The effect of ultrasound pretreatment on drying kinetics and physical properties as color and rehydration rate of dried apple slices was investigated. Apple samples var. Idared were submitted to ultrasonic treatment using 21 and 35 kHz for 30 min in an ultrasound bath securing sound intensity of 3 and 4 W/cm 2 , respectively. After pretreatment, the material was dried in a convective oven at 70C and at an air velocity of 2 m/s. The sonication reduced drying time by 13-17% in comparison with the untreated sample. Ultrasound treatment changed the color of apples tissue by decreasing the value of a* parameter and increasing the dried material lightness, chromaticity and the value of b* coefficient. Moreover, obtained results showed that there was a significant effect of pretreatment on rehydration properties as compared with untreated apple tissue. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThe most energy-consuming processes existing in the food technologies are the processes based on heat and/or mass transfer, for instance drying. Thus, a lot of attention is paid by researchers to conserve the energy and minimally change the physicochemical properties of food, which shape its quality. Additionally, increasing growth of consumers' expectations and their nutritional knowledge stimulate to seek some new solutions even more. Aforementioned is a reason why nonthermal technologies as ultrasound seem to be the one of the most interesting propositions.

Results of decay spectroscopy on nuclei in vicinity of the doubly magic 48 Ni are presented. The measurements were performed with a Time Projection Chamber with optical readout which records tracks of ions and protons in the gaseous volume. Six decays of 48 Ni, including four events of twoproton ground-state radioactivity were recorded. An advanced reconstruction procedure yielded the 2p decay energy for 48 Ni of Q2p = 1.29(4) MeV. In addition, the energy spectra of β-delayed protons emitted in the decays of 44 Cr and 46 Fe, as well as half-lives and branching ratios were determined. The results were found to be consistent with the previous measurements made with Si detectors. A new proton line in the decay of 44 Cr corresponding to the decay energy of 760 keV is reported. The first evidence for the β2p decay of 46 Fe, based on one clear event, is shown.

Gamma-Beams at the HIγS facility in the USA and anticipated at the ELI-NP facility, now constructed in Romania, present unique new opportunities to advance research in nuclear astrophysics; not the least of which is resolving open questions in oxygen formation during stellar helium burning via a precise measurement of the 12 C(α, γ) reaction. Time projection chamber (TPC) detectors operating with low pressure gas (as an active target) are ideally suited for such studies. We review the progress of the current research program and plans for the future at the HIγS facility with the optical readout TPC (O-TPC) and the development of an electronic readout TPC for the ELI-NP facility (ELITPC).

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Excited states in 133 Sn were investigated through the β decay of 133 In at the ISOLDE facility. The ISOLDE Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) provided isomer-selective ionization for 133 In, allowing us to study separately, and in detail, the β-decay branch of 133 In J π = (9/2 +) ground state and its J π = (1/2 −) isomer.