Extraction of polyphenols and antioxidants from pomegranate peel using ultrasound: influence of temperature,frequency and operation mode

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of temperature (40–70 °C), frequency (37 and 80 kHz) and ultrasonic operation mode (normal, pulse and sweep), and their interactions on the recovery of phenolic compounds and antioxidants present in pomegranate peel using ultrasound-assisted extraction. The content of individual phenolic compounds, total phenolic compounds (TPC), antioxidant capacity (AC) and total extract yield (X₀) were analysed. Significant effects were observed between some sources of variation in recovery of individual compounds at TPC and X₀, and no significant effect was observed for AC. The process and conditions studied shown to be interesting to extract antioxidants, since a high antioxidant capacity was verified in the extracts. Temperatures around 50–60 °C, using 37 kHz frequency, and normal or pulse modes were the conditions that provided better yields of phenolic compounds and X₀. Regarding AC, the best condition observed was at 70 °C, 80 kHz frequency and continuous mode.     

A Bayesian network model for the optimization of a chiller plant’s condenser water set point

To implement the condenser water set point optimization, one can employ a regression model. However, existing regression-based methods have difficulties to handle non-linear chiller plant behaviour. To address this problem, we develop a Bayesian network model and compare it to both a linear and a polynomial regression model via a case study. The results show that the Bayesian network model can predict the optimal condenser water set points with a lower root mean square deviation for both a mild month and a summer month than the linear and the polynomial models. The energy-saving ratios by the Bayesian network model are 25.92% and 1.39% for the mild month and the summer month, respectively. As a comparison, the energy-saving ratios by the linear and the polynomial models are less than 19.00% for the mild month and even lead to more energy consumption in the summer month (up to 3.73%).     

A grey zone for bibliometrics: publications indexed in Web of Science as anonymous

Scientometrics - Publications without authorship information have been indexed as anonymous in the Web of Science database over the years. However, discussions on this subject have not been...     

Comparison of methods for measuring shear force and sarcomere length and their relationship with sensorial tenderness of longissimus muscle in beef

Slice shear force (SSF) and laser diffraction, considered faster methodologies, for measuring beef instrumental tenderness and sarcomere length, were compared with reference methodologies Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and phase contrast microscopy. Striploin samples (n = 74) were analyzed for pH, sarcomere length, instrumental tenderness, myofibrillar fragmentation index, and sensorial tenderness. Pearson's correlation measured the association of meat evaluation methods with residual analysis of the multivariate analysis of variance model. The n-dimensional profile to evaluated methods was presented by biplot to identify the behavior of the correlation between the methods (variables). There was moderate correlation between SSF and WBSF (r = .63; p < .01) and both presented moderate correlation with sensorial tenderness (r = − .62 and −.55, to SSF and WBSF, respectively; p < .01). However, WBSF was more efficient to classify samples as tender (68%) than SSF (47%), comparing with sensorial tenderness (80%). There was a moderate correlation for laser and microscopy for sarcomere length (r = .57; p < .01). Sarcomeres were shorter when measured by laser than microscopy. Either with low correlation coefficients, sarcomere measured by laser (r = .29; p < .05) presented higher correlation with sensorial tenderness than with microscopy (r = .22; p < .10). Results highlighted that SSF was faster and easier to run, while WBSF was more appropriate to classify samples by sensorial tenderness grades. Laser diffraction is more suitable to explain effects on tenderness; however, microscopy revealed results of sarcomere length that were more realistic, once laser can underestimate sarcomeres.     

Tailoring of Processing Parameters,Dendritic Microstructure,Si/Intermetallic Particles and Microhardness in As-cast and Heat-Treated Samples of Al7Si0.3Mg Alloy

Metals and Materials International - In this work, solidification and T6-heat treatment experiments were performed with the Al7Si0.3Mg alloy in order to investigate the effect of processes...     

A Novel Method For Fabricating Cr-Doped Alpha-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Nanoparticles: Green Approach To Nanotechnology

The aim of this work was to produce Cr-doped alpha-alumina nanoparticles using a modified sol–gel method that employs the complexation capacity of natural organic matter (NOM). For this synthesis, the initial pH of the sol was adjusted to 4.0, and final calcination of the xerogel was performed at 1100?°C for 4 h. XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed that the hexagonal α-Al₂O₃ phase was produced under these conditions. Chromaticity analyses revealed that more intense pink colors were obtained for the samples with higher Cr concentrations. XANES measurements showed that the oxidation state of chromium in the alumina matrix was strongly dependent on the dopant concentration and that it was possible to produce samples free from Cr(VI). The photo- and radioluminescence spectra of the nanoparticles were found to be sensitive to the dopant concentration. All these findings demonstrated that the synthesis procedure using NOM could provide considerable environmental, technological, and economic benefits.