fresh, oven-dried, and sun-dried samples. The largest level of total flavonoid was found in Amasya oven-dried peel, and the largest total phenol, antioxidant activity, fructose, and total sugar levels were observed in Amasya sun-dried peel. Moreover, the largest L-ascorbic acid was detected in Amasya oven-dried pulp. Granny Smith oven-dried pulp was rich in citric, succinic acids, and glucose. Braeburn sun-dried pulp, Golden Delicious oven-dried pulp, and Granny Smith sun-dried pulp contained the largest sucrose, malic acid, and total soluble solids levels, respectively. For data interpretation, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan’s test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, and principal component analysis were performed. The peel contained significantly higher total flavonoid, total phenol, and antioxidant activity than pulp. Moreover, among fresh, oven-dried, and sun-dried samples, total phenol, succinic acid, malic acid, and L-ascorbic acid significantly differed. As a whole, the pulp was rich in sugars. The results provide valuable information on the food quality parameters of five different apple cultivars. It was demonstrated that consuming apple with its peel is healthier (in terms of total flavonoid, total phenol, antioxidant activity parameters, and L-ascorbic acid), and drying (especially the sun-drying method) is an effective food storage method for apples.

A mid/low-temperature solar-driven integrated membrane reactor for the dehydrogenation of propane – A thermodynamic assessment

Solar thermochemical conversion is an effective method for solar energy storage, and propane dehydrogenation is one popular technology to generate propylene and hydrogen, while the high temperature required in the reaction limits its efficiency and utilization. In this research, a solar–driven hydrogen permeation membrane reactor system for propane dehydrogenation is proposed for efficiently generating pure hydrogen and propylene in a mild temperature range, which can decrease the heat loss and increase the conversion rate, thereby converting low–grade solar thermal energy into high–grade chemical energy. Using the method of numerical simulation, the thermodynamic, kinetic, and environmental performances of the system are analyzed at different temperatures (250–500 °C) and H2 permeate pressures (10–5–10–2 bar). The C3H8 conversion rate, C3H6 selectivity, and C3H6 yield can achieve 99.2%, 99.1%, and 98.3% at 400 °C, 10–5 bar with the assistance of hydrogen separation. The first–law thermodynamic efficiency, solar–to–fuel efficiency, and exergy efficiency of the system are calculated to be 93.1%, 33.6%, and 73.4% (400 °C, 10–4 bar), respectively. The annual standard coal savings and carbon dioxide reduction rates are calculated to be 279.8 kg/(m2·year) and 685.5 kg/(m2·year) (400 °C, 10–5 bar). This study demonstrates the feasibility of a solar collector integrated with a membrane reactor for efficient solar energy storage via C3H8 dehydrogenation and provides guidance for further experimental research.

Pollen storage of coconut dwarf accession Chowghat Orange Dwarf at low temperature

Pollen collection and storage assume importance in hybridization programs in coconut. Development of an effective short-term storage method for coconut pollen ensures availability of pollen for coconut breeding throughout the year. In the present study, pollen collected from dwarf coconut cultivar Chowghat Orange Dwarf (COD), using standardized extraction procedures, was utilized for studying their storage behaviour under four different low-temperature regimes, i.e. 4ºC, -20ºC, -45ºC and -196ºC along with control at room temperature. Data on pollen germination percentage and pollen tube lengths were collected based on in vitro procedures at four different storage intervals (1st day, 14th day, 30th day and 60th day) to identify best short-term storage temperature. Germination percentage of pollen gradually reduced with duration of storage in all treatments but in case of pollen, which was stored at room temperature (control, i.e. 28±2ºC), viability decreased drastically and became nil within two weeks. Results revealed that higher germination percentage (38.82%) and pollen tube length (535.9 μm) were observed at -196ºC followed by -45ºC (31.77%, 400.73 μm) and -20ºC (30.82%, 282.89 μm) after a storage period of eight weeks. This study shows that desiccated pollen grains can be successfully stored at -45ºC for its utilization in breeding programmes besides long term storage at -196ºC.

Evaluation of anhydrous processing and storage methods of the temperate bacteriophage ɸV10 for integration into foodborne pathogen detection methodologies.

Due to the nascency of bacteriophage-based pathogen detection technologies, several practical hurdles stand in the way between providing promising proof-of-concept data and development of robust detection platforms. One such hurdle, and the focus of this work, is the development of methods for transitioning laboratory stocks of bacteriophage into functional, consistent, and shelf-stable delivery methods in commercial detection kits. Research described here was undertaken to evaluate two methods for their ability to store the bacteriophage ɸV10 at ambient temperature without aqueous storage solutions while limiting loss of viability. ɸV10 is a temperate bacteriophage which solely infects the zero-tolerance food adulterant Escherichia coli O157:H7 and has been genetically modified to generate a detectable phenotype in host cells. In order to integrate this reporter bacteriophage into food-borne pathogen detection methodologies, two methods of processing phage suspensions for long-term, ambient storage were evaluated: printing solutions onto pieces of dissolvable paper and lyophilizing suspensions with sucrose. Applying phage to dissolvable paper yielded key attributes to consider when addressing phage viability, however, optimized methodology still resulted in an approximate five-log reduction in titer of viable phage. Lyophilization of ɸV10 with various concentrations of the cryoprotectant molecule, sucrose, yielded losses of approximately 0.3-log after 120 days of storage at 23°C. Liquid storage buffer samples with and without sucrose saw a reduction of viable phage of at least 3.9-log in the same period. Additionally, the ability for ɸV10 to form lysogens in an E. coli O157:H7 host was not negatively affected by lyophilization. Drying ɸV10 at ambient temperature drastically reduces the viability of the phage. However, lyophilizing ɸV10 in the presence of sucrose is an effective method for dehydration and storage of the phage in ambient environmental conditions for an extended time lending to commercial application and integration into foodborne pathogen detection methodologies.

Testing and Evaluation of Double Layer Evaporative Cooler for Vegetables Preservation in North

Sri Lanka is faced a problematic issue of post- harvest preservation and processing of agricultural produces. Introduction of cost effective method for storage of vegetables is necessary to maintain freshness until marketing. The evaporative cooling principle was introduced under the construction of cooling chamber system. Therefore low cost zero energy double layer cool chambers were designed using clay bricks, anthill clay. Space between double layers was filled with saw dust and charcoal separately and water circulated from top to bottom. The cool chambers were made to enhance the shelf life and minimize the weight loss of vegetables. Temperature and relative humidity inside and outside of chamber were measured in hourly intervals in day time. The samples of Spinach, brinjal and carrot were selected for evaluation. Weight loss was measured at hourly intervals to check the effectiveness of the design. Physiological weight loss for all selected vegetables was low for samples placed charcoal media cool-chamber than the saw dust media cool-chamber than outside. Evaporative cooler design tested by the regression analysis was implied to fit the relationship between log mean temperature ratio against time duration of cooling in saw dust media and charcoal media cool-chambers. The cooling rate (CR) was expressed by the equation, respectively. The relationship derived to charcoal media cool-chamber was y= -0.015x + 0.063 with regression value of Ris 0.978 and saw dust media cool-chamber y = -0.033x +0.079 with regression value of R is 0.856. The cooling rate and efficiency were higher in charcoal as a filling media cooler. Since the regression value was more than 80%, in the both design. Design evaporative coolers are satisfied the requirements of safe storage.