Decrease In Water Content Research Articles

Migration and accumulation of hydrous mantle incipient melt in the Earth's asthenosphere: Constraints from in-situ falling sphere viscometry measurements

The Earth's oceanic lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) is marked by a notable decrease in seismic wave velocities and an increase in attenuation. This phenomenon is likely attributed to the accumulation of partial melt at the top of the asthenosphere. Nevertheless, the process involving the upward migration and aggregation of low-degree partial melts, highly likely to be mantle incipient melts in the asthenosphere, remains underexplored. Viscosity is a key factor controlling the flow of melts, thus in this study, we used In-situ X-ray falling sphere viscometry experiments to determine the viscosity of the mantle incipient melt containing 1.8–4.0 wt.% water at 1.5–6 GPa and 2100 K. We found that water and pressure can effectively decrease the viscosity of the mantle incipient melt. Therefore, the mantle incipient melts are highly mobile with a high segregation velocity in the deeper part of the asthenosphere. However, during ascent, their mobility diminishes due to an increase in viscosity and a decrease in water content. These mechanisms potentially contribute to the accumulation of partial melt at the top of the asthenosphere.

Physiological Indices for the Selection of Drought-Tolerant Safflower Genotypes for Cultivation in Marginal Areas

Safflower is known as a tolerant plant to abiotic stress factors. This study was conducted to introduce some physiological indices to improve drought-tolerant safflower genotypes for cultivation in marginal and arid areas. Six safflower genotypes were studied for two years (2017–2019) in the East Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Centre of Iran under non-stressed and low-water conditions from flowering to seed maturity. The occurrence of water deficits led to a significant decrease in relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance (gs), osmotic adjustment (Oadj), water potential (WP) and agronomic water use efficiency (WUEa) and an increase in the water stress index (CWSI). In addition, the values of these traits differed significantly between the safflower genotypes. The correlations between the physiological traits and seed yield were significant. The regression relationships between seed yield and the above traits showed that CWSI, WP and WUEa had a strong relationship with seed yield under normal (R2 = 0.854, 0.801 and 0.856, respectively) and water deficit conditions (R2 = 0.931, 0.877 and 0.900, respectively). It can be concluded that the CWSI, WP and WUEa indices are able to select high-yielding and drought-tolerant safflower genotypes for the late season. Among the components of seed yield, the number of capitula per plant (r = 0.86) and seeds per capitula (r = 0.92), which were positively and significantly correlated with seed yield, played the main roles in the formation of seed yield. The Golemehr and Mec.295 genotypes achieved higher seed yields under normal (4676 and 4961 kg h−1, respectively) and water deficit conditions (3211 and 3385 kg h−1, respectively) and can be recommended for cultivation in marginal and arid areas.

The biochemical properties of Satureja species affected by micronutrients, genotype, and locations in drought stress conditions

Medicinal plants, as important sources of secondary metabolites, are used for treating different diseases. It is accordingly pertinent to find methods, which may improve their growth and quality in different conditions including variable stresses. It was hypothesized micronutrients use and suitable genotypes may improve Satureja growth and quality in drought stress conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of drought stress (irrigating plants each 3 (A1), 6 (A2) and 9 days (A3)), micronutrients (Mn and Cu at 0 (M1), 20 (M2) and 40 mgL−1 (M3)), and field location (Isfahan (F1) and Golpayegan (cooler) (F2), Isfahan province, Iran) on the biochemical properties of different Satureja species including S. bakhtiarica, S. khuzestanica and S. mutica. The experimental treatments significantly affected the measured parameters including nodule number, essential oil, antioxidant activity, proline, Mn and Cu contents, and relative water content. Although Cu and Mn, enhanced plant biochemical properties, especially in M2, in some cases, the two micronutrients, unfavorably affected plant properties in M3. The responses of genotypes were different in the two research fields and S. bakhtiarica performed better in F2. The highest essential oil was resulted by A2. The two micronutrients improved plant responses in drought stress by increasing nodule number (148 %), and essential oil yield (143 %) and decreasing plant relative water content and conserving plant water. The use of Mn and Cu is recommendable for planting Satureja species in drought stress conditions, as the two nutrients may enhance plant tolerance by increasing proline production and antioxidant activities.

Elasticity of Hydrous SiO2 Across the Post‐Stishovite Transition in the Lower Mantle

AbstractElastic properties of Si0.95H0.21O2 with hydrogarnet substitution (4H+ = Si4+) across the post‐stishovite transition (28–42 GPa) are determined up to 70 GPa using ab initio calculations and a pseudo‐proper type Landau model. At 28 GPa, elastic coefficients C11 and C12 converge, and the average shear and compressional velocity (VS and VP) decrease by a maximum of 25.5% and 5.2%, respectively. Hydrogarnet substitution reduces ambient elastic moduli and sound velocities, and shifts shear softening to lower pressure. 2%–13% Si0.95H0.21O2 may cause a VS anomaly of −0.5% to −2.6% at 700–820 km depth, explaining low VS layers beneath North America and the European Alps. Additionally, 20 vol % SiO2 in subducted basalt, with decreasing water content from 3.2 wt% to zero, could cause a VS anomaly of up to −7(4) % from 700 to 1,900 km depth, aligning with seismic scatterers identified in some subduction regions.

Influence of cement and water content on the multifaceted capabilities of a self-sensing cement-based geocomposite: a comprehensive analysis

This study investigates the synergistic effects of cement, water, and hybrid carbon nanotubes/graphene nanoplatelets (CNT/GNP) concentrations on the mechanical, microstructural, durability, and piezoresistive properties of self-sensing cementitious geocomposites. Varied concentrations of cement (8% to 18%), water (8% to 16%), and CNT/GNP (0.1% to 0.34%, 1:1) were incorporated into cementitious stabilized sand (CSS). Mechanical characterization involved compression and flexural tests, while microstructural analysis utilized dry density, apparent porosity, water absorption, and non-destructive ultrasonic testing, alongside TGA, SEM, EDS, and x-ray diffraction analyses. The durability of the composite was also assessed against 180 Freeze-thaw cycles. Moreover, the piezoresistive behavior of the nano-reinforced CSS was analyzed during cyclic flexural and compressive loading using the four-probe method. The optimal carbon nanomaterials (CNM) content was found to depend on the water and cement ratios. Generally, elevating the water content led to a rise in the CNM optimal concentration, primarily attributed to improved dispersion and adequate water for the cement hydration process. The maximum increments in flexural and compressive strengths, compared to plain CSS, were significant, reaching up to approximately 30% for flexural strength and 41% for compressive strength, for the specimen containing 18% cement, 12% water, and 0.17% CNM. This improvement was attributed to the nanoparticles’ pore-filling function, acceleration of hydration, regulation of free water, and facilitation of crack-bridging mechanisms in the geocomposite. Further decreases in cement and water content adversely impacted the piezoresistive performance of the composite. Notably, specimens containing 8% cement (across all water content variations) and 10% cement (with 8% and 12% water content) showed a lack of piezoresistive responses. In contrast, specimens containing 14% and 18% cement displayed substantial sensitivity, evidenced by elevated gauge factors, under loading conditions.

Magnetic resonance imaging of tumor response to stroma-modifying pegvorhyaluronidase alpha (PEGPH20) therapy in early-phase clinical trials

Pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown that PEGPH20 depletes intratumoral hyaluronic acid (HA), which is linked to high interstitial fluid pressures and poor distribution of chemotherapies. 29 patients with metastatic advanced solid tumors received quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) in 3 prospective clinical trials of PEGPH20: HALO-109-101 (NCT00834704), HALO-109-102 (NCT01170897), and HALO-109-201 (NCT01453153). Apparent Diffusion Coefficient of water (ADC), T1, ktrans, vp, ve, and iAUC maps were computed from qMRI acquired at baseline and ≥ 1 time point post-PEGPH20. Tumor ADC and T1 decreased, while iAUC, ktrans, vp, and ve increased, on day 1 post-PEGPH20 relative to baseline values. This is consistent with HA depletion leading to a decrease in tumor extracellular water content and an increase in perfusion, permeability, extracellular matrix space, and vascularity. Baseline parameter values predictive of pharmacodynamic responses were: ADC > 1.46 × 10−3 mm2/s (Balanced Accuracy (BA) = 72%, p < 0.01), T1 > 0.54 s (BA = 82%, p < 0.01), iAUC < 9.2 mM-s (BA = 76%, p < 0.05), ktrans < 0.07 min−1 (BA = 72%, p = 0.2), ve < 0.17 (BA = 68%, p < 0.01), and vp < 0.02 (BA = 60%, p < 0.01). A low ve at baseline was moderately predictive of response in any parameter (BA = 65.6%, p < 0.01 averaged across patients). These qMRI biomarkers are potentially useful for guiding patient pre-selection and post-treatment follow-up in future clinical studies of PEGPH20 and other tumor stroma-modifying anti-cancer therapies.

Analysis Study of Available Alternatives for Mitigation of Aromatic Hydrocarbon Emissions from a Glycol Dehydration Unit

A natural gas (NG) dehydration unit based on glycol absorption is considered one of the most important gas processing units, aiming to decrease water content and consequently adjust its dew point. However, during this process, not only water is absorbed by the glycol solvent, but also some aromatic compounds, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), in addition to volatile organic compounds (VOC), are absorbed. These compounds are released during glycol regeneration into the atmosphere, resulting in environmental pollution and consequent catastrophic mental and physical health problems. This study aims to minimize BTEX emissions while ensuring efficient dew point control. Various strategies have been adopted to control BTEX emissions, but the present work focuses on optimizing operating conditions and investigating the influence of operational variables on BTEX emissions, as well as NG water content. LINGO optimization software and HYSYS (version 11) are used to find the plant’s optimum conditions for minimizing BTEX emissions and satisfying efficient dew point control. Simulation results show that stripping gas, triethylene glycol (TEG) circulation rate, and inlet feed gas temperature significantly affect BTEX emissions. The proposed optimum operating conditions in this work resulted in a reduction in BTEX emissions by about 81% while satisfying the required NG dew point. Furthermore, two quadratic equations are developed based on regression analysis for efficient calculation of the BTEX emissions and water dew point at any operational variables.

Afforestation Enhances Potential Bacterial Metabolic Function without Concurrent Soil Carbon: A Case Study of Mu Us Sandy Land

Elucidating the impact of afforestation on soil bacterial community composition and its potential function in afforestation is imperative for comprehending the biochemical processes of land use change. This study employed high-throughput genomic sequencing to determine the bacterial phylogenetic assembly and assess functional groups following afforestation encompassing shrubland and woodland. Compared with non-afforested cropland, the soil organic carbon (SOC) remained unchanged, but significant alterations were observed in the bacterial composition and potential functions under afforestation. Afforestation enhanced bacterial diversity and even shifted the bacteria from the r- to K-strategy, as indicated by higher oligotroph/copiotroph ratios. Soil properties explained 66.45% and 68.9% of the total variation in bacterial community composition at the phylum level and the functional group. A 60.44% decrease in soil water content, a 3.82% increase in pH, a 7.5% increase in bulk density, and a 66.8% decrease in available phosphorus (AP) were the main soil factors affecting both bacterial community composition and functional traits in afforestation. In particular, lower available nutrients, AP, and nitrate nitrogen in afforestation drive the bacterial life history strategies. We conclude that changes in bacterial metabolic functions due to reduced soil available nutrients from dryland afforestation might be the main driver for microbial-inhibited SOC accumulation. These results could provide strong microbiological evidence to help further evaluate the importance of dryland afforestation.

Achieving thermoelectric properties of ultra-high-performance concrete using carbon nanotubes and fibers

The study investigated the impact of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon fibers (CFs), steel fibers, and varying water-to-binder (W/B) ratios on the thermoelectric and mechanical properties of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). Flowability tests revealed reduced flow with decreased water content and the addition of CNTs or CFs, particularly pronounced at a lower W/B ratio. Thermal gravimetric analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated differences in peak intensities and shifts in peaks related to the hydration products of the UHPC by the incorporation of the CNTs and CFs. The compressive strength and tensile performance increased with reduced W/B ratios and the inclusion of steel fibers, whereas the CNTs and CFs affected the strength differently based on their dispersion and interaction with other components that influenced porosity. The presence of steel fibers reduces the percolation threshold for CNTs and CFs, indicating a synergistic effect that enhances electron transport connectivity. The thermal conductivity increased with the addition of CNTs, CFs, and steel fibers, enhancing heat transfer within the UHPC. The thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) values highlighted the combined impact of CNTs, CFs, steel fibers, and W/B ratios on the thermoelectric efficiency of the UHPC, showing significant improvements with the inclusion of steel fibers and the interplay between the CNTs and W/B ratios. Ultimately, upon introducing 1.5 % steel fibers and 0.3 % CNTs, a substantial enhancement in the thermoelectric ZT was observed, surpassing the standard UHPC values by 12 orders of magnitude.

A Novel Numerical Model Considering Unsaturated Soil Properties and Computational Study on Heat and Moisture Transfer Characteristics of Helix Ground Heat Exchanger

Abstract A novel three-dimensional numerical simulation model for the helix ground heat exchanger was proposed in this paper, which takes into account unsaturated soil properties. This model is more suitable for real working conditions. To validate its accuracy, a miniature model heat transfer experimental platform was constructed. Additionally, the study conducted simulation research using three types of soil with significantly different thermal and moisture characteristics. Moreover, the comprehensive thermal conductivity and water diffusion coefficient of these three soil types were determined by relevant literature and experimental tests. The aim was to comprehensively explore the impact of different soil types on the heat and mass transfer of the helix ground heat exchanger. The results indicate that the numerical model developed in this paper accurately captures the heat and mass transfer characteristics of the helix ground heat exchanger to a certain extent. Increasing the comprehensive thermal conductivity and water diffusion coefficient of the soil can significantly enhance the heat exchange capacity of the exchanger. For instance, under sandy loam conditions, the heat exchange capacity is approximately 20.73% higher compared to clay loam conditions. The study also identifies two distinct areas around the helix ground heat exchanger: the severe change region and the soft change region. In the severe change region, there is a notable decrease in soil water content near the exchanger, which inevitably weakens the thermal conductivity of the soil. It is advised to minimize this effect through measures like active water spraying.

Temperature influences desiccation resistance of bumble bees

Ongoing climate change has increased temperatures and the frequency of droughts in many parts of the world, potentially intensifying the desiccation risk for insects. Because resisting desiccation becomes more difficult at higher temperatures and lower humidity, avoiding water loss is a key challenge facing terrestrial insects. However, few studies have examined the interactive effects of temperature and environmental humidity on desiccation resistance in insects. Such studies on bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) are especially rare, despite their ecological and economic importance. Here, we crossed temperature (20, 25, and 30 °C) with humidity (<5, 50, >95 % RH) manipulations and measured time to mortality, water loss rates, and the water content at mortality of bumble bees (Bombus impatiens). We found that both higher temperature and lower humidity increased water loss rates, while warmer temperatures reduced survival time and lower humidity decreased water content at mortality. Additionally, we observed large intraspecific variation in water balance traits between colonies, and larger individuals survived longer and could tolerate more water loss before mortality. This study raises important questions about the mechanisms underpinning water loss in bumble bees and suggests that frequent access to nectar may be especially important for bumble bees’ water balance and survival in a warming and drying climate.

Characterization and Performance Analysis of Hydrolyzed versus Non-Hydrolyzed Poly(NVF-co-HEA) Hydrogels for Cosmetic Applications.

This study explores the synthesis and modification of poly(N-vinylformamide-co-N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide) (poly(NVF-co-HEA)) hydrogels for cosmetic applications. Poly(NVF-co-HEA) hydrogels were produced followed by an acid hydrolysis reaction to produce poly(NVF-co-VAm-co-HEA) hydrogels, introducing poly(vinyl amine) (PVAm) into the structure. This modification considerably alters the hydrogels' properties, yielding materials with over 96% water content, predominantly in the form of non-freezing or free water, which is beneficial in the uptake and release of hydrophilic species. The primary amine groups from inclusion of VAm also improved the mechanical properties, as evidenced by an 8-fold increase in Young's modulus. The hydrogels also possessed pH-responsive behavior, which was particularly noticeable under acidic and basic conditions, where a large decrease in water content was observed (40% to 75% reduction). Characterizing the hydrogels' release capabilities involved using organic dyes of different functional groups and sizes to examine the pH impact on release. The results indicated that hydrolyzed hydrogels interacted more effectively with charged species, highlighting their suitability for pH-responsive delivery. The release of cosmetic active ingredients was also demonstrated through the controlled release of Liquid Azelaic™, specifically potassium azeloyl diglycinate (PAD). Our findings reveal that the hydrolyzed hydrogels exhibit superior burst release, especially under alkaline conditions, suggesting their suitability for cosmetic applications where controlled, pH-responsive delivery of active ingredients is desired. Overall, this investigation highlights the potential of hydrolyzed poly(NVF-co-HEA) hydrogels in cosmetic applications. Their ability to combine high water content with mechanical integrity, along with their pH-responsive release ability, allows for use in cosmetic formulations.

Cryo-storage of porcine hides at the industrial scale for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine application

BACKGROUND: The industrial scale cryo-storage of raw tissue materials requires a robust, low-cost and easy-to-operate method that can facilitate the down-stream process. OBJECTIVE: The study was aimed to develop the multifunctional protective solutions (MPS) for transportation at ambient conditions and also subsequent cryo-storage below −20°C of raw porcine hides for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Protective solutions with antimicrobial activity and proteinase-inhibiting activity were developed and tested for its efficacy in preserving the extracellular matrix of porcine dermis from microbial spoilage, proteolytic degradation, freeze damage and excessive dehydration during shipping and cryo-storage. The MPSs contained phosphate-buffered saline with ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) added as chelator and proteinase inhibitor, as well as glycerol or maltodextrin (M180) as cryoprotectants. RESULTS: MPSs prepared with EDTA and glycerol or M180 had significant antimicrobial activity and proteinase-inhibiting activity during the period of shipping and handling. Glycerol and M180 prevented eutectic salt precipitation and excessive freeze dehydration upon cryo-storage of porcine hides. Without glycerol or M180, hides could be freeze-dehydrated to the low hydration at ˜0.4 g/g dw, and formed irreversible plications after freezing. A critical hydration (0.8˜0.9 g/g dw) was observed for the extracellular matrix of porcine dermis, and dehydration to a lower level could impose enormous stress and potential damage. The soaking of porcine hides in MPSs decreased water content as glycerol and M180 entered into dermis. Upon equilibration, the glycerol content in the tissue was about 94% of the incubating glycerol solution, but the M180 content in the tissue was only about 50% of the incubating M180 solution, indicating that M180 did not get into the entire aqueous domain within dermis. MPSs reduced ice formation and increased the unfrozen water content of porcine raw hides upon cryo-storage. CONCLUSION: MPSs prepared with EDTA and glycerol or M180 have antimicrobial activity and proteinase-inhibiting activity, which can be used for transportation and cryo-storage of raw hides at the industrial scale. Glycerol at 7.5% w/v and M180 at 20% w/v were sufficient to prevent freeze damage and excessive freeze dehydration.

Different concentrations of maltodextrin and albumin influenced the quality characteristics and hedonic acceptance of sorghum powder drinks

Sorghum emerges as a promising choice for developing nutritional powdered beverages, employing the foam mat drying technique with ingredients like maltodextrin and egg white powder. Yet, the precise impact of these components on the quality of powdered beverages remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the effects of maltodextrin (10-30%) and egg white powder (4-5%) on moisture content, color, antioxidant activity, and hedonic acceptance in sorghum-based beverages. Nine formulations were assessed, indicating that increased maltodextrin and egg white powder decreased water content (from 4.88% to 3.96%) and resulted in a lightness (L*) value exceeding 80. Generally, higher concentrations of maltodextrin (>10%) and egg white powder (4.5%) elevated the a* and b* values. Furthermore, elevated quantities of these components led to reduced antioxidant capacity (from 0.00013 to 0.00028 mg TE/g sample) and total phenols (from 9.98 to 4.84 mg GAE/g sample) in the beverages. Notably, egg white powder significantly influenced (p<0.05) the overall liking of the sorghum beverage.

Measurements of Thermodynamic Data of Water in Ca-Bentonite by Relative Humidity Method

Buffer material (compacted bentonite), one of the engineered barrier elements in the geological disposal of a high-level radioactive waste, develops swelling stress due to groundwater penetration from the surrounding rock mass. Montmorillonite is the major clay mineral component of bentonite. Even previous studies provide few mechanical and thermodynamic data on Ca-montmorillonite. In this study, thermodynamic data on Ca-montmorillonite were obtained as a function of water content by measuring relative humidity (RH) and temperature. The activities of water and the relative partial molar Gibbs free energies of water were determined from the experimental results, and the swelling stress of Ca-bentonite was calculated using the thermodynamic model and compared with measured data. The activities of water and the relative partial molar Gibbs free energies obtained in the experiments decreased with decreasing water content in water contents lower than about 25%. This trend was similar to that of Na-montmorillonite. The swelling stress calculated based on the thermodynamic model was approximately 200 MPa at a montmorillonite partial density of 2.0 Mg/m3 and approximately 10 MPa at a montmorillonite partial density of 1.4 Mg/m3. The swelling stresses in the high-density region (around 2.0 Mg/m3) were higher than that of Na-montmorillonite and were similar levels in the low-density region (around 1.5 Mg/m3). Comparison with measured data showed the practicality of the thermodynamic model.

On the accuracy of saturation estimation from electrical measurements of soils with high swelling clay content

AbstractElectrical conductivity models have been widely used to estimate water content and petrophysical properties of soils in hydrogeophysical studies. However, these models are typically only valid for soils with non‐expandable matrices because they were originally developed for clean sandstone reservoir rocks. Soils containing swelling clays are characterized by matrices that expand/contract upon gaining/losing water. In this laboratory study, we demonstrate that soil matrix changes affect saturation estimation using Archie's laws. A sample of a soil containing a swelling clay was fully saturated with a potassium chloride solution, then left to dry evaporatively at room temperature for 8 days. The complex resistivity of the soil, along with its weight and volume shrinkage, were measured daily during the drying period, and the surface conductivity was calculated based on previous empirical findings. Over the course of the study, the simultaneous evaporation yielded a 33% decrease in volume and caused a nonlinear reduction in saturation with decreasing water content. Accounting for surface conductivity and correcting for saturation using the calculated volume reduction resulted in a power‐law relationship with high R2 values between resistivity and saturation along with reasonable saturation exponents. On the contrary, neglecting either surface conductivity or shrinkage caused similar underestimations of saturation exponents. These results indicate that the application of Archie's second law to soils with swelling clays leads to erroneous predictions of resistivity if saturation values are not corrected for changes in the volume of the soil and surface conductivity is neglected.

Osmotic dehydration optimization of butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata Duch) using response surface methodology

Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata Duch) has a reasonably high carotene content. The flour-making process of it is related to the carotene content and antioxidant activity. It is essential to determine the optimum conditions of osmotic dehydration process by treating the concentration of the salt solution (5-15%), immersion time (60-180 mins), and stirring speed (10-40 rpm) on colour, beta-carotene content, and antioxidant activity using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Box-Behnken Design (BBD). All responses had a quadratic model fit (p&lt;0.05). The R2 values are 86.7 for water loss, 84.9 for a solid gain, 96.3 for colour (ΔE), 94.3 for colour (chroma), 65.5 for beta-carotene, and 70 for antioxidant activity, respectively. The decrease in water content was strongly influenced by the salt solution concentration, stirring speed, and soaking time. However, among three factors, the salt solution concentration was the most influential. The stirring speed significantly influences the addition of solids to the material (solid gain) during the osmotic dehydration process. In contrast, ΔE and chroma were influenced by the stirring speed and immersion time for colour changes. Stirring speed influences beta-carotene levels. The amount of antioxidant activity was influenced by the stirring speed and immersion time. The optimization results obtained a salt solution concentration of 15%, a stirring speed of 25 rpm, and an immersion value of 155.8 mins. The magnitude of the three factors above provides a predictive value for water content to decrease to a maximum of 8.57%, solid gain to increase by 8.34%, beta-carotene content to decrease by 11.07% on a wet basis, antioxidant activity to decrease by 2.74, ΔE 20.22, and chroma of 71.07. The composite desirability value was 77.30%. Treating the salt concentration, soaking time, and stirring frequency affect the colour change, water loss, addition of solids, beta-carotene levels and antioxidant activity. The research finds that reducing the water content in the DO process has a significant effect, so the drying process can be carried out more quickly. In addition, the significance of the optimal conditions for the honey gourd DO process can be applied to further processing, for example, for the manufacture of industrial-scale flour

Comparison of Morphological, Physiological, and Related Gene Expression Responses to Drought Stress in Five Camellia vietnamensis Cultivars

The main production area of Camellia vietnamensis (C. vietnamensis) is in the low mountain and hilly areas of southern China. The low survival rate of seedlings caused by drought is one of the main obstacles restricting the development of the C. vietnamensis industry. An exploration of the key adaptation mechanism of C. vietnamensis to drought stress is important in order to improve its drought resistance. We conducted a study on the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and drought resistance-related genes of five C. vietnamensis cultivars grown in Hainan province under varying degrees of drought stress. The results indicate that drought stress can lead to a decrease in the relative water content and photosynthetic capacity of C. vietnamensis leaves. Compared with the control, the drought damage index, malondialdehyde, relative electrical conductivity, soluble protein, soluble sugar and proline contents of the five C. vietnamensis cultivars increased with drought-stress duration and degree. With increasing drought-stress intensity, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of related metabolites (total polyphenols, total flavonoids, tea saponins) gradually increased, and the expression levels of phenylpropanoid pathway-related genes (Cv4CL1, CvCAD1, CvCAD2, CvPOX1, CvPOX2, CvPOX3) were upregulated. Based on the results of the drought tolerance coefficients, principal component analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis, we classified five C. vietnamensis cultivars into drought-tolerant cultivars (‘Haida 1’); moderately drought-tolerant cultivars (‘Haida 4’ and ‘Wanhai 4’); and drought-sensitive cultivars (‘Wanhai 3’ and ‘Wanhai 1’). The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the promotion and cultivation of C. vietnamensis and the selection of drought-resistant cultivars.

Protein Concentrate from Frigate Tuna Head Waste Extract Using Methanol-Acetone Solvent

The frigate tuna (Euthynnus affinis) is known for its high protein content in the head, making it suitable for the production of protein concentrate used in animal feed. This research aims to investigate the influence of adding a methanol-acetone mixture solvent, the duration of the extraction process, and the protein content in the resulting concentrate using the Kjeldahl method. The protein concentrate is produced through the maceration extraction method, where 30 grams of the frigate tuna head sample is mixed with a methanol-acetone solvent in various ratios (1:9; 3:7; 5:5; 7:3; 9:1) at a temperature of 50 °C and a stirring speed of 500 rpm, with extraction times ranging from 2 to 6 hours. Subsequently, filtration is performed, and the precipitate is dried using an oven at 100 °C for 30 minutes. The dried sample is then subjected to protein content testing using the Kjeldahl method. Research results indicate that both protein content and extraction yield values increase with the duration of the extraction process, while the water content decreases. The optimal result in maceration extraction is achieved with the methanol-acetone mixture (9:1) treatment and a 6-hour extraction time, yielding a protein content of 89.15 %, water content of 5.57 %, and an extraction yield of 23.86 %.

Swelling Stress of Bentonite: Thermodynamics of Interlayer Water in K-Montmorillonite in Consideration of Alteration

The buffer material that makes up the geological disposal system of high-level waste swells by contact with groundwater and seals space with rock mass and fractures in rock mass. The buffer material has a function of mechanical buffer with rock pressure, and swelling stress is important in this case. The alteration of bentonite may occur due to the initial replacement of cations (Na+ ions) in the interlayer with K+ ions upon contact with groundwater, but there are no studies on the swelling stress of K-bentonite. In this study, the author prepared K-montmorillonite samples and obtained thermodynamic data on interlayer water as a function of water content using a relative humidity method. The swelling stress was analyzed based on a thermodynamic model developed in earlier studies and compared with measured data. The activity and the relative partial molar Gibbs free energy of porewater decreased with decreasing water content in the region, below approximately 15%. This behavior significantly differs from that of other ions, such as Na. The swelling stress calculated based on the thermodynamic model and date occurred in the region of high density of 1.9 Mg/m3 with montmorillonite partial density. It was indicated for the first time that K-bentonite scarcely swells under realistic design conditions.