O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a determinação das melhores condições para a remoção da adstringência de caqui Giombo, com relação à temperatura, concentrações e tempos de exposição ao etanol, além de uso da atmosfera modificada em embalagens plásticas. As melhores combinações foram utilizadas para remoção de adstringência sucedida de armazenamento refrigerado com o objetivo de prolongar o período de oferta dos frutos e a manutenção da qualidade. Para isso, foram realizados 4 experimentos. No primeiro, foram avaliados doses e tempos de exposição ao etanol, sendo os frutos expostos a 1,75mL kg-1 por 12 ou 24hs; e 3,50mL kg-1 por 12 e 24hs antes de serem armazenados a 1ºC por 20 dias. No segundo experimento, foram avaliadas temperaturas de armazenamento, sendo elas 5ºC, 10ºC e 15ºC, para remoção da adstringência utilizando-se a melhor concentração e tempo de exposição ao etanol do experimento anterior (1,75mL kg-1 por 12hs). O terceiro experimento consistiu na utilização da atmosfera modificada na remoção da adstringência. Os frutos foram selados a vácuo em diferentes filmes plásticos: polietileno de baixa densidade (PEBD), polipropileno (PP) e polinylon (PN), todos com 20µm de espessura, e mantidos embalados por 3 e 5 dias a 22ºC. No quarto experimento, utilizou-se da melhor dose de etanol (1,75mL kg-1 por 12hs), melhor embalagem selada a vácuo (PN) e subsequente armazenamento refrigerado por 30, 60 e 90 dias a 5ºC. A aplicação de 1,75mL kg-1 por período de 12hs mostrou-se suficiente para remoção total da adstringência de caquis. As temperaturas de 5ºC, 10ºC e 15ºC não são recomendáveis para a aplicação de etanol com o objetivo de remover a adstringência dos caquis. O uso de PN é eficiente na remoção da adstringência de caqui Giombo, sendo que os frutos acondicionados neste filme podem ser armazenados até 90 dias a 5ºC. / This study aimed to determine the best conditions for astringency removal of \'Giombo\' persimmon with respect to temperature, concentration and exposure time to ethanol, and use of modified atmosphere in plastic films. The best combinations were used to remove the astringency of cold storage in order to extend the shelf life of fruit. For this purpose, 4 experiments were performed. In the first study were evaluated doses and times of exposure of fruit to ethanol. Fruit were exposed to 1.75mL kg -1 by 12 or 24hs, and 3.50mL kg -1 by 12 or 24hs. After, fruit were stored at 1ºC for 20 days. In the second experiment, cold storage temperatures (5ºC, 10ºC and 15°C) were evaluated for astringency removal using the optimal concentration and exposure time to ethanol in the previous experiment (1.75mL kg -1 for 12hs). The third experiment consisted in the use of modified atmosphere in the astringency removal. The fruit were vacuum sealed in plastic films: low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polinylon (PN), all with 20m thick, and maintained in these conditions for 3 and 5 days at 22°C. In the fourth experiment, the best dose of ethanol (1.75mL kg -1 for 12hs) and package (PN) were used and fruit were cold stored for 30, 60 and 90 days at 5°C. The application of 1.75mL kg -1 per 12hs period was sufficient to astringency removal of persimmons. The temperatures of 5ºC, 10ºC and 15ºC are not recommended for application of ethanol in order to astringency remove of persimmons. The use of PN is effective in removing astringency in \'Giombo\' persimmon, and the fruit packed in this film may be stored until 90 days at 5ºC.

A banana tem sido comumente indicada como uma boa fonte de frutooligossacarídeos (FOS), que são considerados componentes funcionais de alimentos. Contudo, diferenças significantes em suas quantidades têm sido referidas na literatura. Portanto, uma parte do trabalho foi destinada à identificação e quantificação de FOS durante o amadurecimento de cultivares de bananas pertencentes aos grupos genômicos mais comumente cultivados no Brasil. Considerando as diferenças de cultivar, estágio do amadurecimento e metodologia usada para análise de FOS, os conteúdos dos açúcares foram analisados por cromatografia líquida de alta performance (HPAEC-PAD) e cromatografia a gás (CG-MS). Uma pesquisa inicial entre oito cultivares no estágio maduro, mostrou acúmulo de 1-cestose, primeiro membro da série de FOS, em todas elas (quantidades entre 297 e 1600 µg/g M.S). A nistose, o segundo membro, foi detectado somente na cultivar Prata. Com bases nestes dados, foram escolhidas cinco cultivares, para que fossem analisadas durante todo o amadurecimento. Os resultados mostraram uma forte correlação entre a chegada a um nível específico de sacarose (~200 mg/g M.S) e a síntese de 1-cestose. Em uma segunda fase, os níveis de sacarose e FOS total foram quantificados em diferentes fases de amadurecimento de banana Prata, armazenada em temperatura ambiente e em baixa temperatura. As supostas enzimas envolvidas em sua síntese também foram avaliadas. Para explorar a possibilidade da invertase ser responsável pela atividade de frutosiltransferase em banana, foi medido o efeito do inibidor Piridoxal HCl, os níveis de concentração do substrato e as atividades de hidrólise e transglicosilação, e o efeito do tempo no estudo cinético da enzima. A baixa temperatura atrasou todos os eventos analisados por 15 dias e os níveis de sacarose tiveram um pequeno aumento, porém constante, enquanto a banana estava armazenada ao frio, e uma rápida elevação no final do amadurecimento. Foi detectado FOS total desde o primeiro dia pós-colheita, enquanto que a 1-cestose permaneceu indetectável até os níveis de sacarose atingirem aproximadamente 200 mg/g M.S., em ambos os grupos. Os níveis de sacarose e FOS total foram ligeiramente maiores em bananas armazenadas em baixas temperaturas do que em frutos controle. Em ambas as amostras os níveis de FOS total foram maiores que de 1-cestose. Os perfis de carboidratos por HPLC e TLC sugeriram a presença de neocestose, 6-cestose e bifurcose. A enzima supostamente responsável pela atividade de transglicosilação em banana parece ser a invertase. Contudo, os altos níveis de sacarose encontrados em banana armazenadas em baixa temperatura, poderiam ser resultado de várias mudanças de enzimas degradativas e biossíntéticas, como sacarose-sintase (SuSy), sacarose-fosfato-sintase (SPS), invertase e outras, uma vez que a sacarose possui um papel central, direta ou indiretamente, em diversas vias do metabolismo de carboidrato em banana. Assim, na última parte do trabalho foram analisados o acúmulo de sacarose e a síntese e atividade de enzimas sintéticas, hidrolíticas e fosforolíticas, importantes no metabolismo de amido-sacarose, durante o amadurecimento de banana Prata nos dois tratamentos. A baixa temperatura não danificou os frutos, aumentando a vida de prateleira deles. As amostras do frio apresentaram pequeno aumento no nível de degradação de amido e um acréscimo de 20 % na sacarose acumulada durante o amadurecimento. Foi verificado o atraso na produção de etileno, CO2, e no início de degradação de amido durante o acondicionamento ao frio, concomitante ao atraso no pico de atividade de α-amilase. O atraso no climatério também manteve alta a atividade e síntese protéica de SuSy durante o armazenamento a frio, que declinaram após a retirada do frio, como no controle. As enzimas β-amilase, fosforilase (forma citosólica e plastidial) e SPS reagiram positivamente, sofrendo uma indução positiva na síntese e atividade enzimática durante o armazenamento ao frio, que poderia ser parte do mecanismo necessário para os maiores níveis de açúcares e para o processo de tolerância do fruto à baixa temperatura. / Banana has been currently indicated as a good source of fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which are considered to be functional components of foods. However, significant differences in their amounts in bananas have been observed in the literature. So, a part of this work aims to identify and quantify FOS during ripening in different banana cultivars belonging to the most common genomic groups cultivated in Brazil. Considering that these differences can be due to cultivar, stage of ripening, and the methodologies used for FOS analyses, sugar contents were analyzed by high performance anion exchange chromatography pulsed amperiometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) and gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). An initial screening of eight cultivars in a full-ripe stage showed that 1-Kestose, the first member of the FOS series (amounts between 297 and 1600 µg/g of D.M), was accumulated in all of them. Nystose, the second member, was detected only in Prata cultivar. Five of the cultivars were analyzed during ripening, and a strong correlation could be established with a specific sucrose level (~200 mg/g of D.M.), which seems to trigger the synthesis of 1-Kestose. In a second part of this work, the levels of sucrose and total-FOS were quantified in different phases of banana Prata ripening stored at ambient and low temperature. The supposed enzymes involved in their synthesis were also evaluated. To explore the possibility that invertase could be responsible for the fructosyltransferase activity in banana, we measured the effect of the inhibitor Pyridoxal HCl, the level of substrate concentration on both hydrolyze and transglycosylase activity in the same protein extract and the effect of time on kinetic study of the enzyme. The cold temperature delayed all the analyzed events for 15 days and sucrose levels increased low, but constantly, while banana were stored at low temperature and had a burst when it increased. Total-FOS were detected in the first days after harvest, while 1-kestose remained undetectable until the sucrose levels were around 200 mg.g (dry weight), in both groups. Total-FOS and sucrose levels were higher in banana stored at low temperature than in control. In both samples total-FOS levels were higher than 1-kestose. The carbohydrate profiles by HPLC and TLC suggest the presence of neokestose, 6-kestose and bifurcose. The enzyme supposed to be responsible for the transglycosilation activity in banana, seems to be an invertase. However, the higher sucrose levels found in banana stored at low temperature could be result of several changes in biosynthetic and degradative enzymes, such sucrose-synthase, sucrose-phosphate-synthase, invertase and others, once that sucrose plays a central role in a lot of direct and indirect carbohydrate pathways in banana fruits. So, in the last part of this work, we analyzed the sucrose accumulation and synthesis and activity of synthetic, hydrolytic and phosphorolytic enzymes that are important in the starch-sucrose metabolism during ripening of banana Prata stored at ambient and low temperature. The levels of starch degradation and sucrose accumulation (around 20% over) showed high levels in cold fruits as compared with control, during the ripening. The cold temperature delayed the ethylene and CO2 production, and the beginning of the starch degradation, concomitantly with a delay in the profile of α-amylase synthesis and activity. The late climateric also maintained the high synthesis and activity of SuSy during the cold storage that decreased just after ending the cold exposure. The β-amylase, phosphorylase (plastidial and citossolic forms) and the SPS enzymes showed a positive induction in the both activity and synthesis of protein during the cold storage. It could be important to the higher sugars levels showed at low temperature and that could contribute to the process of cold resistance in banana fruit.

A banana é altamente susceptível a injúrias causadas pelo frio, mas o efeito da refrigeração nos atributos que caracterizam a qualidade do fruto maduro é ainda pouco explorado. Neste trabalho, alguns desses atributos foram analisados em duas cultivares de banana escolhidas por sua diferença em relação à susceptibilidade ao frio: Nanicão e Prata. As duas cultivares foram armazenadas a baixas temperaturas (cv. Nanicão a 13 ºC e cv. Prata a 13 ºC e 10 ºC) por 15 dias e o efeito do frio sobre os compostos voláteis responsáveis pelo aroma e sabor, índices de cor da casca, níveis de carotenoides, açúcares e amido foram analisados comparativamente durante a maturação dos frutos e o perfil de proteínas diferentemente abundantes foi analisado na cultivar Nanicão. Com o auxílio das ferramentas da estatística multivariada, verificou-se que a produção dos compostos voláteis é altamente sensível as baixas temperaturas. A cv. Prata apresentou uma maior resistência ao efeito negativo do armazenamento, mesmo armazenada a 10 ºC. Na cv. Nanicão, as amostras maduras do grupo frio (13 ºC) foram caracterizadas pela presença dos carotenoides majoritários devido ao fato de que as vias metabólicas que utilizam carotenoides terem sido afetadas pelo armazenamento em baixas temperaturas. Para a cv. Prata teve um efeito negativo com o armazenamento, com redução dos níveis de carotenoides tanto a 13 ºC quanto a 10 ºC. Em relação à cor da casca dos frutos não foi observado um efeito evidente nas amostras submetidas a baixas temperaturas. Pela análise proteômica, foi possível entender como o frio causou um impacto negativo na síntese de sacarose, uma vez que as proteínas mais afetadas foram associadas ao metabolismo de energia e de carboidratos. / Bananas are fruits highly susceptible to injuries caused by cold temperatures, but the effect of refrigeration on the attributes that characterize the quality of ripe fruit is still underexplored. In this work, some of these attributes were analyzed in two banana cultivars chosen for their difference in susceptibility to cold temperatures: Nanicão and Prata. Both cultivars were stored at low temperatures (cv. Nanicão at 13 ºC and cv. Prata at 13 °C and 10 °C) for 15 days and the effect of the cold on the volatile compounds responsible for aroma, skin color index, levels of carotenoids, sugars, and starch were comparatively analyzed during fruit maturation and different abundant protein profiles of the Nanicão cultivar were analyzed. By using multivariate statistic tools, it was found that the production of volatile compounds is highly susceptible to low temperatures. However, cv. Prata showed greater resistance to the negative effects of storage even when stored at 10 °C. For cv. Nanicão, ripe samples from the cold group kept at 13 ºC were characterized by the presence of majority carotenoids due to the fact that the metabolic pathways that use carotenoids were affected by the storage at such a low temperature. Conversely, cv. Prata experienced a negative effect with the storage, with reduced levels of carotenoids in both cold groups kept at 13 ºC and 10 ºC. In relation the skin color of the fruit, no effect on the samples held at low temperatures was observed. For proteomics analysis, it was possible to understand how the cold storage caused a negative impact on the synthesis of sucrose, since most of the affected proteins were associated with energy and carbohydrate metabolism.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Horticulture)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Cold storage is commonly used to prolong papaya fruit storability. Furthermore, the optimal recommended storage temperature is below 10℃ for export and distant market. However, chilling injury (CI) occurs at 10℃ or lower during prolonged cold storage. This condition hampered consumer acceptance, resulting in economic losses for producers and exporters. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the potential of postharvest polyamine dips and storage conditions to improve the quality and shelf life of ‘Solo’ papaya fruit. The experiment was conducted as 4 x 2 factorial arranged in a completely randomised design (CRD) with eight replications. The fruits were treated with putrescine (PUT) (0 (control), 1, 2 and 3 mM) before storage for 21 days at 7.5 and 13℃ plus 5 days storage at ambient temperature. Additionally, the PUT effect on quality attributes and shelf-life were studied. The results showed that physiological and pathological disorders increased with progressive storage, irrespective of storage temperature. However, PUT treatment reduced the incidence of chilling injury and anthracnose at both 7.5 and 13℃. Additionally, the interaction of treatment and cold storage temperature significantly affected ‘Solo’ papaya fruit physical and biochemical quality attributes. Furthermore, treatment with 2 and 3 mM PUT concentration reduced changes in colour, mass, firmness, TA, and TSS compared to control. In conclusion, postharvest PUT improved ‘Solo’ papaya fruit quality and prolonged shelf-life. / AgriSETA (Agricultural Sector Training Authority)

District cooling supply is vital for service, commercial and industrial sectors like hospitals, data centers, supermarkets and sensitive laboratory facilities. The main cooling demand in the case of Sweden also originates from these sectors. The cooling demand in Stockholm is expanding mainly because of demand for comfort cooling, and data centers are rising. To cover the existing cooling demand and rising cooling demand, different cooling strategies have to be employed for optimal production of cold. This project concerns the optimization of such a district cooling system with primarily cold storage. This is achieved by choosing a case study network, namely considering the district cooling network of Norrenergi AB, in Sweden. Norrenergi AB is a company involved in supplying district cooling for cold consumers situated around Solna and Sundbyberg regions. The company provides around 70 GWh district cooling per year. The sources for the district cooling supply are free cooling, electrically driven chillers, and cold recovery from heat pumps. Besides these cold sources, currently, the parts of the peak cold demand are shaved using cold storage that is more cost-effectively charged during night-time, adopting the concept of power-to-cold. In running the district cooling system operation, Norrenergi AB’s current electricity mix is 100% renewable. In this thesis work, the existing district cooling network of Norrenergi AB is modeled using BoFiT optimization software (which is the base scenario), and then four future scenarios are developed, considering new, additional cold storages. The scenarios developed were meant to further optimize the existing district cooling grid to cater to the same existing total demand. This is assessed by integrating respective cold storages having larger (i.e., 15 MW capacity) or smaller (i.e., two cold storages each with 3 MW capacity) into the existing district cooling grid. The 15 MW capacity cold storage is integrated into Sundbybergsverket (Scenario 1) and in Frösundaverket (Scenario 2). While, from the smaller cold storages, the first one is integrated into the system in a manner that it supplies cooling for selected cooling customers, that is Scenario 3. The second small cold storage integrated in a way that supplies cooling to the entire grid, which is Scenario 4. Similar to the existing cold storage, in developed scenarios as well, the power-to-cold concept is utilized by charging the cold storage during the time in which the electricity price is lower (i.e., at night). The key outcome of this thesis work reveals that all the developed scenarios lead to cost savings in terms of the consumed electricity for producing DC. The achieved cost saving from each of the four scenarios developed are 23%, 4%, 13%, and 14%, respectively. Among all these scenarios, the first scenario has led to the largest cutback of DC production cost and impliesthat incorporating larger cold storages in cooling production plants results in higher savings. A performed sensitivity analysis also implies that increasing the supply capacity of free cooling results in production cost savings. Besides, an increased cooling capacity by 30% with respect to the base scenario results in a 10.6% cost saving. This saving infers that it is good to utilize free cooling as far as there is an opportunity to increase the use of free cooling. / Tillgången på kyla är i dag avgörande för service, kommersiella och industriella sektorer som sjukhus, serverhallar, kontor, stormarknader och känsliga laboratorieanläggningar. Den huvudsakliga efterfrågan på kyla i Sverige härstammar också från dessa sektorer. Kylbehovet i Stockholm expanderar främst på grund av efterfrågan på komfortkyla och serverhallar stiger. För att täcka det befintliga kylbehovet och den stigande efterfrågan på kyla, kan olika strategier användas för att uppnå en optimal production av kyla. Detta projekt handlar om optimering av ett fjärrkylsystem med kyllager. Detta har genomförts genom en fallstudie baserad på Norrenergis fjärrkylanät i Sverige. Norrenergi AB är ett företag som bl.a levererar fjärrkyla till kunder i Solna och Sundbyberg. Bolaget levererar cirka 70 GWh fjärrkyla per år, med hjälp av frikyla, kylmaskiner och värmepumpar. Förutom ovannämnda produktion används ett fjärrkyllager för att leverera fjärrkyla och jämna ut lasten över dygnet, och detta laddas när behovet av fjärrkyla är lägre. Elen som används för att producera Norrenergis fjärrkyla är helt förnybar. I detta examensarbete har Norrenergis befintliga fjärrkylanät modellerats med hjälp av BoFiT optimeringsprogram och sedan har fyra framtida scenarion utvecklats, med nya, distribuerade kyllager. De scenarierna som utvecklades var tänkta att ytterligare optimera det befintliga fjärrkylanätet, för att tillgodose samma befintliga totala efterfrågan. Detta bedöms genom att integrera kyllager av olika kapacitet i befintligt fjärrkylanät - ett större 15 MW lager eller två kyllager om vadera 3 MW kapacitet. Ett 15 MW fjärrkyllager integreras i Sundbybergsverket (scenario 1) och i Frösundaverket (scenario 2). De mindre fjärrkyllagren integreras i systemet så att kylning levereras till utvalda kunder (scenario 3). I scenario 4 integreras de mindre lagren så att kylning levereras till hela nätet. Precis som med det existerande kyllagret, ska dessa nya lager i de olika scenariona laddas under natten då elpriset är lägre, därav namnet kraftkyla. De viktigaste resultaten ur detta examensarbete visade att alla utvecklade scenarion ledde till kostnadsbesparingar med hänsyn till elförbrukningen. De uppnådda kostnadsbesparingarna från de fyra scenariona var 23%, 4%, 13% respektive 14%. Bland alla scenarier, leder det första scenariot den största besparingen av produktionskostnaden och medför att integrering av kyllager vid produktionsanläggningarna resulterar i högre besparingar. Den känslighetsanalys som genomfördes innebar också att en ökning av leveranskapaciteten för frikyla leder till besparingar i produktionskostnaderna. En ökad frikylkapacitet med 30% med avseende på basscenariot resulterade i 1% kostnadsbesparing. Denna kostnadsbesparing visar också att det är bra att använda frikyla så länge möjligheten finns att öka användandet av frikyla.

This study examined the affects of desiccation during and after cold storage on the physiology, growth, and marketability of bare-root Acer platanoides (Norway maple), Crataegus phaenopyrum (Washington hawthorn) and Prunus x yedoensis (Yoshino cherry). Histological examination of Acer and Crataegus stems was also conducted. Maple and cherry trees were transplanted into pine bark-filled containers and subjected to mist or non-mist treatments. Xylem water potential increased (became less negative) for misted maple and cherry trees. Water potential increased for non-misted maple and decreased for non-misted cherry trees. Maple and hawthorn seedlings were subjected to cold storage durations of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks and storage treatments: whole plant covered, shoots exposed, roots exposed and whole plant exposed. Shoot (Ψ_s) and root (Ψ_r) water potentials for all treatments and both species decreased during storage. For maple, (Ψ_s) and (Ψ_r) of the exposed shoot treatment were the same as the whole plant covered treatment. In contrast, hawthorn (Ψ_s) and (Ψ_r) of the exposed shoot treatment were lower (more negative) than for the whole plant covered treatment. Root hydraulic conductivity was the same for both species and decreased with increased storage duration and for treatments with exposed roots. For the root covered treatments, maple root growth potential (RGP) increased while hawthorn RGP decreased with increased cold storage duration. RGP for both species remained low throughout storage for treatments exposing roots. Days to bud break for Acer and Crataegus seedlings decreased with increased storage time for the whole plant covered treatments but increased for both species when stored with exposed roots. Maple marketability, percent of trees with ≤ 10% shoot dieback, for root covered treatments was high for most storage durations. Hawthorn marketability was generally low except for the whole plant covered treatment during the first six weeks of storage. There was a high positive correlation between RGP and marketability for both maple and hawthorn. Histological examination revealed that Acer stems had a highly suberized periderm, and a uniform cuticle with few disruptions. Periderm suberization of Crataegus stems was variable and extensive peridermal cracking was evident. Cuticle wax decreased with increasing distance from the stem apex for both species. Collectively, results indicated that hawthorn stems had more pathways for water loss than maple shoots. While protection of roots of all bare-root stock is important, desiccation sensitive species such as Washington hawthorn require both root and shoot protection during storage and at transplanting to minimize water loss. / Ph. D.

Detta examensarbete handlar om undersökning av tre olika användningsfall inom datalagring; Cold Storage, High Performance Storage och Virtual Machine Storage. Rapporten har som syfte att ge en översikt över kommersiella distribuerade filsystem samt en djupare undersökning av distribuerade filsystem som bygger på öppen källkod och därmed hitta en optimal lösning för dessa användnings-fall. I undersökningen ingick att analysera och jämföra tidigare arbeten där jämförelser mellan pre-standamätningar, dataskydd och kostnader utfördes samt lyfta upp diverse funktionaliteter (snapshotting, multi-tenancy, datadeduplicering, datareplikering) som moderna distribuerade filsy-stem kännetecknas av. Både kommersiella och öppna distribuerade filsystem undersöktes. Även en kostnadsuppskattning för kommersiella och öppna distribuerade filsystem gjordes för att ta reda på lönsamheten för dessa två typer av distribuerat filsystem.Efter att jämförelse och analys av olika tidigare arbeten utfördes, visade sig att det öppna distribue-rade filsystemet Ceph lämpade sig bra som en lösning utifrån kraven som sattes som mål för High Performance Storage och Virtual Machine Storage. Kostnadsuppskattningen visade att det var mer lönsamt att implementera ett öppet distribuerat filsystem. Denna undersökning kan användas som en vägledning vid val mellan olika distribuerade filsystem. / In this thesis, a study of three different uses cases has been made within the field of data storage, which are as following: Cold Storage, High Performance Storage and Virtual Machine Storage. The purpose of the survey is to give an overview of commercial distributed file systems and a deeper study of open source codes distributed file systems in order to find the most optimal solution for these use cases. Within the study, previous works concerning performance, data protection and costs were an-alyzed and compared in means to find different functionalities (snapshotting, multi-tenancy, data duplication and data replication) which distinguish modern distributed file systems. Both commercial and open distributed file systems were examined. A cost estimation for commercial and open distrib-uted file systems were made in means to find out the profitability for these two types of distributed file systems.After comparing and analyzing previous works, it was clear that the open source distributed file sys-tem Ceph was proper as a solution in accordance to the objectives that were set for High Performance Storage and Virtual Machine Storage. The cost estimation showed that it was more profitable to im-plement an open distributed file system. This study can be used as guidance to choose between different distributed file systems.

Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African fresh fruit export industry is concerned about fruit and financial losses due to temperature breaks within the fresh fruit export cold chain. The Port of Cape Town plays a crucial role in the export process as the majority of fruit reefer containers that are exported through Cape Town are handled by the Cape Town Container Terminal. This study focuses on the container terminal leg of the fresh fruit export process. Observations made in the Cape Town Container Terminal, at shipping lines and exporting companies show that certain procedures are not always followed in the Cape Town Container Terminal and that congestion and ineffective working methods are causing breaks within the fresh fruit export cold chain. Temperature and time data received from Transnet Port Terminals, shipping lines and exporting companies were analysed for the container terminal segment of the export process. From the data analysis it is clear that there are a large number of breaks originating within the container terminal and that the port is not operating efficiently. The study identifies areas of improvement and makes recommendations on improving some of the issues discussed.

Introduction This research was a descriptive study into the cold chain management of childhood vaccines by nurses in Primary Health Care Clinics in the uMgungundlovu District. It is imperative for health professionals to follow the procedures and policies set out by the immunisation and health manuals by of the World Health Organization. The success of any childhood vaccination programme depends on how well nurses and health professionals are able to adhere to the laws, regulations and procedures. There is also a need for clinics and health institutions to be flexible enough to deal with certain constraints so that the vaccination programmes are not interrupted for extended periods of time but rather run efficiently and benefit the intended population. As a result pandemics are easily avoided and a healthy generation of children will bring about a better society. Methodology The study was carried out in two phases i.e. an observational study and a self-administered questionnaire. In the first phase, the observational study was carried out at 14 different clinics in the uMgungundlovu District. In the second phase, the cold chain management of vaccines by nurses was explored by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Results The key findings of the observational study include that on most occasions policy was not being implemented. Furthermore there were no contingency plans to deal with equipment and electricity issues, no monitoring and evaluation systems, poor recording keeping, poor management of the cold box, access to stock and the actual management of the cold chain for vaccines. The self-administered questionnaire was completed by 276 nurses via a simple random sample from the different clinics. The most salient aspects of the research in this phase of the study revealed that education and experience of the nurses are crucial to the sustainability of the childhood immunisation programme. Not surprisingly, some of the findings were similar to that of the observational study. Issues surrounding equipment and electricity, monitoring and evaluation systems, poor recording keeping, poor access to stock and ordering of stock were prevalent in this phase of the research as well. Conclusion Recommendations have been made for ongoing communication between the Department of Health, the District Office of Health and clinics so that the short and long term problems identified are solved.

The field of a research of this diploma thesis is building with controlled internal temperature. The research is focused on main heat fluxes at this type of buildings and how it contributes to the energy consumption of the building. The main objective of the analysis is heat loss caused by heat flux through the building envelope and air exchange at the building. As next it is described heat gain resulting from the operation inside of the building. To obtain the results of the research part is used software on the platform Delphi Pascal, temporarily called SIM_Chlad. The aim of this computer modeling is non-stationary heat fluxes from the mentioned heat sources in the building. The computed heat balance analyzes the energy consumption of the building for a period of one year. The diploma thesis evaluates impacts reflecting local weather conditions, the structural system of the building and the operation in the building. A cooling machinery analysis is not the subject of the research at this diploma thesis.