Comparing the Effects of Microwave and Conventional Heating Methods on the Evaporation Rate and Quality Attributes of Pomegranate (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Punica granatum</Emphasis> L.) Juice Concentrate

Pomegranate juice was concentrated by conventional heating and microwave heating at different operational pressures (12, 38.5, and 100 kPa), and their effects on evaporation rate and quality attributes of concentrated juice were investigated. The final juice concentration of 40° Brix was achieved in 140, 127, and 109 min at 100, 38.5, and 12 kPa, respectively, by using conventional heating. Applying microwave energy decreased required times to 118, 95, and 75 min. The changes in color, anthocyanin content, and antioxidant capacity during concentration processes were investigated. L*, a*, and b* parameters were measured to estimate the intensity of color loss. All Hunter color parameters decreased with time. Results showed that the degradation of color, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity were more important in conventional heating compared to microwave heating method. Degradation rates increases by increasing process pressure. A first-order kinetics model was applied to modeling changes in total solid content, anthocyanin content, and antioxidant capacity.     

Behavior of square concrete columns reinforced with Prefabricated Cage System

Behavior of normal strength concrete columns reinforced with a new reinforcement, termed Prefabricated Cage System (PCS) is investigated. A total of 16 small-scale PCS and rebar reinforced column specimens were constructed and tested under monotonic axial displacement. The experimental results indicate that the overall behavior of rebar and PCS reinforced specimens are comparable prior to achieving the peak column load. In general, PCS specimens are more ductile and absorb more energy than similar rebar specimens after the peak load is reached. The effect of different parameters, such as the steel tube thickness, number of longitudinal reinforcements, transverse steel spacing, and crossties on the specimens’ strength and deformation capacity are investigated. A confined concrete model is proposed and used to predict the load–displacement response. The theoretical load–displacement relations obtained from the proposed model are compared with those obtained from the Mander et al. (J Struct Eng 114(8):1804–1826, 1988) confinement model.     

Encapsulation of Nanoparticles Using Nitrilotriacetic Acid End‐Functionalized Polystyrenes and Their Application for the Separation of Proteins

The use of nitrilotriacetic acid end‐functionalized polystyrenes (NTA‐PS) as a multifunctional nanocarrier for the aqueous dispersion of CdSe, γ‐Fe₂O₃ and gold nanoparticles (NPs) is described. When the amphiphilic end‐ functionalized polystyrenes and NPs are dissolved together in tetrahydrofuran, the addition of water causes the spontaneous formation of micellar aggregates, resulting in the successful encapsulation and aqueous dispersion of NPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) are used to characterize the structure and properties of the NPs‐containing micellar aggregates (nanocarrier). After complexation of Ni²⁺ with NTA on the surface of the nanocarrier containing γ‐Fe₂O₃, specific binding between Ni‐NTA complex and histidine‐tagged (His‐tagged) proteins enables selective separation of His‐tagged proteins using a magnet.     

Palestine: RE action plan : Moving away from traditional energy resources

Renewable energy resources show great promise in Palestine. Solar, wind, biogas and geothermal energy resources are the main areas where research and pilot projects are being concentrated (2000–2005). More than 95% of Palestinians use solar energy for domestic water heating so renewable energy is something that many people in the country are already very aware. Consequently, use of renewable energy resources presents a strategic goal for the Palestinian energy authority in order to achieve some degree of economic independence. It aims to minimize the dependence on traditional energy resources that are too expensive and politically controlled. Awny Naim and Mohammad R Al-Agha, Palestinian Renewable Energy Society describe the current situation in the region.     

Hazardous impact of toxic metals on tobacco leaves grown in contaminated soil by ultrasonic assisted pseudo-digestion: multivariate study

Tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum L.), agricultural soil and pollute irrigated lake water samples were collected during 2005–2006 and analyzed for Cd and Ni by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). A simple and efficient procedure was investigated for the complete decomposition of tobacco leaves using ultrasonic assisted acid pseudo-digestion method (UPDM). A Plackett–Burman experimental design was used as a multivariate strategy for the evaluation of seven factors/variables at once, while central composite were used to found optimum values of significant variables. The accuracy of the proposed methods was assessed by analyzing certified reference (CRM); Virginia tobacco leaves (CTA-VTL-2). The results being compared with those obtained by conventional wet acid digestion method. The result obtained by optimized method showed good agreement with the certified values and sufficiently high recovery 97.8 and 98.7% for Cd and Ni, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the detection limits (3σ) were evaluated to be 0.019 μg g⁻¹ for Cd and 0.37 μg g⁻¹ for Ni. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of Cd and Ni in raw, processed tobacco and different branded cigarettes samples.     

Seismic microzonation and building vulnerability assessment based on site characteristic and geotechnical parameters by use of Fuzzy-AHP model (a case study for Kermanshah city)

ABSTRACT

On 12th November 2017, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 Richter scale in the town of Sarpol-e Zahab took place that caused lots of human casualties and devastation. After the incident, issues related to the probability of an earthquake with equal intensity and extents of similar building destruction were raised in Kermanshah city. Therefore, a seismic microzonation map of Kermanshah city has been prepared based on the geotechnical, geological, and geophysical data, and the data were analysed using Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP). In the next step, the vulnerability analysis of city buildings was carried out based on the ground-shaking map, vulnerability curves, and statistical data regarding the buildings. The results of the vulnerability rate of residential buildings indicate that 80% of residential buildings would be exposed to vulnerability from low to moderate. However, other buildings would suffer 2% fully destruction (D1), 7% very high destruction (D2) and 11% high destruction (D3), respectively. Finally, according to the obtained results, the proposed model is verified with the help of the data and observations from the Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake, which reveals that the model is in good agreement with the actual earthquake data.