UV-C treatment of soymilk in coiled tube UV reactors for inactivation of Escherichia coli W1485 and Bacillus cereus endospores

Coiled tube UV reactors were used to investigate the influence of tube diameter (1.6 mmID, and 3.2 mmID) and Reynolds number (Re) to inactivate Escherichia coli W1485 and Bacillus cereus spores in raw soymilk (RSM). Four levels of Re (343, 686, 1029 and 1372) were tested in RSM inoculated separately with each bacterium and treated in the UV reactors at a constant residence time of 11.3 s with UV-C dose of 11.187 mJ/ cm2 at 253.7 nm. Inactivation efficiency of both microorganisms increased with Re. Maximumreductions of 5.6 log10 CFU/ml of E. coli and 3.29 log10 CFU/ml of B. cereus spores were achieved in the 1.6 mm ID UV reactor. Inactivation efficiency was higher in the 1.6 mm ID UV reactor than the 3.2 mm ID UV reactor for both the organisms. Effect of UV-C light on lipid oxidation of untreated RSM, measured as malondialdehyde and other reactive substances (MORS) content, was much higher (95 nmol/ml) than the UV-treated (58 nmol/ml) and thermally pasteurized (55 nmol/ml) RSM during the storage period of 7 days. The UV-C treatment can be effectively used for reducing E. coli cells and B. cereus spores in soymilk without compromising its quality

SOCIAL ENREPRENEURSHIP: IMPACT OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (OHS) FACTORS ON WORKERS’ BEHAVIOR IN DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION SECTORS IN OMAN

PURPOSE This paper critically analyzes and assesses the various factors of occupational health and safety (OHS), and elucidate the factors affecting construction workers’ behavior in different construction projects of Oman. It aims to create Occupational Health and Safety awareness in construction workers working for Social Entrepreneurs in Oman. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH Two hundred and fifty-two construction workers from various projects were selected based on a simple random sampling basis, and the data was collected through a well-defined questionnaire. FINDINGS The study shows that workers favor communication in the improvement of workers’ behavior in the industrial and infrastructure construction projects.Education and training help in capacity building and skills development and contributes towards sustainable positive OHS result in petrochemical construction projects. Management commitment plays a major part to maintain a sustained hazard free environment in building construction projects. The study also shows that the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) factors –OHS policies, health care, communication, management commitment, education and training and workers’ behavior, have a direct impact on health and safety results towards social entrepreneurship of creating awareness in the construction sectors of Oman. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/ IMPLICATIONS A model named Construction Industries Influencing Factors Framework (CIIFF) Model, has been developed with the orientation of workers’ behavior which can be developed further making improvements in the existing mechanism and the factors influencing can be dealt with wider procedures to ensure improvements. SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS The model may help in creating tools that are more effective to reduce Occupational Health and Safety related accidents and property damages in a construction project.&nbsp

Impact of UV-C processing of raw cow milk treated in a continuous flow coiled tube ultraviolet reactor

Raw cow milk (RCM) was treated in a continuous flow coiled tube ultraviolet reactor at the Reynolds number (Re) of 713 for a residence time of 17 s with cumulative UV-C dose of 16.822 mJ/cm2.  SPC in RCM was reduced by 2.3logs at these conditions.  Sensory analysis of milk samples was conducted using triangle test.  UV-C treated RCM and untreated RCM was compared with the fresh RCM (control) using triangle test method of olfactory sensory analysis right after the UV treatment and during storage periods (1, 3, 7 d) at 4℃.  There were no significant differences among the odor of UV-light-treated, untreated, and control, right after the UV treatment.  Perceivable change in the odor of UV-treated and untreated RCM compared to the fresh RCM was observed on the 3rd and 7th days after treatment.  There was no significant difference between the malondialdehyde and other reactive substances (MORS) content in untreated and fresh milk right after the treatment and during storage.  Lipid oxidation products content of UV-treated RCM was significantly higher than that of the fresh or untreated RCM.Keywords: raw cow milk, ultraviolet processing, UV-C treatment, sensory test, lipid oxidation substance

Applying Three Port Converter with Dual Battery Storage System for Hybrid Power Generation

640-646The proposed research work used three power sources, namely wind energy, solar energy and grid. Wind and solar constitute the primary energy sources while the grid acted as the secondary one; added to that, we have the battery storage system. The priority between the two forms of energy in the primary source is determined by their availability. The solar irradiance is available during daytime, whereas during cloudy and night times, energy extraction is impossible; besides that wind energy is also not reliable. Thus the central level controller (CLC) is used, which serves as a deciding authority for the selection of primary source. When none of the energies in the primary sources are available the grid supplies the required power to the load. When there is a surplus energy from primary sources, it is stored in a battery or exported to the grid. In addition DBSS is also introduced for effective utilization of battery storage system. The proposed model is connected with micro grid to provide utilization path for surplus power. The overall design and simulation is performed by using MATLAB/SIMULINK

THIRTY FIVE YEARS OF OPERATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT FOR DRYLAND AGRICULTURE : ACHIEVEMENTS AND IMPACTS (1976 to 2012)

Not AvailableAgriculture is the backbone of Indian economy and rainfed agro-ecosystem occupies an important place in Indian agriculture, covering 68 per cent of the cultivated area (96 m.ha) supporting 40 per cent human, 60 per cent livestock population and producing 44 per cent of the food requirements thus playing a pivotal role in India’s food security. Five out of ten Agro-Climatic Zones in Karnataka were classified as dry zones covering 63 per cent of the total geographical area and 71 per cent of the net sown area, with substantial contribution to agricultural production from dry lands. About 57 per cent of food grain production in Karnataka comes from rainfed areas while, 97 per cent of total pulses and 80 per cent oilseeds were produced in dry land areas. Research on dryland agriculture in the red soil regions of Karnataka was started in 1970 with the establishment of All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture (AICRPDA) at Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra (GKVK), Bangalore,Not Availabl

Alleviation of Multinutrient Deficiency for Productivity Enhancement of Rain-Fed Soybean and Finger Millet in the Semi-arid Region of India

Soil nutrient contents were determined in 802 surface soil samples (0–15 cm deep) collected from farmers' fields that support extensive cultivation of soybean (Glycine max L.) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana G.), spread across three districts, in the semi-arid regions of Karnataka, India. Following soil analysis, on-farm crop trials were conducted during 2005–2007 to study the crop response to the soil application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), boron (B), and zinc (Zn) fertilizers. Analyses of soil samples revealed that 4–83% fields were deficient in N, 34–65% in P, 83–93% in extractable S, 53–96% in B, and 34–88% of farmers' fields were deficient in Zn. On-farm trials conducted during the three rainy seasons (2005, 2006, and 2007) significantly (P ≤ 0.05) enhanced crop productivity indices such as yields of grain, stover, and total biomass in soybean and finger millet crops. Integrated management of deficient nutrients in finger millet and soybean crops significantly enhanced the grain and straw uptake of N, P, K, S, and Zn

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Assessing village-level carbon balance due to greenhouse gas mitigation interventions using EX-ACT model

Under National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project, a range of climate smart agricultural practices were evaluated with on-farm demonstrations during 2011–2013 in eight climatically vulnerable villages of Andhra Pradesh, India. Proven climate smart practices viz residue recycling, soil, water and nutrient management, afforestation and feeding + breeding practices in livestock were implemented in annual and perennial crops, irrigated rice, horticulture, fodder, forestry and livestock. An EX-ante carbon-balance tool (EX-ACT) developed by the FAO was used with a combination of various climate smart interventions to know the mitigation potentials in eight climatically vulnerable villages of Andhra Pradesh, India. Based on our observations, EX-ACT model had shown that these practices were effective to mitigate CO2 emissions apart from enhancing soil productivity. In Nacharam, Yagantipalli, Sirusuwada and Matsyapuri villages, climate smart practices implemented in annual crops along with crop residue recycling, crop and water management practices resulted in negative carbon (C) balance by −16,410, −8851, −7271 and −6125 t CO2 e, respectively. The EX-ACT model predicted positive carbon balance with irrigated module in the rice-growing villages of Sirusuwada and Matsyapuri villages. The negative values suggest a sink, and positive values a source for CO2 emissions. In Chamaluru village, although there were CO2 emissions (source) due to livestock and non-forest and land use changes, there was a carbon sink due to other activities as predicted by the model. The results suggested that various climatic smart practices at the village level were successful in creating net sink of CO2 emissions (t CO2 e)

Study and suppression of the microstructural anisotropy generated during the consolidation of a carbonyl iron powder by field-assisted hot pressing

Published OnlineA spherical carbonyl iron powder was consolidated by the field-assisted hot pressing technique using graphite tools at two different temperatures, both above the austenitizing temperature. The microstructures obtained exhibited a compositional gradient in carbon along the consolidated material. Thus, the outer rim of the cylindrical samples was composed of cementite and pearlite that gradually turned to pearlite, leading to a fully ferritic microstructure at the core of the sample. The increase in the temperature has led to a higher introduction of carbon within the sample. The interposition of a thin tungsten foil between the graphite die/punches and the powders has significantly reduced the diffusion of the carbon through the iron matrix and has suppressed the microstructural anisotropy.Publicad