Effect of harvesting method and package type on quality and shelf-life of mango fruits

The traditional method of harvest and package type were compared with an improved harvesting technique and packaging in standard export carton boxes and evaluated according to quality and shelf-life of 'Kitchner' and 'Abu-Samaka' mango fruits in 'Abu-Gebeha' area during 2012/2013 season. The fruits harvested by the traditional method were snapped by a hook attached to a long bamboo pole, the fruits dropped to the ground and then picked into carton boxes. In the improved method of harvest, the fruits were picked by a hook attached to a long bamboo pole equipped with a long cloth sleeve held open by a metal ring. When the pedicle was severed, the fruit dropped into the sleeve, moved smoothly downwards to be received from the open-end by the picker and packed into the carton boxes. Two types of packages were used. The traditional packages were carton boxes 27 x 27 x 42cm, and the improved packages were standard export boxes 43 x 33 x 15 cm. The treatments were (1) traditional harvest and traditional packages (control), (2) traditional harvest and improved packages, and (3) improved harvest and improved packages. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with four replicates and stored at 18±1oC and 85- 90% relative humidity. The improved method of harvest and improved packages significantly delayed the onset of the climacteric peak, reduced respiration rate, weight loss, fruit softening, peel color development, total soluble solids (TSS) accumulation and titratable acidity changes, retained ascorbic acid, maintained fruit quality and extended the shelf-life of mango fruits. Initial respiration rate was decreased by 14.9% and 24.6%, weight loss was reduced by 13.8% and 28.9% and ascorbic acid was more by 28.6% and 75.5% in the improved harvesting method and improved packages, compared with the control in 'Kitchner' and 'Abu-Samaka' mangoes, تمت مقارنة طريقة الحصاد التقليدية ونوع العبوة المستخدمة مع طريقة محسنة للحصاد والتعبئة في صناديق الكرتون الخاصة بالصادر وتأثيرها على الجودة والعمر التسويقي لصنفي ثمار المانجو "كتشنر" و"أبو سمكة" في منطقة "أبو جبيهة". في طريقة الحصاد التقليدية، حصدت الثمار بنزعها بواسطة عصا طويلة في نهايتها خطاف مما يؤدى إلى سقوط الثمار على الأرض ويتم جمعها لاحقاً في حاويات الجمع. أما في الطريقة المحسنة، فقد أضيف إلى أداة القطف التقليدية كيس طويل من القماش مثبت على حلقة معدنية تحت الخطاف. عند فصل الثمرة من الغصن تسقط داخل الكيس وتنساب برفق إلى أسفل حيث يتم استلامها بواسطة عامل القطف من الفتحة السفلى للكيس وتوضع مباشرة في حاويات الجمع. كما أستخدم نوعان من العبوات: العبوات التقليدية كانت بأبعاد 27x27x42 سم، والعبوات المحسنة كانت صناديق الكرتون الخاصة بالصادر بأبعاد 43x33x15سم. وقد كانت المعاملات كما يلي: (1) حصاد تقليدي وعبوة تقليدية (الشاهد)، و(2) حصاد تقليدي وعبوة محسنة، و(3) حصاد محسن وعبوة محسنة. استخدم التصميم كامل العشوائية  لإجراء التجربة بأربعة مكررات وخزنت الثمار تحت درجة حرارة 18±1ºم ورطوبة نسبية 85 - 90 %.  أدت طريقة الحصاد المحسنة والعبوات المحسنة إلى تأخير معنوي في حدوث ذروة التنفس وانخفاض معدل التنفس، وفقدان الوزن، وليونة الثمرة وتلون قشرتها، وتأخير تراكم المواد الصلبة الذائبة الكلية وخفض معدل الحموضة في الثمار. كما حافظت الثمار على محتواها من حمض الأسكوربيك (فايتامين ج)، وتحسين جودتها، و إطالة عمرها التسويقي. وقد انخفض معدل التنفس الابتدائي بنسبة 14.9% و24.6%، كما انخفض فقد الوزن بنسبة 13.8% و28.9%، وكان حمض الأسكوربيك أكثر بمقدار 28.6% و75.5% بطريقة الحصاد المحسنة والعبوات المحسنة في ثمار "كتشنر" و"أبوسمكة"، على التوالي، مقارنة مع الشاهد. بنهاية فترة التخزين، كانت48% من الثمار في درجة الجودة "جيد جداً" و22% في درجة "جيد" في الثمار التي حصدت بالطريقة المحسنة وتمت تعبئتها في العبوات المحسنة، مقارنة مع 18.5 % من الثمار في درجة "جيد جداً" و20% في درجة "جيد" في الثمار التي تم حصادها بالطريقة التقليدية وتعبئتها في عبوات تقليدية. من ناحية أخرى، لم يكن هناك سوى 9.0% من الثمار "غير القابلة للتسويق" و9.5% "فقيرة في الجودة" في الثمار التي حصدت بالطريقة المحسنة وتم تعبئتها في عبوات محسنة، مقارنة بنسبة 25% من الثمار "غير القابلة للتسويق" و20% من الثمار "فقيرة في الجودة" في ثمار الشاهد

Measurement Of Multidirectional Thermal Properties Of As4/3501-6 Unidirectional Composite Laminate

Thermal characterization of composite materials is important in the design of thermal systems, including applications such as aerospace, automotive, etc. These material properties are lacking in the literature and they need to be established considering the multidirectional behavior of the composite materials. Knowing multidirectional thermal properties of AS4/3501-6 composite laminate are essential in the engineering design and control process. By selecting the appropriate combination of matrix and reinforcement of material, designers have the ability to design and construct a material with specified properties. This research focuses on thermal conductivity characterization of AS4/3501-6 unidirectional composite material. The objective of this research is to determine axial and transverse thermal conductivity of AS4/3501-6 carbon/epoxy composite laminate by experiment and micro-mechanics models in literature. AS4/3501-6 unidirectional composite laminate was fabricated using autoclave process; two laminates were made, thick for axial and thin for transverse property testing. Flash method was used to measure the thermal diffusivity in axial and transverse directions of the fiber according to the ASTM E-1461 standard. Differential scanning calorimeter was used to measure the specific heat capacity of the laminate following ASTM E-1269 standard. Then the thermal conductivity was calculated by the product of specific heat, diffusivity and the material density. The properties were established at temperature range 20 °C to 100 °C. Test results were compared with micromechanics models and the literature data. The axial (k1) and transverse (k3) thermal conductivities at room temperature were 4.9 W/mK and 0.69 W/mK, respectively

Antioxidant activity, Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents and Cytotoxic activity of Euphorbia aegyptiaca

Euphorbia aegyptiaca is a herbaceous plant traditionally used in Sudan for treatment of various diseases, and the study of this plant is still limited. The aim of the present study was to screen the phytochemicals and to assess the Antioxidant activity, total phenolic, flavonoid contents and cytotoxic activity of Euphorbia aegyptiaca. The plant material was extracted successively by Soxhlet apparatus using n-hexane, chloroform and methanol. The chemical constituents of the extracts were carried out using the standard procedures. The Folin- Ciocalteu and Aluminium chloride method was employed to calculate the total phenolic and flavonoid content, respectively. The antioxidant activity, was assessed by measuring the scavenging activity of the DPPH (2.2Di (4-tert-octylphenyl)-1-picryl-hydrazyl) and Propyl Gallate as standard antioxidants. While cytotoxic activities were screened using brine shrimp. Phytochemical screening studies revealed that flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, saponins, sterols, terpenes, anthraquinones and alkaloids were the main phytochemicals present in extracts of E. aegyptiaca. The methanol extract showed the highest level of total phenolic contents (173.49±2.427 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid content (239.53±7.90 mg QE/g), and the highest antioxidant activity 89% with least (IC50 0.0449µg/ml), and the no toxicity against brine shrimp (LD50 3423.156). Furthermore, no toxicity in all extracts was observed. The present study is the first evaluation regarding the characterization of E. aegyptiaca and its safety, and the results demonstrate its antioxidant potential and suggest its safe therapeutic use. The results suggest that methanol extract is a rich source of phytochemicals and exhibits highest amount of and total phenolic, flavonoid content and significant antioxidant activity and it has no cytotoxic activity. E. aegyptiaca plant can be regarded as a promising Source of naturally occurring potential antioxidants. Keywords: Euphorbia aegyptiaca, Sudan, Antioxidant, Total phenolic, total flavonoid, Cytotoxicity

DETERMINATION OF THE AREA AFFECTED BY THE SPREAD OF BURNING FUEL DUE TO BOILOVER

Boilover is one of the most dangerous accidents that can happen in an atmospheric hydrocarbons storage tank, it happens when the water at the bottom of the storage tank is heated to a temperature where it is evaporate and push’s the hydrocarbons out of the tank causing a ground fire and flame enlargements. And the main objective of this study is determination of the area affected by the spread of ejected hydrocarbons from the storage tank due to boilover causing a ground fire which is extremely dangerous. And for achieving this objective a set of experiments have been performed on a hydrocarbons mixture consisting of 50 % Diesel oil and 50% Gasoline is used. This mixture has been chosen after running some experiments on three different types of mixtures. Tow set of experiments have been performed and from the result analysis we were able to find equation relating the volume of the mixture in the storage tank to the area affected. And from both set of experiments we found that the relation between the fuel volume and the area affected is best described as a polynomial relationship. Moreover a different set of experiments is also performed using crude oil which gave an unpromising result and we were unable to find an equation relating the area affected to the crude oil volume in the storage tank

Evaluation of Foreign Aid from China on Sudan’s Economic Development Process

Literature of economics and politics has recently realized the controversial role of China in Africa, however, in case of Sudan; the nature and charactertics of development assistance and aid from China is appreciated for being least interruptive in the domestic affairs of the country. Thus, China is regarded as a donor interested in commercial and economic mutual benefits rather than in political once, consequently; this paper determines the positive and negative effects of Foreign Aid from China to Sudan. Apart, a vast range of literature in discipline of politics, a comparison of effectiveness of Foreign Aid from China to Sudan in context of economic is lacking. Hence, current study assessed the positive and negative effect of Foreign Aid from China to Sudan qualitatively. Data is gathered from interviews of development projects managers and from reports and publications of Central Bank of Sudan, Ministry of Finance & National Economy and The World Bank. The projects incorporated are under the development assistance and Aid from China. In the analysis of effects of aid from China to Sudan, positive as well as negative effects were revealed; Significance of both types cannot be neglected given, their influences on the economy of Sudan. Where positive effects are related to economic development, their negative impacts are associated with sustainability of growth given, its influence on debt burden as most of the Chinese Aid in form of loan rather than debt. Thereafter, assessing the influence of aid is subject to comparison its positive effects on economic indicators and its negative impact on debt burden. Moreover, debt burden doesn't only deteriorate sustainability but also; it has influence on economic growth given the expenditure of debt servicing. Thus, Sudan is recommended to compare the increase in income due to aid with increase in indebtedness, for policy making in aid relationship with China. Keywords: China, Foreign Aid, Development, investment, Oil, Sudan, debt burde

The Effects of ICT Development on Firm-Level Technology absorption: The role of IT Usage

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development on technology diffusion and firm’s capacity to absorb new technologies. The study analyses the relationship between ICT development measured by mobile broadband subscriptions, broadband internet, percentage of internet users and mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions on one hand and firm-level technology absorption on the other by examining the mediating role played by Information Technology (IT) usage by businesses and governments. A quantitative approach based on Partial Least Squares (PLS) Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is employed to analyse country-level data across 134 countries for the year 2016 from both developing and developed countries. Analysis of the results presents evidence of ICT development having a significant role in shaping technology absorption by firms and that this direct relationship is also positively mediated by IT usage. The study provides implications for research, practice, and policy

Follow the Money: Methods for Identifying Consumption and Investment Responses to a Liquidity Shock

Notes: Center discussion papers are preliminary materials circulated to stimulate discussion and critical comments

Improving the effectiveness of job fairs for young jobseekers in Egypt

This detailed report covers causes and conditions of the mismatch between employers and those seeking employment in Egypt. It then argues for the effectiveness of job fairs to bridge the recruitment gap. Lack of information is as big a constraint as monetary constraints/transportation costs in job fair attendance. A travel voucher treatment was cross-randomized with information supply and shows that people who received both the information and the voucher increased their job fair attendance by 9.8 percentage points (a 280% increase relative to control). The report also includes the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market

MIGRATING FROM PAPER-BASED TO ONLINE LECTURER EVALUATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: AN ACTIVITY THEORY PERSPECTIVE (27)

The purpose of this study is to understand how a developing country Higher Education Institution migrated its paper-based lecturer evaluation to an online one. Information systems research on lecturer evaluations has focussed more on the paper-based evaluations as well as the cost, benefits and factors that contribute to the evaluation process. Less attention has been paid to how online evaluation evolves from paper-based evaluations. To address this research gap, this study employs activity theory and an interpretive case study methodology to investigate how an online lecturer evaluation evolved. The findings show a contradiction within and between students, evaluations guidelines and tools of the lecturer evaluation activity system and how this was used as a source of development and how changes in the elements of the activity systems over time affected the evolution

THE EFFECTS OF TRUST AND REGULATIONS ON MOBILE MONEY FRAUD AND ITS INFLUENCE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

In recent years, mobile money fraud cases have been on a surge. Fraud causes financial losses to money mobile users and as well as dents the image of mobile money service providers. Amid fraudulent activities, service providers need to implement mechanisms or regulations that will promote users\u27 trust in mobile money services. This may translate into an economically developed society as individuals will increasingly rely on mobile money services for transactions. However, there is little literature on the nexus between mobile money regulations, trust, mobile money fraud and economic development. This study intends to investigate this nexus using survey data from mobile money users in Ghana. Data will be analyzed using Partial Least Squares – Structural Equation Modeling. The findings from the study are intended to highlight the essence of mobile money regulations and trust on economic development in Ghana