Short Life Research Articles

Effect of Moringa oleifera L. Leaf Solution Concentration and Length of Storage on the Internal Quality of Duck Eggs (Anas platyrhyncos domesticus)

Duck eggs have a delicious taste, are easily digested by the body, and contain quite good nutrition.However, duck eggs have a short self life. This study aims to determine the effect of the length of storage and concentration of Moringa leaf solution on the internal quality of duck eggs. This study was conducted in September-October 2023 at the Livestock Production Laboratory of Animal Husbandry Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara. The design used in this study is a complete random design, factorial pattern, namely 4 concentration solution treatment (R0 = without soaking, R1 = 10%, R2 = 20%, R3 = 30%), 5 Treatment of Length of Storage (L0 = 0 days, L1 = 7 days, L2 = 14 days, L3 = 21 days, L4 = 28 days) with 2 replications. The parameters used in this study include the egg white index (albumen), the egg yolk index (yolk), the percentage of decreased egg weight and the degree of acidity (pH) of eggs. The results showed that the number of concentrations of 30% solution had a significant effect (p <0.05) on the albumen index, yolk index and pH, but did not affect the percentage of decreased egg weight. The length of storage has a significant effect on the internal quality of duck eggs. The treatment interaction is a significant effect (p <0.05) against the egg white index (albumen) and egg pH. Treatment with a 30% moringa leaf solution had better results for 28 days compared to treatment without soaking.

Piwi mutant germ cells transmit a form of heritable stress that promotes longevity

AbstractThe C. elegans Argonaute protein PRG‐1/Piwi and associated piRNAs protect metazoan genomes by silencing transposons and other types of foreign DNA. As prg‐1 mutants are propagated, their fertility deteriorates prior to the onset of a reproductive arrest phenotype that resembles a starvation‐induced stress response. We found that late‐generation prg‐1 mutants with substantially reduced fertility were long‐lived, whereas early‐ or mid‐generation prg‐1 mutants had normal lifespans. Loss of the stress response transcription factor DAF‐16 caused mid‐ or late‐generation prg‐1 mutants to live very short lives, whereas overexpression of DAF‐16 enabled both mid‐ and late‐generation prg‐1 mutants to live long. Cytoplasmic P‐bodies that respond to stress increased in long‐lived late‐generation prg‐1 mutants and were transmitted to F1 but not F2 cross‐progeny. Moreover, moderate levels of heritable stress shorten late‐generation prg‐1 mutant longevity when DAF‐16 or P bodies are deficient. Together, these results suggest that the longevity of late‐generation prg‐1 mutants is a hormetic stress response. However, dauer larvae that occur in response to stress were not observed in late‐generation prg‐1 mutants. Small germ cell nucleoli that depended on germline DAF‐16 were present in late‐generation prg‐1 mutants but were not necessary for their longevity. We propose that prg‐1 mutant germ cells transmit a form of heritable stress, high levels of which promote longevity and strongly reduce fertility. The heritable stress transmitted by prg‐1/Piwi mutant germ cells may be generally relevant to epigenetic inheritance of longevity.

A brief report: Lessons learned using wearable technology to collect data from adults receiving medications for opioid use disorder

ABSTRACT Background Incorporating wearable technology into substance use disorder research enables continuous, objective, and remote data collection, facilitating symptom monitoring to prevent relapse. However, implementation challenges may hinder data collection. This paper aims to assess adherence patterns to a wrist-worn wearable device, and to share lessons learned from incorporating wearable technology to collect physiological data from adults with opioid use disorder. Methods Employing a prospective observational design, we used convenience sampling to recruit adults receiving medications for opioid use disorder in outpatient settings. Wearable adherence was measured by days and nights worn over eight weeks, acceptability by a visual analog scale, and anecdotal notes tracked study activities and challenges. Results Twenty-three participants completed baseline, and 16 (70.0%) completed the study. Daytime and nighttime wearable adherence averaged 60.1% and 47.7%, respectively. Wearable adherence was highest at the earlier phase of the study (67.7%) and plateaued after overtime. User-related and technical challenges included digital illiteracy, protocol nonadherence, low motivation, measurement errors, and short battery life. Unique challenges included wearable design concerns and sleep problems. Conclusions This study demonstrates the feasibility of wearable use and highlights the potential to overcome challenges. Proactively sharing insights can facilitate wearable technology adoption for both participants and researchers.

Effect of Sucrose, Salicylic Acid (SA), Sulfosalicylic Acid (SSA), Silver Nano and Ajwain E.O on Vase Life of Single Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.)

Tuberose is a highly valued flower known for its vibrant colors, elegance, and captivating fragrance. It is prominent in floral arrangements, both as a cut flower and in the perfume industry. Despite its visual appeal, tuberose flowers have a relatively short shelf life. To address this, researchers have explored various chemical treatments to enhance the longevity and quality of cut tuberose. An experiment was conducted at the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture & Forestry, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, during the 2023-24 period. The study, which followed a completely randomized design with sixteen treatments and three replications, aimed to determine the effects of different chemical solutions on the vase life of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.). The results demonstrated significant differences among the treatments in various parameters, including changes in fresh weight, percentage change in spike length, longevity of the five basal florets (in days), vase solution uptake (in ml), vase life (in days), time taken for the first five florets to open, individual floret longevity, period of prime beauty, time taken for full spike opening, time for the first floret to fade, and time for the entire spike to fade. Among the treatments, the solution containing salicylic acid and sucrose proved to be the most effective in extending vase life. The combination of 2.5% sucrose, 50 ppm salicylic acid, and 150 ppm silver nanoparticles (T12) achieved the highest longevity for the five basal florets, lasting 4.75 days. Additionally, the treatment with 2.5% sucrose and 150 ppm silver nanoparticles (T8) resulted in 100% of florets opening. The longest vase life of 9.83 days was observed with the combination of 2.5% sucrose, 50 ppm salicylic acid, and 150 ppm silver nanoparticles (T12). This study underscores the effectiveness of specific chemical treatments in significantly improving the vase life and overall quality of cut tuberose flowers.

Evaluation of Performance Improvement Rate of Plastic Production System Using ARENA: A Case Study of Phoenix Plastic Services

Production improvement has become essential to all industrial activity because of the fierce competition among today's production systems and organizations and the unquenchable customer demand. The shorter product life cycle has significantly increased the demand for prompt reactions to increase the productivity and efficiency of these industrial systems. This study examined the evaluation of performance improvement rate of plastic production system using ARENA. The report provided by the plastics industry was used in the study to analyze and assess the rate of performance improvement of the plastic manufacturing system. The location of the bottleneck was determined by the research following a thorough analysis of the plastic company's data, which included information on all manufacturing lines and procedures. The research employed Arena to assess and compute the rate of improvement in system performance while accounting for the material transporting process throughout the production line. The conveyor velocity maintains a lock at 75m/min, despite the company's report stating that the transports run at 30m/min. The optimized and unoptimized processes when obtained from a finished recycling process running for 1000 working hours, indicate that the conveyor process had 1045 and 1027 entity input and output, respectively, and the transporter process had 953 and 929 entities input and output respectively. The remaining number left when considering the number that enters the system with the number that leaves the system went to waste, resulting from the sorting and demagnetization process. The introduction of the conveyor brings 10.549% in the production rate and 50% decrease on expenses spent in labor. Through the conveyor system's speed control factor, which is an automated procedure, the system's percentage increment may be further raised. By raising the conveyor system's speed, more items will be produced. Conveyor system installation free up more space for additional production-related equipment, increasing products formed and the company's profit. The cost of purchasing and installing the conveyor will be covered by the excess profit.

Novel presentation of acalvaria with clavicular absence: A case report

Rationale: Acalvaria is an exceptionally rare congenital disorder marked by the absence of flat bones of the cranial vault, dura mater, and associated muscles, while the facial bones and base of the skull remain intact. Typically, the central nervous system is unaffected. Due to their extreme rarity, reported cases in the literature are infrequent. This condition often results in fatalities, as newborns with this anomaly generally have short life expectancies. However, there are a few documented cases of prolonged survival. Patient concerns: A 1-day-old full-term Palestinian male born to first-cousin parents at 37 + 6 weeks gestational age presented with an excessively soft skull without scalp abnormalities. The mother experienced polyhydramnios during the last 7 weeks of pregnancy. Diagnoses: Head ultrasound and X-rays confirmed the absence of skull vault bones and clavicles with normal facial bones. A CT scan showed well-formed brain structures and foci of hemorrhage in the left frontal lobe. Interventions: Supportive care was the primary management approach. The patient received comprehensive care in the neonatal intensive care unit, with a focus on stabilization and monitoring. Outcome: After 3 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit, the patient showed normal feeding and function, but the prognosis remained poor. The patient’s family was informed about the poor prognosis. Lessons: This case reveals a unique combination of acalvaria and absent clavicles. Early antenatal diagnosis is essential but was delayed here. More research is needed to understand and improve the diagnosis of these conditions.

Durability of non-woven geotextiles produced from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Achieving the goals of sustainable development and circular economy requires recycling and reusing plastic materials. In this research, the durability of five needle-punched non-woven geotextiles were experimentally studied. The geotextiles were made of recycled PET (rPET), virgin PET (vPET), and combinations of rPET and vPET fibers. The samples were hydrolyzed for a period of 14, 28, and 56 days and the retained tensile strength and puncture resistance of the samples were determined at the end of each interval. Moreover, this study took the benefits from the capability of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transforms in infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images to interpret the results acquired. Testing on as-received products, it was understood that recycling process could increase crystallinity of the fibers, increasing the fibers fragility, reducing the tensile strength and elongation capacity of rPET fibers. Moreover, considering the borderline value of 50% retained strength, a shorter service life (up to 30%) of rPET products in comparison with vPET products, due to higher degradation rates, was observed.

Drosophila as a Model for Human Disease: Insights into Rare and Ultra-Rare Diseases

Rare and ultra-rare diseases constitute a significant medical challenge due to their low prevalence and the limited understanding of their origin and underlying mechanisms. These disorders often exhibit phenotypic diversity and molecular complexity that represent a challenge to biomedical research. There are more than 6000 different rare diseases that affect nearly 300 million people worldwide. However, the prevalence of each rare disease is low, and in consequence, the biomedical resources dedicated to each rare disease are limited and insufficient to effectively achieve progress in the research. The use of animal models to investigate the mechanisms underlying pathogenesis has become an invaluable tool. Among the animal models commonly used in research, Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as an efficient and reliable experimental model for investigating a wide range of genetic disorders, and to develop therapeutic strategies for rare and ultra-rare diseases. It offers several advantages as a research model including short life cycle, ease of laboratory maintenance, rapid life cycle, and fully sequenced genome that make it highly suitable for studying genetic disorders. Additionally, there is a high degree of genetic conservation from Drosophila melanogaster to humans, which allows the extrapolation of findings at the molecular and cellular levels. Here, I examine the role of Drosophila melanogaster as a model for studying rare and ultra-rare diseases and highlight its significant contributions and potential to biomedical research. High-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, such as whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS), are providing massive amounts of information on the genomic modifications present in rare diseases and common complex traits. The sequencing of exomes or genomes of individuals affected by rare diseases has enabled human geneticists to identify rare variants and identify potential loci associated with novel gene–disease relationships. Despite these advances, the average rare disease patient still experiences significant delay until receiving a diagnosis. Furthermore, the vast majority (95%) of patients with rare conditions lack effective treatment or a cure. This scenario is enhanced by frequent misdiagnoses leading to inadequate support. In consequence, there is an urgent need to develop model organisms to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying these diseases and to establish the genetic origin of these maladies. The aim of this review is to discuss the advantages and limitations of Drosophila melanogaster, hereafter referred as Drosophila, as an experimental model for biomedical research, and the applications to study human disease. The main question to address is whether Drosophila is a valid research model to study human disease, and in particular, rare and ultra-rare diseases.

Longevity

The value of a person’s life is not reducible to the satisfaction of one’s desires or interests, including the interest in living longer.  A person who takes pleasure in beach vacations each summer may look forward to another stay at the shore next year, but this is not the kind of interest that gives her a reason to continue living.  Assuming she has lived a normal life, one beach vacation more or less will not affect the value of her life, even in the slightest degree. Similarly, we wouldn’t say of a person who has lived a full life that his life would have been more valuable if he hadn’t suffered that wretched toothache several decades ago. The value of a person’s life is not simply a function of the good and bad experiences it contains. More controversially, neither is it simply an aggregate of a person’s accomplishments. Discovering another great self-portrait by Rembrandt (who created nearly 100 of them, so far as we know) would not affect to any degree our assessment of his greatness as an artist.  Rather, the value of a human life is determined by what adds meaning to life, what – and not simply how much – she achieves, or how well she lived up to her ideals.  If this is right, then for most people who live to a reasonable age, living longer will not add value to their lives. The social value of longevity is a question of whether a society in which the median age is higher or human life over time is packaged in fewer individuals is better than a society in which the median age is lower and the same amount of life is packaged in more individuals living shorter lives.  I see no reason for thinking the former society is better and hence no justification for nations like the United States or Great Britain to spend health care resources on promoting longevity of its citizens by adding to the normal lifespan.

Impact of electronic networks on E‐waste trade: Evidence from ASEAN+6 countries

AbstractThe development of electronic networks promotes economic growth and international trade flows. Because of the short life cycle of electrical and electronic equipment, considerable electronic waste (e‐waste) is generated. We identified the determinants of e‐waste trade, focusing on ASEAN+6 countries and their trading partners for the years 2000 to 2018. The empirical results regarding trade value and trade weight revealed that electronic networks significantly promoted the import of e‐waste into ASEAN+6 countries. The results were robust to using different measures of electronic networks and different estimation methods.

Effect of different packaging methods and storage conditions on postharvest quality and shelf-life of Manila Tamarind (Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth.) var. PKM2

Manila tamarind (Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth.), is a dry land fruit crop that belongs to the Fabaceae family commonly known Camacchile or Jungle jilebi. Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) has the potential to become productive under harsh climatic and edaphic conditions of dry land areas but its pods have a shorter shelf life. The most important objective was to use proper packaging methods to reduce moisture loss, slow down physiological and biochemical changes and prevent spoilage. The study evaluated 8 packaging methods, including different combinations of CFB (Corrugated Fiberboard) lined with 100-gauge polythene film with 0 %, 5 % and 10 % vents, CFB with 0 %, 5 % and 10 % vents, vacuum packing and a control, under cold storage (13-15 °C) and ambient conditions (26 ± 2 °C). On the 15th day of cold storage conditions, vacuum packing showed minimum physiological loss of weight (19.82 %), titratable acidity (0.68 %), ascorbic acid (77.20) and total sugar (8.36 %). Maximum total soluble solids (15.32 ?Brix), Anthocyanin (22.72 mg 100 g-1 m), shelf life (15 days) followed by CFB with 10 % vent. On the 12th day of ambient storage condition, vacuum packing recorded minimum physiological loss of weight (16.42 %), titratable acidity (0.42 %), ascorbic acid (76.13) and total sugar (8.53 %). Maximum total soluble solids (14.93 ?Brix), Anthocyanin (21.83 mg 100 g-1 m) and shelf life (11.5 days) followed by CFB with 10 % vent. In this study, the overall results indicated that both vacuum packaging and CFB with 10 % vent at cold storage had synergistic effect in manila tamarind fruit pods, not only in extending the shelf life but also maintained the physiological and biochemical attributes of manila tamarind.

“Dead Lithium” Formation and Mitigation Strategies in Anode‐Free Li‐Metal Batteries

AbstractThin lithium‐metal foil is a promising anode material for next‐generation batteries due to its high theoretical specific capacity and low negative potential. However, safety issues linked to dendrite growth, low‐capacity retention, and short cycle life pose significant challenges. Also, it has excess energy that must be minimized in order to reduce the battery costs. To limit excess lithium, practical lithium metal batteries need a negative‐to‐positive electrode ratio as close to 1 : 1 as possible, which can be achieved through limiting excess lithium or using an “anode‐free” metal battery design. However, both designs experience fast capacity fade due to the irreversible loss of active lithium in the cell, caused by the formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), dendrite formation and “dead lithium,” – refers to lithium that has lost its electronic connection to the anode electrode or current collector. The presence of dead lithium in batteries negatively affects their capacity and lifespan, while also raising internal resistance and generating heat. Additionally, dead lithium encourages the growth of lithium dendrites, which poses significant safety hazards. Within this fundamental review, we thoroughly address the phenomenon of dead lithium formation, assessing its origins, implications on battery performance, and possible strategies for mitigation. The transition towards environmentally friendly and high‐performance metal batteries could be accelerated by effectively tackling the challenge posed by dead lithium.

Growth conditions but not the variety, affect the yield, seed oil and meal protein of camelina under Mediterranean conditions

European agriculture policies emphasize the importance of agricultural sustainability, focusing on increase of biodiversity through crop diversification. In Mediterranean dryland cropping systems, the introduction of crops in rotation with cereals is challenged by scarce precipitation and high evapotranspiration. In this scenario, camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz), a low-input annual oleaginous crop with a high morphological plasticity, short life cycle, and interesting oil and meal composition, could be an option to be included in rotation with winter cereals. The aim of this experiment was to study the agronomic performance, and seed oil and meal protein contents of camelina in two different climatic conditions, with a sowing delay in one of them. Several trials were conducted in Montargull (Mediterranean semihumid) and in Lleida (Mediterranean semiarid) in two seasons (2020–21 and 2021–22). In Montargull, two sowing dates (November, SD1 and January, SD2) were established. In each growing condition, three spring camelina varieties were sown (Calena, CO46 and GP204). Camelina was harvested between May and July, and yield and harvest index were measured. After cold pressing the seeds, seed oil and meal protein contents were analysed. Camelina yield and quality was not related to the variety, but to two climatic scenarios: 1) a favourable rainfall distribution without important drought periods (2020–21); 2) significant rainfalls in November and April, but with a drought period in between (2021–22). In the first situation, camelina production ranged from 1533 to 2187 kg ha−1, with high seed oil (40.4–41.4 %) and meal protein (41.0–44.8 %) contents. In the second situation, the yield decreased to 242–661 kg ha−1, seed oil content to 31.0–34.7 %, and meal protein content to 37.6–40.4 %. Despite these seasonal differences, SD1 in Montargull obtained higher average yields and protein content than in Lleida and in SD2. In contrast, in Lleida and in SD2 in Montargull camelina produced higher oil content. The implementation of camelina into Mediterranean dryland crop rotation systems is feasible. Considering the importance of moisture in these climatic conditions, the use of no-till practices is recommended in dryland fields to avoid excessive water loss, while the use of camelina in irrigated fields could be explored. However, more long-term agronomic and industrial research is still needed.

Effect of pavement layer temperature on fatigue performance of rib-to-deck weld details in orthotropic steel bridge decks

To investigate the effect of asphalt pavement layer temperature on the fatigue performance of welded details in orthotropic steel bridge deck (OSD), this study focuses on the critical fatigue crack regions of the rib-to-deck weld details. A systematic study was conducted based on the theory of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) and the finite element model (FEM). In this research, the elastic modulus of the pavement layer at different temperatures, and the initial crack shape, were considered as parameters. The maximum normal stress, stress intensity factor (SIF), and fatigue crack growth (FCG) shape and life of the weld details under the influence of these parameters were analyzed. The analysis results indicate that using a constant temperature of 20°C for the pavement layer will ignore the adverse effects of high summer temperatures. Under the influence of the pavement layer temperature effects, the weld toe of the top deck is the most critical welded detail. The FCG life and final crack shape at the weld toe of top deck are closely related to the effects of pavement layer temperature and the initial crack shape, higher pavement layer temperatures result in shorter fatigue life and larger final crack propagation sizes. Therefore, it is recommended that pavement layer and temperature effects be considered in the FCG analysis of welded details in OSDs.

Electrochemical Properties of MIL‐100(Fe) Derived Double‐Shell Coating Anode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Battery

AbstractFe‐based anode materials with a high specific capacity, non‐toxic and abundant resources are among the ideal anode candidates for the new generation of LIBs. But their significant bulk effect causes the problems of the broken electrode structure and short cycle life that seriously hinder their practical applications. Herein, we prepared the core‐shell structure Fe3O4@C@SiO2 for the anode of LIBs by MIL‐101(Fe) derivatization using the solvent thermal method combined with the hydrolytic coating method. The porous carbon layer generated in situ by MOF pyrolysis, together with the coating of the SiO2 shell, can mitigate the volume expansion of ferric tetroxide during the cycling process. With these structural advantages, the Fe3O4@C@SiO2 anode preserves excellent performance with a specific capacity of 716 mAh/g for the 300 cycles at 1 A/g and 428 mAh/g after 2000 cycles as the density is up to 5 A/g. This work presents a promising approach for preparing SiO2‐coated core‐shell structured TMOs composite anodes.

Enhancing energy recovery from expired rice wine via microbial electrolysis of supernatant and anaerobic digestion of concentrate after gravity settling

Makgeolli is a traditional Korean rice wine with a short shelf life, making the management of expired makgeolli (EM) challenging. Meanwhile, its organic- and nutrient-rich nature renders EM a promising bioconversion substrate. To explore the potential to enhance energy recovery and profitability from EM, the concentrate (MC) and supernatant (MS) separated from EM by gravity settling were utilized for hydrogen production in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) and methane production through anaerobic digestion (AD), respectively. MS demonstrated superior electron and hydrogen recovery compared to EM in MECs, with greater enrichment of exoelectrogenic Geobacter. In the AD tests, MC exhibited faster and more stable methane production with higher yield than EM. This separate processing of MS and MC was predicted to produce 18–21% more energy (2,210 MJ/m3 EM) and 6–180% higher revenue (101 USD/m3 EM) than processing whole EM using either MEC or AD alone, warranting further research for optimization.

A donor-acceptor conjugated bipolar polymer with multielectron redox sites for long-cycle-life and high-rate aqueous zinc dual-ion batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have hugely latent advantages in large-scale energy storage due to its innate safety, reasonable price, and sustainability. However, most AZIB cathode materials suffer from short cycling life and poor rate performance. Herein, a bipolar donor-acceptor (D-A) conjugated microporous polymer (PTZ-BDTB), consisting of electron-withdrawing benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b’]dithiophene-4,8-dione (BDTB) units and electron-donating phenothiazine (PTZ) units, is developed as the cathode material of aqueous zinc dual-ion batteries (AZDIBs). The D-A type structure design could reduce the band gap, thus promoting electron transfer in the polymer framework. Therefore, the PTZ-BDTB cathode in a 30 mol/kg (m) ZnCl2 water-in-salt electrolyte exhibits a high reversible capacity of 202 mA h g−1 at 0.05 A g−1 with excellent rate performance (109 mA h g−1 at 15 A g−1), which is far superior to its counterpart polymers PPTZ and PB-BDTB. Impressively, PTZ-BDTB shows ultra-stable cycle performance with capacity retention ratios of 76.2% after 460 cycles at 0.05 A g−1 and 96% after 27000 cycles at 5 A g−1. PTZ-BDTB also exhibits a low self-discharge ability with capacity retention about 76.4% after resting the battery for 28 days. These results demonstrate that D-A type structural design is a promising strategy for constructing high performance cathode materials for AZDIBs.

Exploring the Potential of Nyonya Kuih Residues as the Substrate for Yeast Cell Protein Production

Nyonya kuih, a popular Malaysian traditional cuisine that have short shelf life due to their high moisture and fat contents. The unsold kuihs usually ended up as food residue. Thus, kuih talam(KT) and kuih lapis (KL), two varieties of Nyonya kuih were chosen as the investigative substrates to explore the recycling potential of this food residue. Initially, the effect of fat content on the enzymatic hydrolysability of the residues to release fermentable sugar was investigated. The efficiency of lipase-pretreatment (LP), polyvinylpyrrolidone-post-treatment (PVP) and their combination in lipid removal was determined. Then, the potential of the resulting glucose-rich hydrolysates for Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cell biomass production was assessed, with molasses as the positive control. Results indicated that combined LP and PVP (LP-PVP) significantly (p<0.05) reduced crude fat content, while increasing the total sugar content of KT and KL hydrolysates by approximately 3.4 and 26.3 times, respectively. Yeast cell biomass produced from KT and KL hydrolysates were increased by 23% and 39%, respectively after LP-PVP treatment. Despite the yeast cells’ yield (by dry cell weight) from molasses fermentation being 19% and 11% higher than those from KT and KL hydrolysates, respectively, KT and KL hydrolysates were proven superior due to the significantly higher (p<0.05) crude protein content in yeast cell produced from both hydrolysates. Further study is needed to enhance yeast cell yield from the fermentation of KT and KL hydrolysates, thereby improving the overall protein yield from the fermentation process. This study provides new insight into a novel food residue recycle strategy, promoting sustainable food production aligned with SDG 12.

Prestorage hot water treatments retard papaya fruit deterioration and enhanced fruit quality in cold storage

Papaya (Carica papaya) fruit has a short shelf life and suffers significant postharvest losses due to climacteric, instant ripening and perishable nature. Pre-storage hot water treatment (HWT) has significant potential to delay decay incidence in horticultural commodities. The present study was designed to evaluate effectiveness of HWT on ‘Red lady’ papaya fruit for minimizing the fruit decay and maintaining the quality during storage. Physiologically mature unripe ‘Red lady’ papaya fruit harvested from a commercial papaya orchard. Selected fruits were treated at three different hot water temperatures (50 °C, 52 °C and 54 °C) along with a control (room temp) for 10 minutes thereafter stored at 12 °C and 85–90% RH for four weeks. Different sensory evaluation, fruit quality scales and enzymatic activities were observed at weekly intervals. Fruit stored after 54 °C HWT showed lower weight loss (4.63%), decay incidence (5.1%) and higher fruit firmness (12.92 N) relative to control. Fruit treated at 52 °C HWT improved the fruit acidity, but total soluble solids decreased than control. The results revealed that ascorbic acid (33.33 mg/100 g), total phenolic contents (35 mg/g FW) total antioxidants (47.50% DPPH inhibition), and antioxidative enzyme activities were improved by 52 °C HWT. It is concluded that pre storage papaya fruit treatment (HWT @ 52 °C) preserves the quality of fruit throughout storage on the other hand at 54 °C HWT helps in decreased fruit decaying. It can be summarized that papaya fruit can be treated with hot water in the range of 52–54 °C to support the fruit shelf life and suppress fruit decay along with maintaining fruit quality. Practical applications: Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a climacteric fruit which is highly susceptible to fungal attacks after harvest. Due to its perishable nature, it becomes decayed and huge amount of highly nutritious and medicinally important fruit is wasted. Recently people are more concerned about food safety which limits the use of fungicides for controlling the fruit decay in papaya. However, heat treatment has tremendous potential to control microbial decay, and keep food commodities safe from hazardous chemicals. In this study, the hot water treatment has successfully suppressed the fruit decay and maintained fruit quality of papaya in the course of entire period of cold storage. These findings indicated that use of hot water treatment is a practical approach for increasing the shelf life of papaya fruit.

Study on Optimizing Inventory to Minimize Waste in the Fresh Produce Supply Chain

Abstract: The increasing demand for fresh produce, particularly greens, presents unique challenges in inventory management due to their short shelf life and susceptibility to spoilage. Inefficient management often results in significant waste, leading to financial losses for retailers and increased environmental burdens from the disposal of spoiled goods. Despite various strategies being employed in the agri-food sector, gaps remain in understanding how to optimize inventory levels to minimize waste at the retails level while maintaining high service levels for customers. This research aims to develop an inventory management model tailored to fresh produce that can mitigate these issues by balancing stock availability and minimizing wastage, particularly in large retail shops. To address the research problem, a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model was developed, focusing on three service levels—90%, 92%, and 95%—to evaluate the trade-offs between customer satisfaction and total inventory costs. The model incorporates key constraints, including stock balance, shelf-life limitations, and demand satisfaction. The model was validated using actual data, including stock, sales, and wastage records for the month of August, 2024. The objective function aimed to minimize total costs, encompassing holding costs, wastage, and lost revenue. The findings indicate that higher service levels, while reducing stockouts, significantly increase costs due to excess inventory and waste. The most cost-effective solution was observed at the 90% service level, which balanced waste reduction and customer satisfaction. The study also emphasizes the importance of integrating total cost reduction and minimize wastage. Future work should focus on incorporating consumer behavior patterns and extending the model to multi-echelon inventory systems, which include both distribution centers and retail outlets, to capture a more holistic view of the supply chain.