Prolonged Storage Time Research Articles

Effects of frozen storage on the quality characteristics of frozen whole buckwheat extruded noodles.

The effects of frozen storage (-18°C, 180days) on the quality of frozen whole buckwheat extruded noodles (FWBEN) were investigated. The water content of FWBEN decreased, while the reheating time, water absorption, and dry consumption rate increased with prolonged storage time. Cooking loss increased from 3.20% to 4.31%. Texture analysis indicated that the hardness initially increased, then decreased. Microstructure results showed that the starch gel structure was damaged to a certain extent after storage for a longer period of time, whereas the porous structure became non-uniform with the appearance of cracks. The relative crystallinity gradually increased, and the freezable water content decreased with prolonged storage. These results demonstrated that FWBEN quality was affected by starch retrogradation and ice recrystallization. In general, FWBEN quality was relatively stable during 180days of frozen storage at -18°C.

Antibacterial, antioxidant and fruit packaging ability of biochar-based silver nanoparticles-polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan composite film

Silver nanoparticles were prepared by loading Ag+ into biochar of waste barley distillers' grains shell by reduction with trisodium citrate, and this silver-loaded biochar was introduced into polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan. Various analysis with Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Thermogravimetric analysis, and water contact angle revealed that biochar-based silver nanoparticle was incorporated into the polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan film, the biochar-based silver nanoparticles-polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan (C-Ag-loaded PVA/CS) composite film had good thermostability and hydrophobicity. Through the analysis via disk diffusion method, the composite containing 3 % of biochar-based silver nanoparticles-polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan had high antibacterial activity (inhibition zone: 18 mm against E. coli and 15 mm against S. aureus), and the bacterial membrane permeability was measured, indicating that C-Ag-loaded PVA/CS composite film could destroy the cell membrane, release intracellular substances, and have high antioxidant activity. During the storage, the weight loss rate of the biochar-based silver nanoparticles-polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan plastic wrap group was 0.14 %, and the titratable acid content only decreased by 0.061 %, which had a good effect on extending the shelf life of blueberries. The C-Ag-loaded PVA/CS composite film could also delay deterioration of blueberries and prolong storage time. Overall, this composite film had potential in food packaging and extending food shelf-life aspects.

Association Between Storage Time of Transfused Red Blood Cells and Infection After Clean-contaminated Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

To investigate the association between the storage time of transfused red blood cells (RBCs) and risks of infections after clean-contaminated surgery. Storage lesions of RBCs can aggravate transfusion-related immunomodulation. Very few randomized controlled trials have investigated the impacts of storage time on postoperative outcomes in noncardiac patients. We included adult patients who had undergone clean-contaminated surgery from 2014 to 2018 and received allogeneic RBC transfusion. In transfusion episode-level analysis, the exposure was the storage time of each transfusion episode. In patient-level analysis, the exposures were the mean, weighted mean, maximum storage time, and Scalar Age of Blood Index of RBCs transfused into each patient. The primary outcome was infections that developed after transfusions within postoperative day 30. The 4046 patients were included who received 11604 transfusion episodes. Of these, 1025 (25.3%) patients developed postoperative infections. An increased storage time of transfused RBCs was not associated with increased odds of postoperative infections in either transfusion episode-level analysis [odds ratio (OR), 1.03 per 5 days, 95% CI, 0.95-1.11] or patient-level analysis (mean: OR, 1.02, 95% CI, 0.95-1.10; weighted mean: OR, 1.02, 95% CI, 0.95-1.10; maximum: OR, 1.06, 95% CI, 0.98-1.14; Scalar Age of Blood Index: OR, 0.99, 95% CI, 0.96-1.03), after adjusting 17 confounders. Prolonged storage time of transfused RBCs was not associated with increased risks of infections after clean-contaminated surgery.

Eco-friendly alkali lignin-assisted water-based graphene oxide ink and its application as a resistive temperature sensor

Inkjet-printable ink formulated with graphene oxide (GO) offers several advantages, including aqueous dispersion, low cost, and environmentally friendly production. However, water-based GO ink encounters challenges such as high surface tension, low wetting properties, and reduced ink stability over prolonged storage time. Alkali lignin, a natural surfactant, is promising in improving GO ink’s stability, wettability, and printing characteristics. The concentration of surfactant additives is a key factor in fine-tuning GO ink’s stability and printing properties. The current study aims to explore the detailed effects of alkali lignin concentration and optimize the overall properties of graphene oxide (GO) ink for drop-on-demand thermal inkjet printing. A meander-shaped temperature sensor electrode was printed using the optimized GO ink to demonstrate its practical applicability for commercial purposes. The sensing properties are evaluated using a simple experimental setup across a range of temperatures. The findings demonstrate a significant increase in zeta potential by 25% and maximum absorption by 84.3%, indicating enhanced stability during prolonged storage with an optimized alkali lignin concentration compared to the pure GO dispersions. The temperature sensor exhibits a remarkable thermal coefficient of resistance of 1.21 within the temperature range of 25 °C–52 °C, indicative of excellent sensitivity, response, and recovery time. These results highlight the potential of alkali lignin as a natural surfactant for improving the performance and applicability of inkjet-printable GO inks in various technological applications.

Preharvest application of MeJA enhancing the quality of postharvest grape berries via regulating terpenes biosynthesis and phenylpropanoid metabolisms

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is an important phytohormone that regulates the development of grape, but the effect and underpin mechanism of its preharvest application on secondary metabolites accumulation in postharvest grape berries are still unclear. In this study, the transcriptome profiles combined with metabolic components analysis were used to determine the effect of preharvest MeJA application on the quality formation of postharvest rose-flavor table grape Shine Muscat. The results indicated that preharvest MeJA treatment had no significant effect on TSS content, but had a down-regulation effect on the accumulation of reducing sugar and titratable acid in the berries. The content of chlorophylls and carotenoids in treated berries was significantly higher than that of the control. Many phenolic components, such as trans-ferulic acid, resveratrol, quercetin, and kaempferol, were sensitive to MeJA and their contents were also significantly higher than that of the control under MeJA treatments during the shelf life. Compared with other volatile aroma components, terpenoid components were more sensitive to preharvest MeJA signals, the content of which presented an overall upward trend with increasing MeJA concentration and prolonging storage time. Furthermore, most of the differentially expressed genes in the general phenylpropanoid pathway and terpenoid biosynthesis pathway were up-regulated responding to MeJA signals. The most upregulated regulatory factors, such as VvWRKY72, VvMYB24, and VvWRI1, may be involved in MeJA signal transduction and regulation. Preharvest MeJA may be an effective technique for enhancing the quality of postharvest Shine Muscat grape berries, with its positive effect on enhancing the characteristic aroma and nutritional components.

Chia Oil Microencapsulation Using Tannic Acid and Soy Protein Isolate as Wall Materials.

The use of proteins to produce oil-containing microcapsules has been previously analyzed; however, their chemical modification, in order to improve their performance as wall materials, is a strategy that has not been widely developed yet. This study aimed to analyze the chemical modification of the proteins through cross-linking reactions with tannic acid and to evaluate their performance as wall materials to the microencapsulation of oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The cross-linking reaction of isolated soy protein and tannic acid was carried out at pH 10-11 and 60 °C. Subsequently, emulsions were made with a high-speed homogenizer and microcapsules were obtained by spray drying. Microcapsules were characterized by particle size, morphology (SEM), total pore area and % porosity (mercury intrusion methodology), superficial properties (contact angle), and size distribution of oil droplets (by laser diffraction). Additionally, encapsulation efficiency was determined as a function of total and surface oil. Oil chemical stability and quality were studied by Rancimat, hydroperoxide values, and fatty acid profiles. In addition, a storage test was performed for 180 days, and released oil and polyphenols were determined by in vitro gastric digestion. Moreover, the fatty acid composition of the oil and the total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of polyphenols were analyzed. The results showed that spray-dried microcapsules had an encapsulation efficiency between 54 and 78%. The oxidative stability exhibited a positive correlation between the amount of polyphenols used and the induction time, with a maximum of 27 h. The storage assay showed that the peroxide value was lower for those cross-linked microcapsules concerning control after 180 days. After the storage time, the omega-3 content was reduced by 49% for soy protein samples, while cross-linked microcapsules maintained the initial concentration. The in-vitro digestion assay showed a decrease in the amount of oil released from the cross-linked microcapsules and an increase in the amount of polyphenols and a higher antioxidant capacity for all samples (for example, 238.10 mgGAE/g and 554.22 mg TE/g for undigested microcapsules with TA 40% versus 322.09 mgGAE/g and 663.61 mg TE/g for digested samples). The microcapsules showed a high degree of protection of the encapsulated oil, providing a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAS) and polyphenols even in prolonged storage times.

Effect of chilled storage on the quality, in-vitro protein digestibility, and microbial growth of sous vide processed beef short ribs pre-treated with pulsed electric field (PEF)

Sous vide (60 °C/24 h) processed beef short ribs pre-treated with Pulsed Electric Field (electric field strength: 0.65–0.80 kV/cm, specific energy: 87.00–102.39 kJ/kg) were stored at 4 °C for 42 days. Cooking loss, Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) parameters, colour, lipid and protein oxidation, in vitro protein digestibility and microbial growth were assessed. Storage time significantly (p < 0.05) affected TPA hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, and gumminess, but had no effect on adhesiveness and colour parameters. Lipid and protein oxidation significantly (p < 0.05) increased during storage. In vitro protein digestibility significantly (p < 0.05) decreased after 42 days of chilled storage. Aerobic and anaerobic microbial numbers were found below detection limit (102 CFU/g meat) until 21 and 42 days, respectively. The detection of bacteria after 21 days of storage was believed to be due to the germination and growth of spore forming bacterial capable of growth at 4 °C, which if present will limit the shelf life. Industrial relevanceThis information provides practical industry evidence on the shelf life of PEF-SV processed short ribs during chilled (4 °C) storage. Three-layer plastic and aluminum laminate packaging could maintain the quality and safety of the product. No microbial growth was detected up to three weeks of chilled storage. Prolonging storage time affects the texture properties of PEF-SV processed short ribs (SR) but not the meat colour.

Platelet membrane-derived microparticles may be biomarkers in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and can promote the invasion and metastasis of hepatoma carcinoma cells.

Platelet membrane-derived microparticles (PMPs) released by apheresis platelets (APs) during storage are involved in immunomodulatory and tumor processes. However, few studies have emphasized the relationship between PMPs and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect PMPs in the plasma of HCC patients and healthy individuals. ELISA and flow cytometry were separately applied to analyze the variation in PMPs from APs prepared after 0, 3, 5, and 7 days of storage. Transwell was used to demonstrate the effects of PMPs on the invasion and migration of HCC cells. HCC-related indicators and invasion and migration-related markers were detected in vivo. We found the amount of PMPs was significantly increased in HCC patients. There was also a significant difference in the amount of PMPs in APs with prolonged storage time. Further, the PMPs in D5 promoted the invasion and migration of HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Transcriptomics revealed striking differences in the expression of many tumor metastasis associated genes with PMPs treatment. PMPs promoted tumor growth and weight loss in HCC-bearing mice, and Western blot results showed that invasion and migration-related indicators also increase. The content of PMPs in the plasma of HCC patients increases, and it can also promote the invasion and migration of HCC.

The impact of storage buffer and storage conditions on fecal samples for bacteriophage infectivity and metavirome analyses

BackgroundThere is an increasing interest in investigating the human gut virome for its influence on the gut bacterial community and its putative influence on the trajectory towards health or disease. Most gut virome studies are based on sequencing of stored fecal samples. However, relatively little is known about how conventional storage buffers and storage conditions affect the infectivity of bacteriophages and influence the downstream metavirome sequencing.ResultsWe demonstrate that the infectivity and genome recovery rate of different spiked bacteriophages (T4, c2 and Phi X174) are variable and highly dependent on storage buffers. Regardless of the storage temperature and timespan, all tested phages immediately lost 100% (DNA/RNA Shield) or more than 90% (StayRNA and RNAlater) of their infectivity. Generally, in SM buffer at 4 °C phage infectivity was preserved for up to 30 days and phage DNA integrity was maintained for up to 100 days. While in CANVAX, the most effective buffer, all spiked phage genomes were preserved for at least 100 days. Prolonged storage time (500 days) at – 80 °C impacted viral diversity differently in the different buffers. Samples stored in CANVAX or DNA/RNA Shield buffer had the least shifts in metavirome composition, after prolonged storage, but they yielded more contigs classified as “uncharacterised”. Moreover, in contrast to the SM buffer, these storage buffers yielded a higher fraction of bacterial DNA in metavirome-sequencing libraries. We demonstrated that the latter was due to inactivation of the DNases employed to remove extra-cellular DNA during virome extraction. The latter could be partly avoided by employing additional washing steps prior to virome extraction.ConclusionFecal sample storage buffers and storage conditions (time and temperature) strongly influence bacteriophage infectivity and viral composition as determined by plaque assay and metavirome sequencing. The choice of buffer had a larger effect than storage temperature and storage time on the quality of the viral sequences and analyses. Based on these results, we recommend storage of fecal virome samples at in SM buffer at 4 °C for the isolation of viruses and at – 80 °C for metagenomic applications if practically feasible (i.e., access to cold storage). For fecal samples stored in other buffers, samples should be cleared of these buffers before viral extraction and sequencing.2F_FbCzVMdkP5vWvM-fCtaVideo

Gel characteristics of low-acetyl spruce galactoglucomannans

Galactoglucomannans (GGM) recovered from abundant forest industry side-streams has been widely recognized as a renewable hydrocolloid. The low molar mass and presence of O-acetyl side-groups results in low viscous dispersions and weak intermolecular interactions that make GGM unsuitable for hydrogel formation, unless forcefully chemically derivatized and/or crosslinked with other polymers. Here we present the characterization of hydrogels prepared from GGM after tailoring the degree of acetylation by alkaline treatment during its recovery. Specifically, we investigated gel characteristics of low-acetyl GGM dispersions prepared at varied solid concentrations (5, 10 and 15 %) and pH (4, 7 and 10), and then subjected to ultrasonication. The results indicated that low-acetyl GGM dispersions formed gels (G′ > G″) at all other studied solid concentration and pH level combinations except 5 % and pH 4. High pH levels, leading to further removal of acetyl groups, and high solid concentration facilitated the gel formation. GGM hydrogels were weak gels with strong shear-thinning behavior and thixotropic properties, and high hardness and water holding capacity; which were enhanced with increased pH and solid concentration, and prolonged storage time. Our study showed the possibility to utilize low-acetyl GGM as mildly processed gelling or thickening agents, and renewable materials for bio-based hydrogels.

Design of Proanthocyanidins and TiO2 Nanoparticles-Based Novel Emulsions as a Platform for UV Protection.

A white oil-in-water novel emulsion stabilized by TiO2 nanoparticles with UVB shielding properties and proanthocyanidins with antioxidant activity was prepared, where the proanthocyanidins aggregated at the oil-water interface to reduce interfacial tension while TiO2 nanoparticles were dispersed in the continuous water phase to hinder droplet coalescence. It was found that the average oil droplet size was less than 10 μm and decreased with the increase of proanthocyanidins concentration, but the increase of the content of TiO2 nanoparticles had little effect on it. The combination of TiO2 nanoparticles and proanthocyanidins was versatile for oil phases with different polarities, and the resulting emulsion exhibited high stability in the face of centrifugation, heating and prolonging storage time. After encapsulating the UVA filter avobenzone in white oil, the emulsion was endowed with the ability to resist UVB and UVA. Further, the emulsion showed great free radical scavenging ability for superoxide anion radical (⋅O2 - ), hydroxyl radical (⋅OH) with the clearance rate of over 70 %, indicating the good antioxidant activity. The ingenious combination of UVB, UVA filter and antioxidant with emulsion as carrier provides a new idea for the preparation of full-band sunscreen emulsion.

The Sigma-1 Receptor Is a Novel Target for Improving Cold Preservation in Rodent Kidney Transplants.

Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for patients with end-stage kidney disease. Maintaining organ viability between donation and transplantation, as well as minimizing ischemic injury, are critically important for long-term graft function and survival. Moreover, the increasing shortage of transplantable organs is a considerable problem; thus, optimizing the condition of grafts is a pivotal task. Here, rodent models of kidney transplantation and cold storage were used to demonstrate that supplementation of a preservation solution with Sigma-1 receptor (S1R) agonist fluvoxamine (FLU) reduces cold and warm ischemic injury. Post-transplant kidney function was improved, histological injury was mitigated, and mRNA expression of two tubular injury markers-kidney injury molecule-1 and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin-was robustly reduced. In addition, renal inflammation was diminished, as shown by reduced leukocyte infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. In the cold ischemia model, FLU ameliorated structural injury profoundly after 2 h as well as 24 h. The reduced number of TUNEL-positive and Caspase 3-positive cells suggests the anti-apoptotic effect of FLU. None of these beneficial effects of FLU were observed in S1R-/- mice. Of note, organ damage in FLU-treated kidneys after 24 h of cold storage was similar to just 2 h without FLU. These results indicate that S1R agonists can prolong storage time and have great potential in improving organ preservation and in alleviating the problem of organ shortages.

Mechanical properties degradation of Sn 37Pb solder joints caused by interfacial microstructure evolution under cryogenic temperature storage

The interfacial microstructure, shear property and fracture behaviors of Sn37Pb joints after cryogenic temperature storage for different durations were investigated in this study, storage test at room temperature (298 K) and thermal aging test at 423 K were also carried out as comparison. The morphology of interfacial Cu6Sn5 IMCs for the joints stored under 77 K and 173 K transformed from scallop-like to column-like, moreover, the IMC layer thickness slowly increased with prolonged storage time. The growth rate of Cu6Sn5 layer in Sn37Pb joint stored at 77 K was slightly faster as compared with that stored at 173 K. However, the morphology and thickness of Cu6Sn5 IMC layer still remained roughly unchanged after storage at 298 K for up to 40 days. The Cu6Sn5 IMC growth of Sn37Pb joint stored at 77 K and 173 K was expected to be caused by Cu atom diffusion from Cu pad towards Sn37Pb solder, which was induced by the stress gradient. Additionally, the shear force declined and fracture position changed from in Sn37Pb solder to primarily in Sn37Pb solder and partly along the interface with the prolonging of storage time at 77 K and 173 K, which were induced by IMC layer growth.

Predicting the storage time of green tea by myricetin based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

The quality of green tea changes rapidly due to the oxidation and degradation of polyphenols during storage. Herein, a simple and fast Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) strategy was established to predict changes in green tea during storage. Raman spectra of green tea with different storage times (2020–2015) were acquired by SERS with silver nanoparticles. The PCA-SVM model was established based on SERS to quickly predict the storage time of green tea, and the accuracy of the prediction set was 97.22%. The Raman peak at 730 cm−1 caused by myricetin was identified as a characteristic peak, which increased with prolonged storage time and exhibited a linear positive correlation with myricetin concentration. Therefore, SERS provides a convenient method for identifying the concentration of myricetin in green tea, and myricetin can function as an indicator to predict the storage time of green tea.

Experimental and numerical studies of Ca(OH)2/CaO dehydration process in a fixed-bed reactor for thermochemical energy storage

The Ca(OH)2/CaO thermochemical energy storage (TCES) system based on calcium looping has received extensive attention owing to its high energy storage density, prolonged energy storage time, and environmental friendliness. The heat storage process of the Ca(OH)2/CaO TCES system in a mixed heating reactor was evaluated in this study, by employing a combination of direct and indirect heating modes. The dehydration process was studied experimentally, and a numerical model was established and verified based on the experimental results. The dehydration behavior of 500 g of Ca(OH)2 powder was investigated in a fixed-bed reactor with mixed heating. The experimental and simulation results indicated that mixed heating causes combined centripetal and horizontal propulsion. Heat input is the main limiting factor in the heat storage process, because the radial advance of the reaction is hindered by the low thermal conductivity of the solid reactant particles. Heat transmission partitions were added to enhance the performance of the reactor. The performance of the modified reactor was compared with that of a conventional reactor. The radial heat transmission partitions in the modified reactor effectively enhance the energy storage rate and reduce the reaction time by 59.5% compared with the reactor without partitions.

Molecular mechanism by which StSN2 overexpression inhibits the enzymatic browning of potato

Enzymatic browning of fresh-cut potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an urgent problem to be solved in the potato industry. The transcript level of snakin-2 (StSN2) increased with prolonged fresh-cut potato storage time, and StSN2 overexpression reduced the enzymatic browning of fresh-cut potato compared to wild type (WT). Further studies suggested that overexpression of StSN2 effectively enhanced polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, decreased phenolic and soluble quinone contents. The measurement of total free amino acid results showed that the contents of proline, isoleucine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid were increased, and the contents of cystine, methionine, and tyrosine were decreased in StSN2-overexpressing transgenic lines. Quantitative phosphoproteome analysis showed that 1515 proteins were phosphorylated in transgenic fresh-cut potato. Among them, 123 kinases were found to change phosphorylation levels, and a kinase-substrate network of serine/arginine proteins and mitogen-activated protein kinases was predicted. Our results indicated that overexpression of StSN2 inhibited the enzymatic browning of fresh-cut potatoes by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity and decreasing phenolic and soluble quinone contents while also changing vital kinase and other protein phosphorylation levels. This study demonstrated a new function of StSN2 and provided target genes for enzymatic browning resistance breeding of potatoes.

Postharvest quality and prolong storage time of atemoya (Annona squamosa x A. cherimola hybrids) fruit: coating with D-limonene nanoemulsion edible film

ABSTRACT Atemoya (Annona squamosa x A. cherimola hybrid) is a typical climacteric fruit that has a high respiration rate after harvest, short storage life, and is highly susceptible to fruit cracking and rot. Therefore, this study was intended to apply D-limonene nanoemulsion coating on fruit to prolong the storage life, reduce spoilage, and facilitate the expansion of the market. Green mature atemoya fruit coated with different concentrations of D-limonene nanoemulsion (0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and control) was stored in a 14°C refrigerator for relevant analysis and investigation. The results showed that the use of 0.25% D-limonene nanoemulsion inhibited the browning on the fruit surface, and reduced physiological metabolisms. The browning phenomenon on the fruit surface increased as the D-limonene concentration ratio increases. Since the high concentration caused damage to the peel cells, 0.25% D-limonene was chosen as optimum for atemoya coating. The fruit of atemoya maintained green peel color (L × 28.6, a × 6.63, b × 12.3) after storage at 14°C for 21 days with 0.25% D-limonene nanoemulsion coating. At the same time, after 0.2% D-limonene nanoemulsion coating, the weight loss rate was about % less than that of the control group (0.25% treatment was 11.3%; control was 14.2%) and high pectin content (0.25% treatment was 16.9 mg AGA g−1AIS−1; control was 9.89 mg AGA g−1AIS−1). Coating of D-limonene nanoemulsion can reduce the physiological response of atemoya fruits after harvesting, prolong the storage time, and increase the feasibility of their export. From the experimental results, D-limonene showed the potential to be widely used in fruit preservation agents in the future.

Effects of Storage Time on Ostrich Egg Quality

Egg quality is considered as both internal egg quality that focuses on the egg content and external egg quality that focuses on the eggshell. This study investigated the effect of storage time on ostrich egg quality. A total of 15 ostrich eggs were obtained from Dibete Ostrich Multiplication Unit and subjected to five storage periods (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 days) at room temperature (18-25oC). The measured parameters were egg weight, egg length, egg width, yolk weight, albumen weight, albumen height, yolk height, shell weight, egg specific gravity (ESG), egg surface area, Haugh Unit (HU), egg shape index, albumen ratio, shell ratio, yolk ratio and weight of egg contents. Results showed that storage time did not influence egg weight for eggs stored for 0, 3, and 6 days. On the other hand, storage time significantly affected egg weight for eggs stored at 9 and 12 days. The albumin ratio for egg storage duration had no significant impact on eggs held for 0, 3, or 6 days. However, the albumen ratios of eggs held for 9 and 12 days were impacted by the storage period compared to those stored for 0, 3, and 6 days. The HU for the eggs stored for 0, 3, and 6 days was not affected by storage time. On the contrary, the HU for eggs stored for 9 and 12 days was significantly impacted by storage time as the HU decreased with the prolonged storage time, compared to those stored for 0, 3, and 6 days. The results of this study suggest that ostrich eggs should not be stored for more than 6 days at ambient temperature to avoid egg quality degradation. Keywords: Cuticle, Egg quality, Ostrich eggs, Storage time

Evaluating the removal and impacts of combined tetracycline, oxytetracycline, sulfadiazine, and norfloxacin during swine manure storage process at ambient temperatures

Manure storage is widely applied in intensive livestock regions with reporting elevated concentrations of combined veterinary antibiotics (CVAs), which raised serious environmental concerns. Four antibiotics (tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), sulfadiazine (SDZ), and norfloxacin (Norf)) were combined and their removal, fate and impacts on swine manure storage process under ambient temperatures for 90 days were examined. The results showed that temperature level, retention time, and CVAs’ initial concentration significantly affected the biodegradation rates of CVAs and governed its impacts on the storage process stability. The storage temperatures of ≥ 20 °C maximized the removal of CVAs, while it was minimized at 6 °C. The maximum removal efficiency of OTC was 94.8%, while 82.4%, 66.1%, and 61.4% were observed, respectively, for Norf, TC, and SDZ. However, no effective removal performance was achieved after day 60th for Norf and TC. Antibiotics degradation’s half-lives ranged from 26 to 150 d, affected by temperature level and CVAs’ initial concentration. Due to a prolonged storage time, CVAs showed slight negative effects on swine manure's physicochemical properties (pH, COD, VFAs, TAN, and TN). According to the microbial diversity, Clostridium sensu stricto, Leucobacter, Advenella, Corynebacterium, and Turicibacter were the most dominant bacterial community abundance, where their abundance was enhanced by improving CVAs degradation. The recommended swine manure storage temperature was ≥ 20 °C, with at least 60 days of incubation to facilitate the removal of CVAs and unstimulating their relative effects.

Comparison of hermetic bags with polyethylene‐lined polypropylene bags for prolonged storage of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) seeds in Ethiopia

AbstractPoor storage facilities expose seeds to deterioration, resulting in low seed quality under a prolonged storage time. We compared the performance of five bag types: Two hermetic bags (Super GrainPro bag [SGB] and Purdue Improved Crop Storage bag [PICS]), with three non‐hermetic bags (woven polypropylene bag lined with polyethylene [WPP lined with PE], polypropylene bags [PP], and jute bags) for the storage of faba bean seeds for 24 months. Faba bean seed quality was assessed under ambient conditions after 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of storage. Parameters investigated include seed moisture content, thousand seed weight, germination percentages, vigor index I and II, speed of germination, percentage of insect‐damaged seed, and insect counts. Results indicated that there was a significant (P ≤ 0.01) interaction of bag types and duration for all tested parameters. Hermetic bags and WPP lined with PE maintained germination percentage above 90% during 12 months of storage. The vigor index remained above 1600 mg% for hermetic bags and WPP lined with PE during 12 months of storage. However, non‐hermetic bags exhibited a rapid drop in vigor index beginning from 6 months of storage. Hermetic bags and WPP lined with PE allowed minimal insect breeding and hence decreased the seed damage caused by insects. The present results demonstrated that in addition to the PICS bags and SGB, the WPP lined with PE can be used for short‐period storage for up to 12 months without incurring a significant loss of seed quality. Hence, we recommend the introduction of WPP lined with PE as faba bean seed storage technique under conditions where hermetic bags are inaccessible to resource‐poor farmers.