• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 2020

Renewable energy (RE) is essential to comprise sustainable societies, especially, in rural villages of developing countries. Furthermore, application of off-grid RE systems to health care can improve the quality of life. In this research, a RE-based vaccination supply management system was constructed to enlarge the cold-chain in developing countries for the safe storage and delivery of vaccines. The system was comprised of the construction of RE plants and development of vaccine carriers. RE plants were constructed and connected to health posts in local villages. The cooling mechanism of vaccine carriers was improved and monitoring devices were installed. The effect of the system on vaccine cold-chain was evaluated from the field test and topographical analysis in the southern village of Nepal. RE plants were normally operated for the vaccine refrigerator in the health post. The modified vaccine carriers had a longer operation time and better temperature control via monitoring and RE-based recharging functionality. The topographical analysis estimated that the system can cover larger region. The system prototype showed great potential regarding the possibility of a sustainable and enlarged cold-chain. Thus, RE-based vaccine supply management is expected to facilitate vaccine availability while minimizing waste in the supply chain.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2016

This study aims to determine the optimal maturity of strawberry fruits as affected by the application of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) and its optimal concentration for postharvest stability and quality. Prior to application of treatments, fruits that were classified into levels of maturity (0%, 50%, 70% and 100%) were air-dried for 40 minutes and stored in the refrigerator at $4^{\circ}C$ for 12 days. Fruits at 70% maturity were dipped into 0, 10, 50 and $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ LPE solutions for 1 minute. A lower range of concentration (0, 2.5, 5, 10 and $25mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) was applied to fruits at different maturity levels. Data on fresh weight, hardness at vertical and horizontal loading positions, color index and sugar content during storage were collected. Based on fruits with 70% maturity dipped in LPE concentrations, there were no significant differences found on fresh weight, color index and sugar content. However, the application of $10mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ LPE gave the highest hardness at vertical loading position while $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ had the lowest average. At lower range of LPE concentrations, fresh weight was not significantly affected by LPE application and maturity levels. Hardness of fruits was mainly based on the maturity of the fruits. Increased hardness was observed in the fruits with 70% maturity dipped into the $5mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ of LPE solution. The hardness and Hunter's $L^*$ and $b^*$ value of 100% matured fruits gave lowest values despite the application of $25mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ LPE 12 days after storage.