Fruit Ripening stage affects lycopene and Vitamin C contents in tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum): nutritional and clinical implications.

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Postharvest responses of ?Malindi? Cavendish banana to various storage conditions

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Analysis of microclimate and cucumber fruit yield in a screenhouse and an evaporatively cooled greenhouse in a semi-arid location

The microclimate and cucumber crop response in a screenhouse and in an evaporatively cooled greenhouse were studied in Oman during winter/spring and spring/summer cultivation periods. Measurements were carried out in two similarly shaped structures: (1) a greenhouse equipped with a pad-and-fan system for evaporative cooling of the greenhouse environment and (2) a screenhouse with no cooling system. Analysis of the spring/summer period climate data showed that the evaporative cooling in the greenhouse reduced the mean air temperature by about 4.5°C compared to outside and maintained the leaf temperature close to the greenhouse air temperature. The 24 h mean leaf and air temperatures in the greenhouse reached 25.8°C ±1.3°C and 25.9°C ±0.8°C, respectively. On the other hand, the 24 h mean leaf and air temperatures in the screenhouse were higher by 1.0°C and 1.3°C, respectively, compared to outside. The 24 h mean leaf and air temperatures in the screenhouse reached 32.8°C ±1.2°C and 31.8°C ±1.5°C, respectively. Furthermore, the evaporative cooling in the greenhouse maintained the 24 h mean air vapor pressure deficit (VPD) values at levels lower than 1.1 kPa, while the 24 h mean air VPD in the screenhouse reached values up to 4.5 kPa. These differences resulted in a 50% decrease in crop fruit yield during the spring/summer period. The radiation and water use efficiency (WUE) values observed in the two structures were similar during the winter/spring period but were higher in the greenhouse during the spring/summer period. However, for the greenhouse, when the water evaporated in the wet pad was also considered, the overall WUE was at the same level in both structures during summer. Furthermore, the evaporative cooling applied in the greenhouse enhanced the mean values of fruit quality characteristics measured during the spring/summer, such as fruit dry matter content (5.6%), fruit firmness (5.0 kg cm-2), and chroma (18.6), compared to that of the screenhouse (5.0%, 4.9 kg cm-2 and 16.3, respectively), but did not significantly affect other fruit quality characteristics, such as mean fruit weight (128 g for greenhouse and 123 g for screenhouse), total soluble solids content (3.9 °Brix for both structures), and juice pH (5.7 for greenhouse and 5.6 for screenhouse). Overall, it can be concluded that under the weather conditions of Oman, although greenhouses are still needed during spring/summer, screenhouses can be used during winter without jeopardizing crop production quantity and quality. © 2017 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers

Retrospective Study on Diabetes Patients in Two Different Regions in Oman

Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulinaction or both. The number of people with diabetes in increasing due to population growth, aging , urbanization andincreasing prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess different lines ofmedications prescribed and combination therapy on diabetes management and also to assess the most common associateddisease with diabetes in two hospitals in different regions. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conductedbased on 100 prescription (from Jan to June 2013) collected randomly for type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients from ALRustaq hospital and Sinaw hospital in Oman. Prescriptions were classified into two groups according to the type of diabetesstudied (T1DM and T2MD). Patients, Age, Gender, diseases associated and medication used were noted. Results: A highprevalence of diabetes was observed in T2DM (with 99%) while T1DM about 1% in AL-Rustaq and Sinaw hospital. InT2DM, Metformin is the most prescribed drug followed by Gliclazide as monotherapy in AL-Rustaq hospital. The mostprescribed medicine use as monotherapy is metformin (72%) followed by Gliclazide (18%) then glibincamide (10%) inSinawhospitalIn combination therapy, metformin+glibenclamide followed by metformin+gliclazide were the mostcommonly prescribed in AL-Rustaq hospital. In Sinaw hospital the combination therapy in which metformin plusglibincamide is the most common (53%). Then metformin plus gliclazide(32%), followed by metformin plus gliclazideplus Insulin(N) (5%), then metformin plus glibincamide plus Insulin(N)(4%) then insulin plus oral hypoglycemic(3%)then insulin(N) plus insulin(R) plus gliclazide(2%) then Metformin plus Insulin(N) plus Insulin (R)(1%). Nearly 50%Males and 50% females having diabetes was in both hospitals. Maximum patients with DM were of the age group (40-49)years. Dyslipidemia is the most common associated disease with diabetes in AL-Rustaq hospital In Sinaw hospital, themajority of the patients are having hypertension as associated disease (49%), then came coronary heart disease (32%) thendyslipidemia (19%). there are other associated diseases but in limited percentage such as nephropathy, retinopathy,neuropathy, etc.Conclusion: In this study prevalence of T2DM was more. Diabetes was found to be in age group (40-49) inAL-Rustaq hospital. This study shows that both genders have same proportion

Potential reduction in water consumption of greenhouse evaporative coolers in arid areas via earth-tube heat exchangers

This study aimed to explore the potential of developing a novel cooling system combining a greenhouse and an earth-tube heat exchanger (ETHE). In this system, greenhouse air is circulated through the underneath soil mass to use the deep-soil cooling effect. This was achieved through the following steps. First, soil temperature profile inside and outside the cultivated greenhouse was monitored for almost one year to study the possibility of using deep-soil coldness for cooling the greenhouse air. Second, a prototype ETHE was built to practically investigate the potential reduction in air temperature as the air flows inside the deep earth pipes. Third, a prototype greenhouse was erected to study the ETHE concept. Results from the first experiment revealed that soil temperature at a soil depth of 2.5 m inside the greenhouse offers good conditions to bury the ETHE. The soil temperature at this soil depth was below the maximum temperature (32°C) that most greenhouse crops can withstand. Results from the prototype ETHE showed a slight reduction in air temperature as it passed through the pipes. From the prototype of the integrated greenhouse and ETHE system, reduction in air temperature was observed as the air passed through the ETHE pipes. At night, the air was heated up across the ETHE pipes, indicating that the ETHE was working as a heater. We concluded from this study that greenhouses in arid climates can be cooled using the ETHE concept which would save a large amount of water that would otherwise be consumed in the evaporative coolers. Further investigations are highly encouraged