Limited Storage Time Research Articles

Kinetic Insights into the Antioxidant Effect of Isatin-Thiosemicarbazone in Biodiesel Blends.

Biodiesel has several drawbacks, such as being prone to oxidation, having reduced stability, and having limited storage time. Antioxidants compatible with biodiesel are being used to address its drawbacks. Utilizing antioxidants effectively improves the quality of biodiesel. Enhancing the quality of biodiesel for use as a clean energy source benefits both the global economy and ecology. Therefore, we believe that our work will contribute to the advancement of the biodiesel industry worldwide. This study used blends consisting of 20% biodiesel and 80% diesel fuel. Isatin-thiosemicarbazones were tested as additives in blends at a concentration of 3000 parts per million (ppm) using an oxifast device and were compared with the chemical antioxidant Trolox. FT-IR, DSC, and TGA were used to characterize these samples. DSC measured sample crystallization temperatures (Tc). Samples with antioxidants showed decreased values compared to the non-antioxidant diesel sample D100. Several DSC tests were conducted to determine the antioxidant strengths of various samples. The results show that the FT-IR spectrum's antioxidant effect regions grow clearer with antioxidants. The extra antioxidant is effective. Biodiesel's oxidative stability improves with isatin-thiosemicarbazones at varying concentrations. The kinetics of thermal decomposition of isatin-thiosemicarbazones under non-isothermal conditions were determined using the Kissinger, Ozawa, and Boswell techniques. The activation energies of compounds 1 and 2 were calculated as 137-147 kJ mol-1 and 173-183 kJ mol-1, respectively.

The effect of agitating buffy coats on platelet quality before soft spin

BackgroundPlatelet plays a vital role in both physiological and pathological processes. However, the limited storage time of platelet in vitro poses an immense challenge for its applications because of the increased risk of bacterial contamination and platelet storage lesions. Agitation can inhibit lesions by facilitating continuous oxygenation of platelets and permitting excess carbon dioxide to be removed during storage. However, it is still not known whether agitating BCs gives a positive effect on platelet quality. Objectives: To evaluate the quality difference between platelet concentrates (PCs) from buffy coats (BCs) held rest and agitation. MethodsSamples were withdrawn for cell count, blood gas analysis, free hemoglobin level, hypotonic shock response, maximum aggregation rate, activation marker expression (CD62P and CD42b) and coagulation function. Results: We found the PCs prepared from the agitating BCs had fewer residual WBCs, exhibited a better gas exchange ability, slower metabolism (higher pH, higher content glucose, and lower lactic acid levels), better hypotonic shock response, and lower levels of CD62P. The TEG-PC assays showed no difference in coagulation function. Conclusion: Our findings showed that BC can be agitated overnight before a soft spin.

Extended supercooled storage of red blood cells

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions facilitate many life-saving acute and chronic interventions. Transfusions are enabled through the gold-standard hypothermic storage of RBCs. Today, the demand for RBC units is unfulfilled, partially due to the limited storage time, 6 weeks, in hypothermic storage. This time limit stems from high metabolism-driven storage lesions at +1-6 °C. A recent and promising alternative to hypothermic storage is the supercooled storage of RBCs at subzero temperatures, pioneered by our group. Here, we report on long-term supercooled storage of human RBCs at physiological hematocrit levels for up to 23 weeks. Specifically, we assess hypothermic RBC additive solutions for their ability to sustain supercooled storage. We find that a commercially formulated next-generation solution (Erythro-Sol 5) enables the best storage performance and can form the basis for further improvements to supercooled storage. Our analyses indicate that oxidative stress is a prominent time- and temperature-dependent injury during supercooled storage. Thus, we report on improved supercooled storage of RBCs at −5 °C by supplementing Erythro-Sol 5 with the exogenous antioxidants, resveratrol, serotonin, melatonin, and Trolox. Overall, this study shows the long-term preservation potential of supercooled storage of RBCs and establishes a foundation for further improvement toward clinical translation.

Prolonged Normothermic Machine Perfusion: Buying More Time for Liver Graft Assessment and Repair.

Prolonged Normothermic Machine Perfusion: Buying More Time for Liver Graft Assessment and Repair.

Cryopreserved platelets: a narrative review of its current role in transfusion therapy

Background: The short shelf life of platelet concentrates (PCs) provokes logistic problems in providing timely PC transfusions during long holiday periods when long or major transportation barriers exists (severe weather, military operations…) or for patients highly alloimmunized by human leukocyte antigens (HLA)/human platelet antigens (HPA) antibodies. In the European Union the only approved strategy authorized to circumvent the limited storage time of PCs is the cryopreservation using 6% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), at temperature of –80 ℃ or below.

Usage of Natural Colour Indicators in Packaging Materials for Monitorization of Meat Freshness

Food packaging has an important role in protecting food against physical, chemical, and biological hazards during storage and distribution and in informing the consumer about the product. The packaging of foods that susceptible to chemical / microbiological spoilage especially such as meat, hence limited storage time, is even more important than other foods. In addition, the tendency of health-conscious consumers to be a part of real-time controls and monitoring food safety has led to the widening of this packaging perception. Hence, there have been innovative studies in recent years, especially aiming real time monitorization of freshness indicators. The focus of these studies is “colour indicators” used in the production of intelligent indicator films and colorimetric sensors within specific matrices to be integrated into packaging materials. The colour indicators change colour in the presence of certain metabolites released in food spoilage, which allows freshness to be determined. Colour substances used for this purpose can be natural or synthetic. Hence, natural pigments such as anthocyanin, curcumin, etc. have been more preferrable since being harmless to the health as well as increasing tendency of consumers to utilization from natural resources. In this review, information about natural colour indicators and studies in which these indicators are used to determine the freshness of meat in real time and visually are given.

Platelet Storage Temperature Determines Recovery of GPVI-Function In Vivo

Background: Platelets (PLTs) are currently stored at 22°C (RT, room temperature) for clinical purposes. This approach ensures long circulation time but has numerous downsides, including limited storage time due to the risk of bacterial growth and increased costs due to bacterial testing or pathogen reduction processing. PLTs stored at 4°C were the standard of care in the 1960s and 1970s. In our previous study with healthy volunteers, we showed that humans who received cold-stored PLTs have a significantly weaker response to collagen (an agonist that acts predominantly via GPVI) compared to RT-stored PLTs. If and how cold-stored PLTs recover their function in vivo is poorly understood. Methods: We obtained human PLTs by an apheresis collection and sampled either at baseline (fresh) or after five days at RT or 4°C. To test the response to GPVI-dependent agonists, we stimulated platelet-rich plasma or washed PLTs with collagen and the GPVI-specific agonist convulxin (CVX) and tested for activated integrin and α-degranulation by flow cytometry. Platelet aggregation, in response to GPVI-dependent agonists, was tested by aggregometry. We checked for GPVI expression levels by flow cytometry and for signaling events downstream of GPVI by immunoblotting. To allow for recovery of function in vitro, we incubated either 4°C-stored, or RT-stored PLTs with fresh, platelet-depleted blood for 15min, and perfused the reconstituted whole blood through a microfluidic block and post device to quantify the contractile forces of platelet aggregates. Additionally, we performed platelet force measurements at the single cell level using a traction force microscopy approach. To validate a murine model of platelet storage and transfusion, we replicated functional studies in vitro by testing mouse PLTs for integrin activation and α-degranulation by flow cytometry. Platelet aggregation in response to collagen, CVX, and the GPVI-specific antibody JAQ-1 with crosslinking anti-IgG was also tested. To evaluate the platelet function after transfusion, we obtained whole blood from UbiC-GFP mice and isolated platelet-rich plasma followed by storage for 24 hours at either 4°C or RT. To allow tracking of stored PLTs in vivo, we transfused the UbiC-GFP PLTs into wild-type C57BL/6J mice and tested for integrin activation of endogenous and transfused PLTs. Results: In human PLTs, we found a significantly increased integrin response in 4°C-stored PLTs stimulated with collagen in flow cytometry studies in vitro. Similarly, the aggregation response of 4°C-stored PLTs to collagen was significantly increased compared to RT-stored PLTs in vitro. In line with these findings, we observed more PLCγ2 phosphorylation and Syk phosphorylation at baseline in 4°C-stored PLTs compared to RT-stored PLTs, suggesting more pre-activation downstream of GPVI. However, no differences in PLCγ2 phosphorylation or Syk-phosphorylation were found between RT and 4°C-stored PLTs after stimulation with CVX, and no significant differences in surface expression levels of GPVI were detected between RT and 4°C. Stored platelets in plasma showed superior function after 4°C-storage in aggregation and flow cytometry assays. In contrast, we found similar contractile forces of platelet aggregates when RT-stored or 4°C-stored PLTs were added to platelet-depleted fresh blood. Additionally, at the single cell level, we found a similar magnitude of platelet forces in RT-stored and 4°C-stored PLTs. Similar to human PLTs, mouse PLTs showed significantly more integrin activation, P-selectin exposure, and aggregation in 4°C-stored PLTs compared to RT. To test the recovery of function of stored mouse platelets in vivo, we transfused GFP-positive PLTs into GFP-negative wild-type mice. Contrary to our pre-transfusion results, we found a significantly lower integrin activation response to CVX in 4°C-stored platelets after transfusion, consistent with our previous results in healthy human volunteers. Summary: The in vivo recovery of function of stored PLTs is an underappreciated phenomenon in platelet storage biology, and most studies are solely based on functional in vitro data. Based on our post-transfusion results, storage temperature affects the ability to recover function in vivo significantly in human and mouse platelets. Whether these differences lead to differences in clinical outcomes needs to be investigated in clinical trials. Disclosures Sniadecki: Stasys Medical Corporation: Current equity holder in private company, Other: Co-founder; Curi Bio: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Addressing storage time restrictions in the S-graph scheduling framework

Storage planning and utilization are among the most important considerations of practical batch process scheduling. Modeling the available storage options appropriately can be crucial in order to find practically applicable solutions with the best objective value. In general, there are two main limitations on storage: capacity and time. This paper focuses on the latter and investigates different techniques to tackle limited storage time within the S-graph framework. The S-graph framework is a collection of combinatorial algorithms and a directed graph based model that has been introduced three decades ago and has been under development ever since. In this work, several options for addressing storage time limitations within the framework were implemented and tested for efficiency. The empirical results over a huge number of tests have unequivocally favored one of the approaches, which will be applied in later developments.

Evaluation of inhibitory activities of two medicinal plant extracts Parkia biglobosa and Lonicera japonica against spoilage microorganisms isolated from mulberry fruit

Two medicinal plants, African Locust Bean (Parkia biglobosa) and Lonicera japonica, traditionally used in West Africa and China were investigated against four spoilage microorganisms: Bacillus subtilis, Cronobacter dublinensis, Pantoea agglomerans, and Bacillus sp., isolated from mulberry fruit. The aqueous extract of the P. biglobosa (ALB) was potent with average inhibitory zones against four spoilage microorganisms recorded as (Means ± SD) 6.5 to 19.5 mm as well as 6.5 to 15.5 mm for L. japonica (HSF) at concentrations of 400 mg/ml. The aqueous extracts of P. biglobosa (54%) inhibited decay better than L. japonica (66%). Decay situations of the medicinal plants with 1-MCP emerged higher than the control group 78%, 72%, and 68% in ALB + 1-MCP, HSF + 1-MCP, and deionized water, respectively. Therefore, two plant extracts against spoilage microorganisms isolated from mulberry fruit had good inhibitory activities, but their mixture with 1-MCP could not preserve the mulberry fruits in limited storage time. Practical applications Advance in the bacteria control using a natural control like medicinal plants against plant infections was investigated. The present study demonstrated the potentials of African locust bean and L. japonica as a novel biocontrol agent to the extent of preserving the postharvest decay of mulberry fruit in limited storage time at room temperature. The results and findings obtained in this study support the potential application of these two plants in mulberry fruit preservation as well as in traditional therapeutics. In addition, the combination with 1-MCP also serves as the potential to extend the shelf life of mulberry fruit in order to limit the use of pesticides in postharvest treatments. This study reports for the first time isolated microorganisms from mulberry fruit and the developments of edible coatings utilizing plant extracts from different continents against their activities.

Evaluation of Efficacy and Safety of Cold-Stored Platelets in Healthy Human Subjects Treated with Dual Antiplatelet Therapy

Background: Platelets are currently stored at 22°C (room temperature-stored) for clinical purposes. This approach has numerous downsides including limited storage time due to risk of bacterial growth, and increased costs caused by bacterial testing or pathogen reduction. Platelets stored at 4ºC (cold-stored) were the standard of care in the 1960s and 70s, and while they generally perform better than room temperature-stored platelets in in vitro assays, functional studies in vivo have yielded contradictory results. Methods: Eight healthy human participants were included in the analysis of this randomized, cross-over study. A double unit of apheresis platelets was collected from each subject for autologous transfusion. Platelets were stored for 5 days at either 4ºC, or 22ºC, based on randomization. On day 5, platelets were transfused 12-24 hours after participants received a loading dose of acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel. An array of platelet function testing was done at baseline, after loading dose, and after transfusion (1h, 4h, 24h). The first round was followed by a wash-out period of at least 10 days, and a second sequence of collection, antiplatelet loading dose, and transfusion with platelets stored under alternate conditions from the first sequence. The primary endpoint was defined as post-transfusion platelet αIIbβ3 integrin activation in response to agonists for pathways inhibited by dual antiplatelet therapy, measured by the VerifyNOW assay. Secondary endpoints included platelet function testing by bleeding time, VASP-phosphorylation, light transmission aggregometry, and flow cytometric analysis of platelet αIIbβ3 integrin activation and α-granule secretion. Results: All cold-stored platelet units passed quality control analyses, and no platelet aggregates were observed at the end of the storage period. One room temperature-stored unit had to be discarded due to quality control failure. Transfusion of a double unit with 5 day cold-stored platelets was tolerated well by all recipients. The absolute number of transfused platelets did not differ significantly between the cold-storage arm and the room temperature storage arm. The corrected count increment did not differ significantly at 1h after transfusion, but was significantly lower in the cold-stored group at the 4h, and 24h time points. The primary endpoint, platelet function testing by VerifyNOW, showed reversal of the effect of acetylsalicylic acid with both products at 1h and 4h post transfusion, but platelet inhibition re-appeared after 24h post transfusion in the cold-storage arm, presumably due to accelerated clearance of cold-stored platelets. No significant differences were observed between the two products in the VerifyNOW assay for clopidogrel. The bleeding time (a secondary endpoint) did not differ significantly at any time point between the cold-stored and room temperature-stored transfusion group. However, the bleeding time improved or remained unchanged in all recipients transfused with room temperature-stored platelets, whereas, transfusion of cold-stored platelets caused prolongation of the bleeding time in 50% of recipients. Surprisingly, platelets isolated from recipients of room temperature-stored platelets aggregated significantly better in response to collagen compared to platelets isolated from recipients of cold-stored platelets at 1h and 4h post transfusion. Other secondary endpoints, including VASP-phosphorylation, αIIbβ3 integrin activation and α-granule secretion by flow cytometry, and platelet aggregation in response to arachidonic acid and ADP did not differ significantly between the two treatment groups. Conclusion: We report the first safety and efficacy data of 5 day cold stored platelets in plasma. Unexpectedly, some endpoints demonstrate agonist- and assay-dependent inferiority of cold-stored platelets at early and late time points. Further studies are needed to determine the maximum storage time, and the efficacy of cold-stored platelets in actively bleeding patients and patients with platelet dysfunction. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Haemostatic responsiveness and release of biological response modifiers following cryopreservation of platelets treated with amotosalen and ultraviolet A light.

Due to the risk of replication of contaminating pathogens, platelets have a limited storage time of 5 days, which can be prolonged to 7 days by the use of pathogen inactivation technologies. Cryopreservation (CP) may be an alternative to permit longer storage periods and increased availability. However, the preparation of platelets can result in secretion of biological response modifiers (BRM), which can cause adverse transfusion reactions in the recipient. We investigated the impact of CP on platelet function and release of BRM in untreated (conventional) and pathogen-inactivated (PI) platelet concentrates. Twelve buffy coat-derived platelet units were treated with amotosalen and ultraviolet A light to inactivate pathogens. Twelve untreated units were used as controls. The 24 units were cryopreserved and in vitro variables were analysed before and after CP. The in vitro variables investigated included platelet surface receptors and activation markers by flow cytometry, and coagulation time by viscoelastography. A panel of BRM, including cytokines, was investigated. CP of both conventional and PI platelets resulted in a significant increase of BRM with similar increases of most of the BRM after CP of conventional and PI platelet concentrates. The increase in some of the BRM correlated significantly with shortened coagulation time, increased P-selectin expression, reduced mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and reduced capacity to respond to stimulation with ADP and collagen. Cryopreservation of both conventional and PI platelets results in secretion of BRM. The increase in some of the BRM correlated with changes in platelet function variables and suggests that BRM release is affected, in part, in a similar way by CP as are changes in platelet function variables. PI with amotosalen and ultraviolet A light in combination with CP did not affect the release of immunomodulatory factors more than CP alone did.

Development and evaluation of an omeprazole-based delayed-release liquid oral dosage form.

Modified-release oral dosage forms are commonly used in pharmaceutics to delay or sustain the release of drugs. Nowadays, they are only marketed as solid dosage forms such as capsules or tablets. Therefore, the development of a liquid oral dosage form with modified-release properties has been keenly awaited to increase the compliance of patients with a swallowing impairment, such as paediatric, older or critically ill patients. In this study, a new technology has been developed that consists of multi-layered particles suspended extemporaneously in a syrup, using omeprazole as a model drug. The coating procedure was optimized to obtain a yield of minimum 90% w/w and a mean diameter below 500 µm. Eudragit® E100 and Eudragit® L100-55 were used to prevent the early release of omeprazole in the syrup and in the acidic environment of the stomach, respectively. These polymers allowed the stability of the coated particles to be ensured when dispersed in a liquid and the enteric release of the drug to be targeted. It was demonstrated that our new system presented similar release performances to existing marketed enteric dosage forms. It is able to protect omeprazole for 2 h in acidic medium at pH 1.2, while omeprazole was entirely released at pH 6.8 within 45 min. Once the final suspension is prepared extemporaneously, it presents sufficient stability to guarantee the administration of multiple doses filled into a syrup bottle and kept for a limited storage time at room temperature (e.g. up to 10 doses to be administered within 10 days).

Storage and Reemission of Heralded Telecommunication-Wavelength Photons Using a Crystal Waveguide

Large-scale quantum networks will employ telecommunication-wavelength photons to exchange quantum information between remote measurement, storage, and processing nodes via fibre-optic channels. Quantum memories compatible with telecommunication-wavelength photons are a key element towards building such a quantum network. Here, we demonstrate the storage and retrieval of heralded 1532 nm-wavelength photons using a solid-state waveguide quantum memory. The heralded photons are derived from a photon-pair source that is based on parametric down-conversion, and our quantum memory is based on a 6 GHz-bandwidth atomic frequency comb prepared using an inhomogeneously broadened absorption line of a cryogenically-cooled erbium-doped lithium niobate waveguide. Using persistent spectral hole burning under varying magnetic fields, we determine that the memory is enabled by population transfer into niobium and lithium nuclear spin levels. Despite limited storage time and efficiency, our demonstration represents an important step towards quantum networks that operate in the telecommunication band and the development of on-chip quantum technology using industry-standard crystals.

New strategies to understand platelet storage lesion

Modern health care is dependent on the banking and transfusion of platelet concentrates. Platelets, however, can pose a problem for stock management at blood banks due to their limited storage time. In most countries, platelets can be stored from 3 to 7 days and due limited storage time up to 30% of all platelet concentrates are discarded without ever being used for clinical transfusion. The main reasons for this limited storage time are increased risk of bacterial contamination, due to the storage conditions at 22°C, and a formation of a condition termed platelet storage lesion (PSL) that decreases the quality of the platelets and makes them less efficient for clinical use as the storage prolongs. Increased understanding of PSL formation and how it can be combated is important to increase the quality of platelets during storage, in turn making them more efficient for clinical use. There are several methods used to detect formation of PSL, including analysing expression of surface markers on platelets using flow cytometry, analysing function of platelets using light transmission aggregometry and release of cytokines and growth factors using, for example ELISA. However, those methods focus more on studying the consequence of PSL instead of the cause of PSL. In recent years, several laboratories, including ours, have been using novel ways to further try to understand the formation of PSL. These include, for example analysing changes in proteomics, miRNA and metabolomics in platelets during storage. In this short overview, we will review how novel methods have been used to shed new lights on the formation of PSL.

Критерії вибору методу дослідження

Критерії вибору методу дослідження

In vitro evaluation of the haemostatic capacity of cryopreserved platelets and platelet substitutes

The short shelf life of platelet concentrates (PCs) presents logistic problems in providing timely PC transfusions for patients highly alloimmunized by HLA/HPA antibodies, and when long or major transportation barriers exist (e.g. rural care settings, severe weather, military operations). Several strategies have been tried to circumvent the limited storage time of PC. Among them, the cryopreservation of human platelets using dimethyl sulfoxide, the freeze‐drying of outdated human platelets and even the manufacture of artificial phospholipids that might act as artificial platelets. Several in vitro techniques are currently available to characterize the structure and function of those products. Among other we can use, complete blood count, flow cytometry combined to monoclonal antibodies, platelet aggregation, studies under flow conditions and thromboelastography/thromboelastometry. The combined use of those in vitro techniques provides valuable information about the structure and functional haemostatic capacities of those platelet components. Depending on the results, the decision can be made if the product can be or cannot be tested on human volunteers and patients. As for instance was the case of artificial phospholipids that after observing a very high procoagulant activity in vitro, this approach has not gone further in its development.

Can spatial reallocation of livestock reduce the impact of GHG emissions?

Historically, concentrated livestock production and, consequently, manure production and management have resulted in considerable environmental impacts in many parts of Europe. The region selected for the current case study was Belgium which is characterized by input-intensive animal production within a geographically concentrated land area. In this study, the effect of a reduction in manure pressure through spatial distribution of CO2 equivalent emissions was investigated and the impact on the carbon footprint verified through a consequential life cycle approach. This was accomplished by investigating the marginal spatial impact on CO2 emissions of a decrease in manure pressure. An economic and environmental optimization was conducted using mathematical linear programming and the main differences between both approaches determined. The results of the model simulations show that, while the economic optimum is achieved by maximizing the transport of raw manure until fertilization standards are fulfilled and subsequently processing the excess manure, the environmental optimum, from a carbon footprint point of view, is achieved by separating all manure, as this strategy causes the least CO2 emissions, mainly due to the limited manure storage time. Moreover, the analyses indicate that rearrangement of the spatial distribution of livestock production in Belgium will not substantially decrease CO2 emissions. As the study demonstrated that manure storage is the main contributor to the carbon footprint, solutions should instead be sought by changing these storage systems. This article contributes to the methodology of the consequential life cycle approach by linking carbon footprint analysis with an economic model that simulates manure disposal decisions driven by legal constraints and market forces.

EMBEDDED ZEROTREE WAVELET CODING WITH JOINT HUFFMAN AND ARITHMETIC CODING

Image compression is a task of reducing the image size without image quality degradation. It provides solution to both the problems of limited storage and long transmission time. This paper presents a method of combinational coding using Huffman and Arithmetic technique. The Embedded Zerotree Wavelet method which provides embedded bit stream is employed for image compression. The EZW symbols obtained are first coded using Huffman method. The Huffman bit stream is converted into byte stream and then into equivalent decimal. The final integer stream obtained is coded using Arithmetic coding. The proposed method of joint coding provides improved compression ratio as compared with Huffman coding alone.

Advances in cryopreservation of organs.

Organ transplantation is an effective approach for the treatment of end-stage organ failures. Currently, the donor organs used for clinical transplantation are all preserved at above-zero temperatures. These preservation methods are well-established and simple but the storage time lasts for only 4-12 h. Some researchers tried to extend the organ storage time by improving protectant and HLA matching to raise the use of stored organs and prolong the long-term survival of organs. These efforts still fall short of the clinical demand for organ transplantation. Moreover, a great many organs were wasted due to limited storage time, HLA mismatch, patients' conditions or distance involved. Therefore, preserving organs for several weeks or even months and establishing Organ Bank are the tough challenges and have become a shared goal of global scholars. This article reviews some issues involved in the cryopreservation of organs, such as use of cryoprotecting agents, freezing and thawing methods in the cryopreservation of hearts, kidneys and other organs.

Oxidation of coal in industrial conditions. 5. limiting storage times

The limiting storage times of coking coal in open heaps at coke plants in summer and winter are determined. There are considerable differences between the limiting storage times determined on the basis of the degree of oxidation, clinkering, coking, and temperature of the coal in the heap. For coal of low (G coal) and high (OS coal) metamorphic development, the change in clinkering and coking properties generally occurs before or at the onset of intense oxidation. For coal of moderate metamorphic development (Zh and K coal), significant change in clinkering and coking properties accompanies intense oxidation. Selection of the limiting storage time on the basis of the coking of the coal is proposed—in particular, in terms of the mechanical strength of blast-furnace coke produced from batch containing coal of different degrees of oxidation. The limiting storage times recommended for coal in summer and winter, respectively, are as follows: 30 and 60 days for G coal; 145 and 200 days for Zh coal; 80 and 95 days for K coal; and 20 and 30 days for OS coal. In revising the Operational Rules, a provision requiring verification of the coking properties of any coal stored in open heaps for more than the standard time must be introduced.