scholarly journals Portable flow board for storage of fruits and vegetables in mini-chambers with controlled atmosphere

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1105-1116
Author(s):  
Luis G. P. Carmelo ◽  
Aline A. Becaro ◽  
Marcos D. Ferreira ◽  
Adonai G. Calbo
Keyword(s):  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Open Systems ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Pressure Control ◽  
Controlled Atmosphere ◽  
Controlled Atmospheres ◽  
Gaseous Component ◽  
Gas Cylinder ◽  
Glass Tubes ◽  
Flexible Tubes

ABSTRACT A portable flow board system was developed in the present study with the aim to facilitate lab-scale experiments of controlled atmosphere (CA) with fruits and vegetables. This sturdy flow board combines ease fabrication, low cost and gas economy. Its functionality is provided by manifolds and gas mixers. Each gaseous component is supplied by a gas cylinder through a differential valve of adjusted pressure control, generally at 6 kPa, and forced through 13 standardized restrictors coupled to each manifold output. Controlled atmospheres are then formed with one, two or three gases in 13 gas mixers affixed to the flow board base, which are further conducted through flexible tubes to storage mini-chambers that can also be used to study metabolic consumption and production of gaseous components. The restrictors used in the flow gaseous components were manufactured from microhematocrit test-type capillary glass tubes following the hot forming method under continuous air flow. The portable flow board showed to be low cost and simple post-harvest equipment that allows preparing controlled atmospheres in open systems with stable composition and flow, in a manner similar to traditional flow boards with control of gas escape by barostats.

scholarly journals Effects of Foliar Nutrition on Onion Seed Storage under Controlled Atmosphere

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Shehata ◽  
M. Y. Hashem ◽  
G. I. Mahmoud ◽  
K. F. Abd El-Gawad ◽  
H. R. El-Ramady ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Storage Temperature ◽  
Seed Storage ◽  
Exposure Period ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Controlled Atmosphere ◽  
Foliar Nutrition ◽  
Controlled Atmospheres ◽  
Malondialdehyde Content

Storage of fresh fruits and vegetables prolongs their usefulness. The principal goal of storage is to preserve the commodity in its most useable form for the consumer. The extension of storage life and the improvement of quality of fresh fruits and vegetables can be supplied by harvesting at proper maturity, control of post-harvest diseases, chemical treatments, refrigeration, controlled and modified atmospheres. Two successive winter seasons of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 were conducted under sandy soil conditions to study the effect of spraying with 12 commercial compounds on onion seeds and storage under controlled atmosphere. The germination percentages were 85.50, 86.85, 83.75 and 82.15 for CA1, CA2, CA3 and CA4, respectively. Water content of onion seeds was significantly increased with decreasing storage temperature in all controlled atmospheres. Water content values were 4.48, 4.40, 4.55 and 4.54 for CA1, CA2, CA3 and CA4, respectively. There were significant decreases in water content with increasing exposure periods. The lowest water content was recordednfor the exposure periods of 120 and 240 days. Catalase and peroxidase activities were decreased with the decreasing of storage temperature, whereas malondialdehyde content was increased. The exposure for 120 days recorded the highest catalase activity. The highest value of peroxidase (11.72) was recorded for CA2. Peroxidase activity increased as exposure period increased until 120 days and then decreased. Cold storage temperature (5°C) showed the highest malondialdehyde content followed by room temperature. The CA2 showed the lowest malondialdehyde content compared with other controlled atmospheres. The exposure period of 120 days had the lowest malondialdehyde content.

Photocatalysis: A Powerful Technology for Cold Storage Applications

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Kartheuser ◽  
C. Boonaert
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Ethylene Production ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Catalytic Converter ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Controlled Atmosphere ◽  
Ethylene Receptors ◽  
Ethylene Concentration ◽  
Controlled Atmospheres ◽  
Small Producers

AbstractMost fruits and vegetables have to be stored in cold and controlled atmospheres. Vegetables and climacteric fruits are very sensitive to the presence of ethylene gas, which acts as a ripening hormone and plays a regulatory role in many plant metabolic processes. Produce and flowers display ethylene receptors at their surface. Their actuation promotes ethylene production by the fruit itself, accelerating its ripening and aging. One way to moderate ethylene production is to slow down the metabolism by keeping the produce in a controlled atmosphere (2% oxygen, 2-5% carbon dioxide, 93-96% nitrogen). In this study, the control of ethylene concentration is performed in ambient air by using a photocatalytic converter, which mineralises ethylene into water and carbon dioxide. This device appears, therefore, as a flexible and inexpensive alternative to the catalytic converter for small producers.

Understanding the Role of Chlorine and Ozone to Control Postharvest Diseases in Fruit and Vegetables: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-461
Author(s):  
Gabriela M. Baia ◽  
Otniel Freitas-Silva ◽  
Murillo F. Junior
Keyword(s):  
Chlorine Dioxide ◽  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Postharvest Diseases ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
By Products

Fruits and vegetables are foods that come into contact with various types of microorganisms from planting to their consumption. A lack or poor sanitation of these products after harvest can cause high losses due to deterioration and/ or pathogenic microorganisms. There are practically no post-harvest fungicides or bactericides with a broad spectrum of action that have no toxic residual effects and are safe. However, to minimize such problems, the use of sanitizers is an efficient device against these microorganisms. Chlorine is the most prevalent sanitizing agent because of its broad spectrum, low cost and well-established practices. However, the inevitable formation of disinfection by-products, such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), is considered one of the main threats to food safety. Alternative sanitizers, such as chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and ozone, are becoming popular as a substitute for traditional post-harvest treatments. Thus, this review addresses the use of chlorine, chlorine dioxide and ozone emphasizing aspects, such as usage, safe application, spectrum of action and legislation. In order to ensure the quality and safety of final products, the adoption of well-prepared sanitation and sanitation programs for post-harvest fruits and vegetables is essential.

Acceptability of a School-Based Intervention for the Prevention of Adolescent Obesity

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 269-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanne M. Mauriello ◽  
Mary Margaret H. Driskell ◽  
Karen J. Sherman ◽  
Sara S. Johnson ◽  
Janice M. Prochaska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transtheoretical Model ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Student Responses ◽  
School Based Intervention ◽  
School Based ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Obesity Prevention Program

This article describes the development and pilot testing of a computer-based, multiple-behavior obesity prevention program for adolescents. Using the Transtheoretical Model as a framework, this intervention offers individualized feedback based on readiness to engage in physical activity, to consume fruits and vegetables, and to limit television viewing. Focus groups and interviews with students, teachers, school administrators, and experts guided the development. Forty-five students participated in a baseline intervention session and completed a 16-item acceptability measure. Ratings were positive, with item means ranging from 3.60–4.75 on a 5-point scale. Student responses to open-ended questions aided in the enhancement of the intervention, for which an effectiveness trial begins in September 2006. This formative work demonstrated the acceptability of this school-based intervention approach, which can be promoted and prescribed by school nurses. Further, if found effective, it can be disseminated as an efficient, low-cost, population-based approach designed to address the epidemic of obesity.

scholarly journals Ethylene induces soil microbes to delay fruit ripening

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guenevere Perry ◽  
Diane Williams
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Ripening ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Soil Microbes ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Ripening Process ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Climacteric Fruit ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Transportation Container ◽  
Post Harvest Loss

The consumer demand for fresh fruits and vegetables increases every year, and farmers need a low cost novel method to reduce post-harvest loss and preserve the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables. This study identifies a method to induce soil bacteria to biosynthesize a nitrile compound that potentially enters the plants tissue and negatively affects climacteric ripening and delays the ripening process at 20-30˚C. This study used soil rich with soil microbes, to delay the ripening of climacteric fruit. The soil was treated with nitrogen, a heavy metal, and ethylene gas. Ethylene induced the soil to delay the ripening of organic bananas and peaches. A prototype transportation container maintained fruit fresh for up to 72 h at 20-30˚C. The fruit retained color, firmness, texture, no bruising and minimal spotting. The soil also prevented fungal infection in all samples. GC-MS analysis suggests ethylene induced the soil microbes to release an acetonitrile compound into the gaseous environment. The nitrile is released in low concentrations, but mature plants (fruits) contain very low levels of indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN) or indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The nitrile may obstruct or modify the mature plants (fruit) late stages development process, thus delay the climacteric ripening process and retarding the physiological and phenotypic effects of fruit ripening. We believe this study may have strong applications for post-harvest biotechnology.

scholarly journals Open source timed pressure control hardware and software for delivery of air mediated distensions in animal models

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trishna Patel ◽  
Jamie Hendren ◽  
Nathan Lee ◽  
Aaron D Mickle
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Graphical User Interface ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Pressure Control ◽  
Solenoid Valve ◽  
Relative Ease ◽  
Bladder Distension ◽  
Data Acquisition Software ◽  
Number Of Cycles ◽  
Stimulation Of

AbstractStudying the visceral sensory component of peripheral nervous systems can be challenging due to limited options for consistent and controlled stimulation. One method for mechanical stimulation of hollow organs, including colon and bladder, are controlled distensions mediated by compressed air. For example, distension of the bladder can be used as an assay for bladder nociception. Bladder distension causes a corresponding increase in abdominal electromyography, which increases with distension pressure and is attenuated with analgesics. However, the hardware used to control these distensions are primarily all one-off custom builds, without clear directions how to build your own. This has made it difficult for these methods to be fully utilized and replicated as not everyone has access, knowledge and resources required to build this controller. Here we show an open-source Arduino based system for controlling a solenoid valve to deliver timed pressure distensions in the experimental model. This device can be controlled by one of two methods through direct TTL pulses from the experimenters data acquisition software (ex. CED Spike2) or by a graphical user interface, where the user can set the time before, during, and after distension as well as the number of cycles. This systems low cost and relative ease to build will allow more groups to utilize timed pressure distensions in their experiments.Specifications table

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