Storage Of Products Research Articles

A CMIP6-ensemble-based evaluation of precipitation and temperature projections

Understanding climate change’s effects on dam basins is very important for water resource management because of their important role in providing essential functions such as water storage, irrigation, and energy production. This study aims to investigate the impact of climate change on temperature and precipitation variables in the Altınkaya Dam Basin, which holds significant potential for hydroelectric power generation in Türkiye. These potential impacts were investigated by using ERA5 reanalysis data, six GCMs from the current CMIP6 archive, and two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2 − 4.5 and SSP5 − 8.5) scenario data. Four Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) models were developed by using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach (ENS1), simple averaging (ENS2), weighted correlation coefficients (ENS3), and the MARS algorithm (ENS4), and the results were compared to each other. Moreover, quantile delta mapping (QDM) bias correction was used. The 35-year period (1980–2014) was chosen as the reference period, and further evaluations were conducted by dividing it into three future periods (near (2025–2054), mid-far (2055–2084), and far (2085–2100)). Considering the results achieved from the MMEs, variations are expected in the monthly, seasonal, and annual assessments. Projections until the year 2100 indicate that under optimistic and pessimistic scenarios, temperature increases could reach up to 3.11 °C and 5.64 °C, respectively, while precipitation could decrease by as much as 19% and 43%, respectively. These results suggest that the potential changes in temperature and precipitation within the dam basin could significantly impact critical elements such as future water flow and energy production.

Comprehensive exploration of riboflavin solid forms and preparation mechanism of stable forms

Riboflavin is a water-soluble vitamin regarded as an essential nutrient participating in biological oxidation in vivo. The strong hygroscopicity and crystalline phase impurity of riboflavin in the solid state are obstacles to its industrial production and storage. Riboflavin is polymorphic and is usually produced and marketed in crystalline form. However, the phase transformation among riboflavin polymorphs and preparation mechanism of stable crystal form have not been clarified, hindering the production optimization and storage management of products. In this work, the relationship of phase transformation among the riboflavin polymorphs was elucidated, and their thermal stability as well as hygroscopicity were evaluated. Anhydrate I is the most stable form with the best thermal stability and lowest hygroscopicity could not be prepared in antisolvent crystallization process, where monohydrate is the most frequent form. Consequently, a solution-mediated phase transformation (SMPT) process was proposed to prepare anhydrate I from monohydrate. In-situ Raman, UV–VIS spectrum and Powder X-ray Diffraction were utilized to monitoring the SMPT process. It was found that the nucleation and growth of anhydrate I was the rate-determining step. Elevated temperatures, reduced solid loads and addition of seeds can accelerate the conversion procedure. This work provides guiding significance for the product development and quality control of Riboflavin.

Vegan and Vegetarian Soups Are Excellent Sources of Cholinesterase Inhibitors.

The cholinesterase theory stands as the most popular worldwide therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Given the absence of a cure for AD, a plant-based diet has been repeatedly shown as positive in the prevention of AD, including exploring ready-made products in stores and the development of new functional foods. This study compared the anti-acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase activity of thirty-two Polish market soups and five newly formulated soups intended to be functional. Additionally, the research aimed to assess the significance of animal content, distinguishing between vegan and vegetarian options, in cholinesterase inhibition. The anticholinesterase activity was investigated using a spectrophotometric method, and the inhibitory activity was expressed as % inhibition of the enzyme. The study categorized soups into three groups based on ingredients: those containing animal-derived components, vegetarian soups and vegan soups. Soups exhibited varying levels of activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), indicating differences in their compositions. Composition appeared to be the primary factor influencing anticholinesterase activity, as soups within each group showed significant variability in activity levels. While some commercial soups demonstrated notable anticholinesterase activity, they did not surpass the effectiveness of the optimized soups developed in the laboratory. Certain ingredients were associated with higher anticholinesterase activity, such as coconut, potato, onion, garlic, parsley and various spices and herbs. Vegetarian and vegan soups exhibited comparable or even superior anticholinesterase activity compared to animal-derived soups, highlighting the importance of plant-based ingredients. The study underscores the need for further research to explore the mechanisms underlying the anticholinesterase activity of soups, including the impact of ingredient combinations and processing methods.

Perception of Brand Image Regarding to Brand Shopping Bags of Designers Brand Products

This study aimed to study the perception of brand image by consumers through shopping bags of world-class fashion brands such as Chanel, Gucci, Christian Dior, Celine, Furla. The data was collected using questionnaires from respondents who Aged between 25-45 years in Bangkok A total of 400 respondents were divided equally into males and females. The sample was selected using convenience random sampling from respondents who came to purchase products in department stores in Bangkok. The results of the study found that Respondents had a high level of awareness of brand value in terms of utility. As for the emotional and expressive aspects of brand value, It was found that respondents had a moderate level of perception of brand value. As for the results of the study of perceptions of the brand identity image displayed on shopping bags, it was found that the brand identity image has three components: functional benefits, symbolic benefits. and the benefits of the experience of using the product Its distinctiveness is at a moderate level.

Renewable methanol production based on in situ synergistic utilization of excavated waste and landfill gas: life cycle techno-environmental-economic analysis

Excavated waste (EW) and landfill gas (LFG), as the two main landfill products, are essential objects of Enhanced landfill mining (ELFM). In this study, for the in situ synergistic utilization of LFG and the residue-derived fuel (RDF) from EW, an RDF-LFG to methanol (MeOH) unit with high exergy efficiency and low carbon emission is proposed. Then, to evaluate the environmental impacts and economic feasibility comprehensively, the life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) are conducted on the EW-LFG to MeOH system based on the Aspen Plus simulation data of the RDF-LFG to MeOH unit. The system using EW landfilled in 2005 & 2015 as feedstocks are named Scheme A & B, respectively. The results show that both schemes have an exergy efficiency of more than 70 %. Regarding environmental impacts, RDF-LFG to MeOH, EW pretreatment, Storage and transport of products, and EW Mining are the main contributors. This study pays particular attention to global warming (GW) potential. The direct and indirect carbon emission of the RDF-LFG to MeOH unit are about 35 and 650 kg CO2 eq/ton MeOH, and the life-cycle GW of the EW-LFG to MeOH system is between 707 to 874 kg CO2 eq/ton MeOH. Levelized cost (LC) and levelized profit (LP) are about 452 $/ ton MeOH and 94 $/ton MeOH. With the transformation of the power grid, the decrease in carbon emission factor of power grids can improve both the environmental, and economic performance of the EW-LFG to MeOH system. Methanol selling price, carbon tax and electricity cost are the major sensible factors to the economic feasibility.

Аналіз сучасного стану логістичної ефективності України

Agro-industrial complex (APK) belongs to the system-forming, strategically important industries. It ensures the country’s food security, makes a significant contribution to ensuring employment of the population, preserving socio-economic stability, and increasing export potential. In recent years, the development of the domestic agricultural industry has had positive dynamics. However, the industry faced many problems related to hostilities: destruction of infrastructure, congestion of alternative routes, difficulties with exports, etc. Military operations significantly affect all aspects of the logistics chain, including transport, storage, processing and export of products. It is noted that the domestic agro-industrial complex not only meets the domestic needs of the country, but also exports agricultural products abroad. Logistics plays a key role in export operations, and it is through effective management of logistics processes that companies can achieve better results in foreign economic activity. The hostilities greatly complicate export logistics by blocking seaports and disrupting rail routes, posing a threat to the country’s economic stability and food security in many countries. Although the volume of transportation remained significantly lower than the pre-war level, the positive dynamics of the indicators is maintained. The commodity structure of the export of agricultural products and indicators of the freight transportation index were analyzed. The value of the logistics efficiency index was considered and it was noted that there is a significant deterioration of the specified indicator for the country, which is why there is a need to analyze logistics processes, identify problems in the logistics industry and take measures to improve indicators. The main problems of logistics, which create serious challenges for business and the country’s economy, are highlighted. It was noted that the logistics of agricultural products in wartime conditions faces numerous challenges that require rapid adaptation and the search for new solutions. Restoration of logistics infrastructure is one of the key directions for ensuring Ukraine’s competitiveness on the global market. Keywords: logistics, agricultural products, export, costs, efficiency.

A quick response data collection and management system for digital twin production line based on cloud-fog-edge computing collaboration

Background A production line is the basic unit of smart factories and smart manufacturing. However, owing to the development of the industrial Internet of Things, sensors, and other technologies, more data are being collected, leading to a data explosion, and the heterogeneous nature of multiple sources makes it difficult to manage data in a unified manner. Methods A production line data collection, storage, and management system based on cloud-fog-edge computing collaboration and a digital twin was designed. Multi-source heterogeneous data were collected and transmitted based on the OPC UA, and an information model of the production line was established. Modules for data mapping, publishing, and receiving were developed to achieve unified data collection and transmission. The data storage and management platform was constructed by front-end and back-end separation technologies. Results The developed data collection and management system was verified for functionality and performance on a digital twin production line. Functional tests show that the system has the functions of data acquisition and transmission, device addition and viewing, device data querying and downloading, data and model visualization, and user rights setting. The average time for edge data collection and transmission is 183.6ms. The average response time of the cloud for fog requests is less than 1s. This shows that the system can satisfy the real-time requirements of a digital twin production line. Conclusions The proposed system is real-time and stable, providing support for big data and virtual-reality interaction in digital twins.

Caching or not: An online cost optimization algorithm for geodistributed data analysis in cloud environments

With the wide application of big data technology, a large number of data geographically stored in data centers across various regions are generated everyday, waiting to be analyzed by big data tasks. Examples of such data analysis tasks include weather prediction and intelligent healthcare applications. Clouds are being used by more and more enterprises due to their nearly infinite resources, ease of scaling, and other characteristics. Organizations often rent StaaS (Storage-as-a-Service) storage products offered by cloud providers, such as OSS (Object Storage Service), for massive data storage, while building a big data cluster in cloud environments to analyze the collected data from various regions. However, when the data to be analyzed are not located in the rented cluster, how to efficiently and economically process the distributed input data stored in clouds becomes an urgent problem to be solved. A simple approach is to only cache frequently accessed data rather than all data from other regions into the cluster to reduce total traffic costs. However, it is generally very hard to predict future data access curves. Thus, a rash caching decision may incur more costs. To address this problem, in this paper we propose an online algorithm for guiding cloud users to make cost-effective caching decisions properly, while not requiring any future information. We prove theoretically that the competitive ratio of our online algorithm is less than 2. Finally we verify the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm through extensive experiments based on the real price of Alibaba’s public IaaS cloud products using both real-world Yahoo S2 data and synthesized datasets.

Biodegradable starch foams reinforced by food-chain side streams

Biodegradable starch foam trays offer an eco-friendly substitute for petroleum-based single-use packaging, notably polystyrene foams. However, they lack flexibility, tensile strength, and water-sensitivity, addressable through lignocellulosic reinforcement. This study aimed to develop biodegradable starch foam trays filled with different food-chain side streams for sustainable alternative packaging. Corncob, soybean straw, cassava peel, araucaria seed hull, yerba mate stalks and yerba mate leaves petiole were collected, dried and ground to <250 μm. The trays were filled with 13 % (w/w) of each food-chain side streams and produced by hot molding. The trays morphology, moisture, water activity (aw), thickness, bulk density, tensile strength, elongation at break, Young's modulus, bending strength, maximum deflection, and sorption isotherms were investigated. Reinforcements slightly increased the foams bulk density, reduced the tensile strength and maximum deflection and while bending strength increased from 0.20 MPa to 1.17–1.80 MPa. The elasticity modulus decreased by adding any filling, that resulted in ductility improvement; however, these packaging have moisture-sensitive material especially for aw higher than 0.52, which drives the use recommendation for dry products storage or shipping/transport. The biodegradable starch foam trays filled with side streams were successfully produced and offer excellent alternative to petroleum-based packaging low-density material with bending strength improved.

Improved stability of sesame paste by peanut protein-flaxseed gum conjugation

The oil-water separation phenomenon in sesame paste poses a challenge for the storage of sauce products. In this study, soy protein isolate (SPI), peanut protein isolate (PPI) and flaxseed gum (FG) conjugates were prepared to stabilize the solid-liquid phases of sesame paste. The results indicated that the highest degree of grafting (25.07%) was observed in a ratio of PPI:FG = 4:1 (PF2). The interaction between proteins and FG generated the extension of the protein molecule and increased structural disorder. PPI-FG conjugates exhibited the lower surface hydrophobicity and higher thermal stability. The addition of 4% PF2 to sesame paste led to a reduction of 5.06% oil separation rate and showed higher storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″), apparent viscosity, and hardness. A stable and continuous three-dimensional network was created to physically entrap the oil, resulting in a more uniform distribution of oil droplets and a reduced particle interaction of sesame paste.

Оценка воздействия гербицида на основе глифосата на культурные однолетние растения и микробиоту почвы при его внесении на почву по результатам двух вегетационных опытов

The article presents the results of a study of the effect of herbicide and its metabolites on cultivated annual plants (dill, mustard, spinach, coriander) and soil microorganisms collected during two vegetation experiments on the same soil samples. The research was conducted in 2023 and 2024 on the basis of the laboratory of the Department of Agrotechnology, Storage and Processing of Agricultural Products of the I.A. Bunin Yelets State University. Soil samples were collected earlier in 2023 in the marketing consumer cooperative «Timiryazevsky» of the Dolgorukovsky district of the Lipetsk region. Keywords: GLYPHOSATE, SOIL, CHERNOZEM, DILL, MUSTARD, SPINACH, CORIANDER, MICROORGANISMS

Improved scheduling model for a multistage biopharmaceutical process in a multiproduct facility

This study critically evaluates deterministic and stochastic/evolutionary strategies for long-term scheduling of multiproduct facilities in batch and continuous biopharmaceutical manufacturing, as reported in existing literature using discrete-time and continuous-time models. It identifies key limitations in literature model/algorithm, including (i) real-time storage violation, (ii) real-time violation of shelf-life due to its calculation over a single event, (iii) minimum campaign length calculated over single events leading to suboptimal use of resources, and (iv) early product deliveries. To overcome these limitations, a deterministic mathematical model is proposed extending the existing unit-specific event-based model(s) with additional features including (i) modified material balances, (ii) new minimum campaign length constraints captured over multiple events, (iii) new shelf-life constraints captured over multiple events, (iv) new setup constraints based on product sequencing, (v) updated tightening constraints, (vi) updated sales and penalty constraints for late deliveries, (vii) updated bounds, and (viii) updated objective function. These improved features lead to better modeling in terms of handling intermediate and final product storage without real-time violations of storage and shelf-life, handling of initial setup in production tasks, and timely delivery of final products. The proposed improved model yields up to 36 % increase in profit when applied on four literature examples.

Prolonged Carbon Storage and CO2 Reduction by Circular Design with Wood

The benefits of circularity and biogenic carbon storage are often overseen. This study links the circular design of buildings with prolonged biogenic carbon storage. Circularity in architectural design can involve extending the service life of a building frame, whilst forests grow back and store more carbon. Following this approach, Stora Enso has developed a mixed-use building concept with flexible and adaptable structures. Static and dynamic life cycle assessment (LCA) has been carried out to assess different scenarios, modelling and quantifying its potential benefits regarding whole life carbon. While whole life carbon is lower in all timber scenarios compared to conventional concrete buildings, dynamic LCA makes clear the benefits of carbon storage and carbon sequestration. Total emissions, considering a reference service life of 50 years, are 2,84 kg CO2-eq./m² floor area/year, considering biogenic carbon storage and carbon sequestration in regrowing forests. An increase of the building lifetime to 80 years aligns with a longer rotation time of forest trees, resulting in whole life carbon of -0,09 kg CO2-eq./m² floor area/year. This demonstrates that the effective implementation of built-in flexibility and adaptability can extend the service life of a building, unlocking environmental benefits of biogenic carbon storage of wood products in buildings.

Optimization of CO2 flooding under dual goals of oil recovery and CO2 storage: Numerical case studies of the first-ever CCUS pilot in Changqing oilfield

CCUS (CO2 capture, utilization, and storage) is an important way to reduce carbon emissions and is increasingly applied in the development of hydrocarbon resources. It is crucial to develop proper engineering parameters to achieve the dual goals of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and CO2 storage. This paper reports systematic numerical case studies of the first-ever CCUS pilot project at Changqing Oilfield to identify further improvement opportunities compared to the current development strategy. The targeted reservoir is located in the Huang 3 (H3) block and is characterized by ultra-low permeability (<1 mD), low oil production (<5 tons/day), and miscible and near-miscible flooding. A three-phase compositional reservoir model is established and a typical well group, consisting of one injector and eight producers, is selected to perform the numerical case studies. We investigate the influence and sensitivity analysis of engineering parameters on oil production and CO2 storage in ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoirs. The results indicate that the well pattern, the timing of switching to water-alternating-gas injection, the gas-water slug size ratio, and the injection rate are controlling factors to achieve favorable performance. The simulation results show that by using optimized engineering parameters, the oil recovery factor of the target reservoir is significantly increased by 25% and the CO2 storage efficiency is increased by 60%. Finally, an optimized development plan is obtained based on the actual conditions of the target reservoir. The reported case studies are supposed to provide insights into the optimal design and operation of CO2 utilization and storage in hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Examining the impact of consumers’ showrooming behavior on sales staff job conditions: insights from the Indian apparel retail sector

PurposeThis research aims to investigate the showrooming phenomenon in the context of the evolving omnichannel shopping landscape, which seamlessly integrates both physical and online retail channels. Showrooming, wherein customers browse products in physical stores but ultimately purchase from online competitors, poses a potential threat to the job security and job satisfaction of sales staff in brick-and-mortar (B&M) stores. To address this issue, this study explores the relationship between showrooming, self-efficacy, sales performance, job insecurity and job satisfaction of sales staff, using the job demands-resources (JDR-R) model as a theoretical framework.Design/methodology/approachThis research employs quantitative research methods and gathers data from 219 sales staff working in Indian retail stores. Structural equation modeling is used to test the proposed hypotheses.FindingsThe results indicate that showrooming is associated with a decrease in the self-efficacy, sales performance and job satisfaction of sales staff. Furthermore, the result indicates that showrooming is positively associated with increased job insecurity among the sales staff.Originality/valueThis study offers valuable contributions to existing literature and offers insights for both retailers and salespeople regarding the potential repercussions of showrooming. It also suggests coping strategies to address the challenges posed by showrooming and the behavior of showroomers.

Enhancing nutritional formula expiry monitoring: A quality improvement project in a tertiary-level hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Nutrition is a vital part of any treatment plan. This may include providing nutritional formulas during hospitalization and afterward. However, reported incidents showed that we had issues with nutritional formula expiry monitoring at our hospital with low compliance to Joint Commission International Standards (MMU.3.1): "There is a process for storage of medications and nutritional products that require special consideration." Therefore, a "Nutritional Formula Expiry Monitoring" project was created to decrease hospital safety incidents related to expired nutritional formulas from an average of 28 in 2015 to zero by 2018. A quality improvement model was developed to map the existing formula processes. Several proposed ideas were tested including performing a hospital-wide audit to examine possible risks and practices, developing a hospital policy, flow charts, forms, and audit tools, and providing educational presentations. A total of 40 units in the hospital were included in the implementation. After implementing all the change ideas, the system for monitoring the expiry of the nutritional formula was standardized, and the number of reported incidents related to the nutritional formula decreased from 28 in the third quarter of 2015 to one in the first quarter of 2018. This project provided step-by-step instructions for improving storing, delivering, and monitoring of nutritional formula. Consequently, the incidences of expired formula and cost wasting were successfully decreased, which increased safe administration and prevented patients from receiving expired nutritional formula. This project can be implemented in various healthcare settings.

Stability of Nano-Emulsified Cannabidiol in Acidic Foods and Beverages.

Introduction: Food and beverage products containing cannabidiol (CBD) is a growing industry, but some CBD products contain Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), despite being labeled as "THC-free". As CBD can convert to Δ9-THC under acidic conditions, a potential cause is the formation of Δ9-THC during storage of acidic CBD products. In this study, we investigated if acidic products (pH ≤ 4) fortified with CBD would facilitate conversion to THC over a 2-15-month time period. Materials and Methods: Six products, three beverages (lemonade, cola, and sports drink) and three condiments (ketchup, mustard, and hot sauce), were purchased from a local grocery store and fortified with a nano-emulsified CBD isolate (verified as THC-free by testing). The concentrations of CBD and Δ9-THC were measured by Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) and Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), respectively, for up to 15 months at room temperature. Results: Coefficients of variation (CVs) of initial CBD concentrations by GC-FID were <10% for all products except ketchup (18%), showing homogeneity in the fortification. Formation of THC was variable, with the largest amount observed after 15 months in fortified lemonade #2 (3.09 mg Δ9-THC/serving) and sports drink #2 (1.18 mg Δ9-THC/serving). Both beverages contain citric acid, while cola containing phosphoric acid produced 0.10 mg Δ9-THC/serving after 4 months. The importance of the acid type was verified using acid solutions in water. No more than 0.01 mg Δ9-THC/serving was observed with the condiments after 4 months. Discussion: Conversion of CBD to THC can occur in some acidic food products when those products are stored at room temperature. Therefore, despite purchasing beverages manufactured with a THC-free nano-emulsified form of CBD, consumers might be at some risk of unknowingly ingesting small amounts of THC. The results indicate that up to 3 mg Δ9-THC from conversion can be present in a serving of CBD-lemonade. Based on the previous studies, 3 mg Δ9-THC might produce a positive urine sample (≥15 ng/mL THC carboxylic acid) in some individuals. Conclusion: Consumers must exert caution when consuming products with an acidic pH (≤4) that suggests that they are "THC-Free," because consumption might lead to positive drug tests or, in the case of multiple doses, intoxication.

A novel trigeneration energy system with two modes of operation for thermal energy storage and hydrogen production

This article introduces a new trigeneration system designed to meet the escalating energy demands by harnessing solar energy. Notably, the system features dual-mode operation and integrates ultrasound technology for hydrogen production, enabling it to adapt to varying levels of energy production by seamlessly transitioning between two modes. Through comprehensive energy, exergy, and environmental analyses, this study evaluates the system's performance and its environmental advantages. The results demonstrate that the system achieves the energy and exergy efficiencies of 58.28 % and 76.75 %, respectively. Moreover, it demonstrates that, under sunlight conditions, the system can produce hydrogen at a rate of 1 kg/h and deliver a power output of 1957 kW. During the periods utilizing a thermal energy storage option, the system is capable of generating hydrogen at 0.8 kg/h and an electrical power output of 1481.2 kW. The environmental analysis indicates that the system is eco-friendly, with the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 4.54 kg/kWh. These results underscore the system's efficiency and its contribution toward a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy future.

Effectiveness of digital traceability in long-term storage of semi-smoked sausages

Semi-smoked sausages are one of the most popular meat products in the world. However, during long-term storage, semi-smoked sausages can be subjected to various unfavorable factors that can lead to deterioration of their quality and safety. This study evaluates the effectiveness of digital traceability in long-term storage of semi-smoked sausages. The main areas of research include conducting experimental studies to evaluate the effectiveness of digital traceability. The scientific significance of the study reveals the effectiveness of using digital traceability to ensure the quality and safety of semi-smoked sausages during long-term storage. The practical significance of the study is that its results can be used to implement digital traceability in the production of semi-smoked sausages. The study utilized blockchain technology to track the storage parameters of semi-smoked sausages. As an experimental object, semismoked sausages with the addition of vegetable components were developed. The storage parameters of the sausages were tracked for 3 months. The results of the study showed that digital traceability provides reliable and transparent control over the condition of semi-smoked sausages at all storage stages. Digital traceability allows monitoring of the following sausage storage parameters: temperature, humidity, light, oxygen, carbon dioxide. These parameters are critical to ensure the quality and safety of semi-smoked sausages. Digital traceability enables real-time monitoring of these parameters, facilitating timely interventions to prevent the deterioration of product quality. In addition, digital traceability ensures transparency of the sausage storage process. Any interested person can get access to information about product storage parameters. This helps to increase consumer confidence in the safety of semi-smoked sausages. The results of the study can be used to implement digital traceability in the production of semi-smoked sausages. The introduction of digital traceability will improve the quality and safety of semi-smoked sausages, as well as increase consumer confidence in this product.

Assessment of storage structures for some staple crops in Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Increased post-harvest losses of staple crops due to poor handling and inadequate storage facilities have become a concern to stakeholders in the Nigerian Food Industry. Storage structures available for some staple crops in Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, were assessed. Questionnaires were administered to one hundred and fifty respondents randomly selected from a pool of farmers, processors, and marketers in the study area. The study also examined the physical state of some of the available storage facilities to ascertain some challenges limiting their usage and recommendations made on measures to address the concerns. According to the survey, 50% of the respondents used sag bags for storing maize for domestic consumption and marketing, while 29% preferred plastic containers. Less than 10% of the respondents agreed to the use of enclosed rooms and lamented changes in the physical outlook of the crop at the point of marketing them due to poor aeration. Findings revealed that materials for developing storage structures for products such as cassava and cocoyam were sourced locally. Rewetting of stored products, mold, microbial infestation, and theft were some identifiable challenges associated with using plastic containers as storage mediums. The lack of awareness on the part of farmers, poor maintenance culture, non-conformity of some of the storage structures with the environment, poor funding for the development of the structures based on available local materials, inadequate supervision, and misuse of the structures were some of the factors identified as challenges towards effective utilization of storage structures in the study area. The use of rodent glue, adequate fumigation, and efficient crop drying before storage are some of the measures that could help reduce the rate of post-harvest losses of stored agricultural products. The provision of silos and other modern storage structures in strategic farm locations and the upgrading of existing structures could also enhance the storage of agricultural products and value addition.