Mass Fraction Research Articles

Effect of swirling gas inlet design on particle motion and decomposition in magnesite flash calciner

In this work, a numerical simulation model of an industrial-scale magnesite flash calciner (MFC) was established based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The discrete phase model (DPM) was employed, and the results of kinetic analysis for magnesite decomposition were taken into consideration. Then, the influence of swirling gas inlet design on particle motion and decomposition in MFC was analyzed, thereby providing suggestions for production. The results indicate that incorporating a swirling design can attenuate the particle deposition at the feeding port and increase particle residence time in furnace. However, the conversion degree of magnesite is decreased. This phenomenon can be attributed to the particle accumulation near the wall, resulting in a localized lower gas temperature and subsequently leading to a gas-solid heat transfer degradation. By elevating the gas temperature and reducing its flow rate, the enhancement of magnesite decomposition and reduction in energy consumption are achieved. The gas-solid water equivalent ratio, determined by heat of reaction and sensible heat of flue gas, needs to be higher than 1.8 to maintain a mass fraction of MgO above 0.9.

Effect of Dicarboxylic Acid Chain Length on the Tribological Properties of Aqueous Polyether Esters

ABSTRACTThis article presents the preparation of environmentally friendly water‐soluble lubricant additives. Adipic acid (AA), sebacic acid (SA) and dodecanedioic acid (DA) were individually subjected to esterification reactions with polyethylene glycol 1500 (PEG1500) to prepare a class of water‐soluble polyether esters (AAPEE1500, SAPEE1500 and DAPEE1500) (referred to as XAPEE1500s) that exhibit excellent water solubility and do not contain environmentally harmful elements. First, the molecular structure characterisation and functional group analysis of these additives will be conducted using an infrared spectrometer and a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. Subsequently, the frictional properties of the additives in the base liquid (deionised water) will be investigated using an SRV‐V tribometer, Falex pin‐on‐disc tribometer and screw torque tester. The surface morphology of wear scars will be characterised and analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a non‐contact 3D profilometer. Finally, the lubrication mechanism of the DAPEE1500 additive will be analysed using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicate that the optimal lubrication performance is achieved when the added mass fraction of DAPEE1500 is at 3%. Compared with 0.5 wt% DAPEE1500, the average friction coefficient of 3 wt% DAPEE1500 decreased from 0.285 to 0.122, and the wear volume decreased from 25.52 × 10−5 μm3 to 10.96 × 10−5 μm3. The lubrication mechanism of polyether ester is the result of the combined action of its polar ester functional groups and long carboxylic acid chains in the structure. These polar functional groups can form a relatively firm adsorption film on the friction surface, while the long carboxylic acid chains act as a brush‐like isolating layer, thus demonstrating superior anti‐wear and anti‐friction performance.

SnOx embedded into 3D RGO network for enhanced photoconductive performance

In this study, tin dioxide with vacancies (SnOx) was compounded with three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide (3D RGO) to obtain SnOx/3D RGO. The morphology, optical properties and structural composition of SnOx/3D RGO were analyzed by a series of techniques, and the photoconductive properties of the SnOx/3D RGO composites with different mass fractions of RGO were investigated. The photocurrent density of SnOx/3D RGO at 3D RGO mass fraction of 1.5 % reached a maximum value of 2.77 × 10−4 A/cm2, which was about twice and 1.2 times as large as that of SnOx and SnOx/2D RGO (two-dimensional reduced graphene oxide), respectively. In the linear scanning voltammetry and Mott-Schottky analysis results, SnOx/3D RGO exhibited the highest photocurrent (6.34 × 10−3 A/cm2) intensity at 1.0 V bias and the largest carrier density (2.61 × 1021cm−3). This was due to the fact that RGO played a charge transfer role in the composite material in both 2D and 3D structures. In contrast, the porous 3D RGO could connect separate lamellae, which prevented the aggregation of layers and enhanced the electron transfer, thus exhibiting superior performance than 2D graphene.

Pd/TiO2 decorated carbon fibers as an efficient anode catalyst for methanol electro‐oxidation

AbstractIn this study, Pd/TiO2 decorated carbon nanofibers (Pd/TiO2@CNFs) and Pd@CNFs were prepared by the impregnation method for application in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Pd and TiO2 particles were supported on the surface of carbon fibers. Noticeably, When the mass fraction of PdCl2 added is 4%, the Pd@CNFs catalyst (Pd‐4@CNFs) showed higher electrocatalytic activity and stability, which were about 28.4 and 13.2 times higher than those of commercial Pd/C catalyst, respectively. On the basis of Pd‐4@CNFs catalyst, TiO2 with a mass fraction of 10% was added to produce Pd/TiO2@CNFs catalyst (Pd‐4/TiO2‐10@CNFs). The electrocatalytic activity of Pd‐4/TiO2‐10@CNFs increased to 3,850.4 A·g−1, which was 31.9 times higher than that of commercial Pd/C catalysts. These results demonstrated that the novel Pd/TiO2@CNFs catalyst is expected to be an efficient and durable catalyst for DMFC.

Vibration characteristics of a cylindrical sandwich shell with an FG auxetic honeycomb core and nanocomposite face layers subjected to supersonic fluid flow

In this paper, the flutter analysis is studied for a cylindrical sandwich shell subjected to external supersonic fluid flow. The sandwich shell consists of a re-entrant auxetic honeycomb (AH) core made of functionally graded materials (FGMs) which is covered with two polymeric face layers enriched with either carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), or graphene oxide powders (GOPs). The volume fraction (percentage) of the ceramic phase in the functionally graded auxetic honeycomb (FGAH) core varies from zero at the inner surface to one at the outer one based on either power-law function (P-FGM), exponential function (E-FGM), or sigmoid function (S-FGM). It is assumed that the nanofillers are distributed uniformly inside the face layers. The first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and the piston theory are employed to provide the mathematical models of the shell and the aerodynamic pressure, respectively. The governing equations and boundary conditions are derived via Hamilton’s principle. An exact solution is performed in the circumferential direction via harmonic trigonometric functions (sine and cosine) and an approximate solution is performed in the axial direction utilizing the differential quadrature method (DQM). The natural frequencies and corresponding damping ratios are attained through the presented semi-analytical solution and the impacts of several factors on the natural frequencies and the critical aerodynamic pressure of the shell are examined. These factors the type of the FGM, the material index, and inclined angle of the cells in the FGAH core, the thickness of the FGAH core, the type and mass fraction of the nanofillers in the nanocomposite face layers, and boundary conditions.

Characterization and experimental investigation of silicon nitride-based composite phase change materials for battery thermal management

In this study, different mass fractions of silicon nitride (Si3N4) were added to paraffin (PA)/expanded graphite (EG) to prepare a novel composite phase change material(CPCM). Thermal and chemical characterization of the CPCMs were conducted to assess their properties. The results indicated that adding 1 wt% Si3N4 was an optimal strategy, whose leakage rate at 40 °C and phase change starting temperature was lower and higher than that of PA/EG, respectively. Then, the cooling performance of the Si3N4/PA/EG CPCM with 1 wt% Si3N4 (denoted as CPCM1) was compared to PA/EG CPCM (denoted as CPCM0) and air cooling with a acrylic box. CPCM1 had heat dissipation and temperature uniformity property very close to CPCM0, but could obtain lower maximum temperature (Tmax) and better temperature uniformity than the air cooling with a acrylic box. For air cooling with a acrylic box, the Tmax and the maximum temperature difference (ΔTmax) inside the battery at a discharge rate of 2C under 35 °C was 49 °C and 3.78 °C, respectively. However, the Tmax and ΔTmax for CPCM1 cooling was only 40.7 °C and 1.37 °C, respectively, which was reduced by 16.9 % and 63.7 %, respectively. Thus, we could draw a conclusion that the Si3N4/PA/EG CPCM exhibited excellent ability to control maximum temperature and maximum temperature difference for the battery.

Flexible piezoelectric pressure sensor based on BaTiO3-CNT/RTV composite film with filter paper microstructures for monitoring hand motions

Flexible piezoelectric sensors are widely used in various applications such as physiological signal monitoring and human-computer interaction. The present study introduces a BaTiO3-CNT/RTV piezoelectric sensor fabricated using a filter paper template. It incorporates micro-scale fiber stacking and a 1% CNT doping in the microstructure, resulting in a notable enhancement of sensor sensitivity, increasing it from 0.07 V N−1 to 0.69 V N−1, representing an almost tenfold improvement. Furthermore, the study investigates the influence of affecting factors like the flexible substrate of the sensing film, thickness, and mass fractions of various materials on the output voltage. The sensor exhibits superior characteristics such as good repeatability under 5000 cyclic loads, high elongation at break, fast response (80 ms) and recovery times (90 ms), and good linearity. It also demonstrates outstanding sensitivity (12 mV/10°) when monitoring different finger bending states, enabling real-time, sensitive, and reliable hand motion tracking. This sensor holds promising prospects for future developments in the fields of intelligent grasping and sign language translation.

Investigation of the dynamic interaction mechanism of split injections during the ignition process under diesel engine-like cold- and hot-start conditions

In a range of operating conditions with variable injection parameters, interactions among split sprays present uncertainties across both temporal and spatial dimensions. Understanding these dynamic interactions is crucial for optimizing injection strategies to improve both the performance and environmental adaptability of diesel engines. In this study, optical diagnostics and numerical simulations were conducted to explore the interaction mechanisms between split injections and their impact on the ignition process. Engine-like cold and hot-start operating conditions were configured, and four injection strategies, including a single injection, were examined. The findings reveal that ambient temperature influences split spray interactions by altering their ignition characteristics, while injection dwell time modifies these interactions by changing the combustion spatial and temporal phase between split sprays. Compared to a single injection, split injection promotes the ignition and combustion of the main spray such as shortening ignition delay, reducing ignition location, and increasing flame area, but this promoting effect weakens under hot-start conditions. When the main spray chases the pilot spray before ignition, it increases the local concentration and reduces the temperature upstream of the pilot spray plume. However, since the effect front fails to reach the expected ignition region before the pilot ignition occurs, the ignition of the pilot fuel pocket remains unaffected. Under cold-start conditions, the main ignition delay shows a non-monotonic trend, reaching its minimum at an injection dwell of 900 μs, where the pilot ignition provides the main spray with elevated local temperatures and an increased hydroxyl mass fraction. Under hot-start conditions, the temporal overlap of ignition in split sprays is enhanced, yet spatial interaction weakens. Despite varying degrees of pilot flame decay before the main spray ignites with increasing injection dwells, the thermal radiation emanating from their combustion elevates the local temperature in the interaction zone beyond 1200 K. Consequently, upon catching up with the pilot injection, the main spray mixture rapidly ignites through the high-temperature reaction pathway, rendering the ignition delay insensitive with injection dwells.

Thermophysical properties and enhancement behavior of novel B4C-nanoadditive RT35HC nanocomposite phase change materials: Structural, morphological, thermal energy storage and thermal stability

This study aims to enhancement the thermal conductivity of RT35HC, as a commercial paraffin, by integrating boron carbide (B4C) nanoparticles for the first time, thereby producing B4C-nanoadditive nanocomposite PCMs. The B4C nanoparticles were reinforcement to RT35HC at mass fraction percentages (wt.%) of 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 by melting and physical mixing method. The structural and morphological characteristics of both pure and nanocomposite PCMs were examined using XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, and EDX. Thermal properties were investigated through DSC, TGA/DTA, and thermal conductivity measurements using the KD2-Pro device. The Gaussian process regression (GPR) model was used to analyze the Cp values in relation to temperature and additive ratio. Structural and morphological analysis results indicated a homogeneous distribution of nanoparticles within the PCM matrix, without any significant chemical or physical alterations. The introduction of B4C-nanoadditive did not markedly affect the melting and solidification temperatures. However, melting and solidification enthalpies decreased proportionally with increased nanoadditive ratios, with the greatest reductions being 7.44 % and 5.74 % at a 2 wt% nanoaddition rate, respectively. As the nanoadditive ratio increased, the thermal conductivity (k) and specific heat capacity (Cp) of RT35HC in both solid and liquid-phases enhanced significantly. Specifically, solid-phase (25 °C) k values increased by 67.51 % from 0.197 to 0.33, and liquid-phase (50 °C) k values by 15.29 % from 0.170 to 0.196. The highest Cp values in the solid and liquid-phases were measured as 3.01 and 2.49, respectively, in the nanocomposite with a high nanoadditive ratio. The GPR method yielded a success rate of 0.9015. Additionally, the nanocomposites exhibited enhanced thermal stability and higher thermal decomposition temperatures. Based on these characterizations, the fabricated B4C-nanoadditive nanocomposite PCMs show promise for application in TES and TM systems.

Assessment of the content of biologically active substances in Hypericum perforatum along an altitude gradient

An assessment of the content of flavonoids in the herb St. John’s wort, selected in natural phytocoenosis along an altitudinal gradient, is presented. We used generally accepted methods described in the relevant manuals when conducting research. The material for the study was air-dried samples of the aerial parts of St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) collected at different altitudes. The features of the accumulation of flavonoids (leucoanthocyanins, catechins, flavonols) and the amount of anthracene derivatives in the herb St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) in the phase of mass flowering along an altitudinal gradient were studied. It has been shown that an increased level of anthracene derivatives (in terms of hypericin) is observed at altitudes of 615 - 716 m above sea level. The amount of anthracene derivatives (in terms of hypericin) significantly decreases along the altitudinal gradient. The content of catechins in samples taken along the altitudinal gradient varies within 0.17 - 0.36 mg%. It has been established that plants selected at different altitudes from 615 to 2025 m above sea level are characterized by other content of flavonoids. The samples in the altitude range 615 - 716 m above sea level have the maximum content. The plants selected in the vicinity of the village had the best characteristics for the accumulation of the mass fraction of flavonols. Makhchesk, Irafsky district of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania, in coenopopulations of a cereal-forb meadow at 1340 m above sea level. Thickets of Hypericum perforatum are found on slopes of southern and southeastern exposure.

Crystallisation behaviour and enhanced separation of RE-phase in RE-bearing blast furnace slag

With the wide application and consumption of rare earths (REs), the secondary resources of RE-bearing blast furnace slag are being investigated as viable resources for the recovery of these critical elements. In this study, the crystallisation behaviour including nucleation and growth kinetics of the RE-phase in RE-bearing blast furnace slag was studied and the optimal precipitation conditions for the RE-phase during the cooling process was obtained, providing an important reference and guidance for the efficient extraction and subsequent functionalised reuse of REs. Subsequently, the supergravity enhanced separation of RE-phase from the slag system was conducted in the optimal precipitation conditions of cooling rate (2 °C/min), experiment temperature (1200 °C), and holding time (100 min). At G = 1000, the RE-phase was successfully separated from molten slag, and the mass fraction of CeO2 in the separated sample increased from the original 20.51% to 74.85%, and the recovery ratio reached 92.06%. This indicated that the supergravity separation technology is considered to be an effective technology for the enrichment and recovery of REs from RE-bearing blast furnace slag.

Understanding Reductions of PM2.5 Concentration and Its Chemical Composition in the United States: Implications for Mitigation Strategies.

Motivated by the recent tightening of the US annual standard of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations from 12 to 9 μg/m3, there is a need to understand the spatial variation and drivers of historical PM2.5 reductions. We evaluate and interpret the variability of PM2.5 reductions across the contiguous US using high-resolution estimates of PM2.5 and its chemical composition over 1998-2019, inferred from satellite observations, air quality modeling, and ground-based measurements. We separated the 3092 counties into four characteristic regions sorted by PM2.5 trends. Region 1 (primarily Central Atlantic states, 25.9% population) exhibits the strongest population-weighted annual PM2.5 reduction (-3.6 ± 0.4%/yr) versus Region 2 (primarily rest of the eastern US, -3.0 ± 0.3%/yr, 39.7% population), Region 3 (primarily western Midwest, -1.9 ± 0.3%/yr, 25.6% population), and Region 4 (primarily the Mountain West, -0.4 ± 0.5%/yr, 8.9% population). Decomposition of these changes by chemical composition elucidates that sulfate exhibits the fastest reductions among all components in 2720 counties (76% of population), mostly over Regions 1-3, with the 1998-2019 mean sulfate mass fraction in PM2.5 decreasing from Region 1 (29.5%) to Region 4 (11.8%). Complete elimination of the remaining sulfate may be insufficient to meet the new standard for many regions in exceedance. Additional measures are needed to reduce other PM2.5 sources and components for further progress.

Stabilization and Release Characteristics of Heavy Metals in Desulfurization Sludge from Coal-Fired Power Plants

ABSTRACT The leaching risk of heavy metals from flue gas desulfurization (FGD) by-product sludge of coal-fired power plants is high, and there is an urgent need for effective treatment using solidification. In this paper, dithiocarbonates (DTC), 2,4,6-tri-mercapto-S-triazine trisodium salt (TMT-15) curing agent, fly ash and cement were used to cure the desulfurization sludge and study the environmental release characteristics of heavy metals before and after curing. The results show that all four curing agents had a good curing effect. The best chelating agent was DTC, and the best curing conditions were achieved at a liquid-to-solid ratio of 3:1 and a mass fraction of 8%. The leaching concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Hg were reduced by 87.95%, 100%, 85.29%, 86.17%, 70.11%, 95.06%, 90.28%, and 98.44%, respectively, after curing. In the environmental release characteristics test, the leaching concentrations of heavy metals in the cured sludge were lower than those of the original samples at different pH values and temperatures, indicating better stability. The mass fraction had the greatest effect on the leaching concentration of heavy metals, followed by the pH value and temperature.

Effects of plasma spraying process on microstructure and mechanical properties of Cr2AlC/410 composite coatings

To investigate the influences of Cr2AlC mass fraction and supersonic plasma spraying process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Cr2AlC reinforced 410 stainless steel composite coatings, the coatings containing different mass fractions of Cr2AlC were prepared and investigated. The composite coating exhibited low porosity and high adhesion strength. The addition of Cr2AlC significantly enhanced the hardness of the composite coatings through particle strengthening. However, when the mass fraction of Cr2AlC was 20%, the aggregation of Cr2AlC resulted in a strong decrease in the coating preparation efficiency, as well as a decline in adhesion strength. In the supersonic plasma spraying process, the Ar flow rate mainly influenced the flight velocity of the particles, while the H2 flow rate and the current mainly affected the temperature of the plasma torch. Consequently, all of them influenced the melting degree of particles and the quality of the coating. The lowest porosity and the highest hardness and adhesion strength could be obtained when the Ar flow rate is 125 L/min, the H2 flow rate is 25 L/min, and the current is 385 A.

Design, simulation, and additive manufacturing performance of three lightweight FBG acceleration sensors

Low-weight, high-performance accelerometers are sought-after objectives in aerospace structural design. This paper presents three design schemes for lightweight FBG accelerometers: lattice-based (FBGL), reinforced (FBGR), and lattice-reinforced (FBGL-R) accelerometers. The influence of the design’s filling factor ( F d ) on the first-order frequency and sensitivity in three directions of the accelerometers is investigated. Additionally, the Additive Manufacturing (AM) performance of the designed accelerometers is explored and compared with the original model. The results demonstrate that the first-order natural frequencies of the three design models decrease linearly with increasing F d , with FBGL-R exhibiting a larger adjustable range of low-frequency response under the same mass. FBGL shows the greatest sensitivity variation with F d in all three directions, while FBGR exhibits the least sensitivity variation. Under the same mass fraction, FBGR demonstrates higher sensitivities in all three directions, with FBGL-R's performance falling between the other two designs. AM simulations indicate that the porous structures can reduce the deformation amplitude during the AM of FBG accelerometers. FBGL, FBGR, and FBGL-R exhibit approximately 7% lower deformations compared to the original sensor. The deformation distribution is similar among the four models, with larger residual deformations occurring at the outer edges of the components, while differences in deformation distribution exist within the porous regions.

Concept for evaluating results close to the participants’ limits of quantification in proficiency tests for elements in food

AbstractProficiency testing (PT) in chemical analysis ideally provides participants with feedback on all aspects of laboratory performance. In the field of analysis of elements in food, analyte levels in test items are often close to the legal limits. Performance criteria such as those in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 333/2007 also refer to maximum values for limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ), as well as to selectivity and control of contamination. Therefore, PTs with analyte levels in the range of LOD and LOQ are also very beneficial, as at these low levels, insufficient selectivity or contamination during sample preparation are more likely to affect the analytical results.Since 2017, our unit has provided 7 PTs, each with at least one parameter (e.g. an element prone to contamination such as arsenic or mercury) with very low mass fractions. In these cases, the datasets showed a significant proportion of results reported as “< LOQ”, together with quantitative results as well.If the “< LOQ”-values are predominant, calculation according to ISO 13528 is not feasible. Due to the wide range of the individual LOQs, the numerical use of the LOQs or a percentage of them is not appropriate. Therefore, we decided to sort the quantitative results and the “< LOQ” results numerically. We then determined the median and evaluated all quantitative results above the median as “false positive”, while all other results were evaluated as “true statement”. In this way, laboratories affected by contamination, for example, received appropriate feedback.

Preparation and properties of activated carbon-based Na3PO4 composites for low-temperature thermochemical heat storage

With the advantages of low heat storage temperature, high heat storage density, and a low price, Na3PO4 has been proposed as a thermochemical heat storage candidate material for use in solar low-temperature heat storage engineering applications. However, the application of pure Na3PO4 is limited due to its propensity for agglomeration. In this study, activated carbon-based Na3PO4 (R-AC@Na3PO4) composites with mass fractions of 30 %, 50 %, and 80 % were synthesized by melt impregnation method using activated carbon as the porous matrix. The morphology and structure of the composites were characterized, and their heat storage performances were investigated. The hydration experiments were carried out in a constant temperature and humidity chamber and dehydration experiments were carried out in thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry simultaneously. The results showed that at 30 °C, 60 % relative humidity, the hydration equilibrium time for the composites were only 30 %–40 % of the pure material. Meanwhile, at a mass fraction of 80 %, material's volumetric heat storage can reach 1793 J·cm−3 without agglomeration, and the performance was stable after 20 cyclic tests. This study provides a reference for the research and development of low-temperature thermochemical heat storage materials and offers more possibilities for R-AC@Na3PO4 composites in future engineering applications.

Thermohydraulic performance analysis and optimization of stripe patterned hybrid-wetting surface condensation by 3D steady simulation

The configuration parameters of stripe patterned hybrid-wetting surfaces (SPHWSs) had a significant effect on the thermohydraulic performance of condensation. By using Taguchi-GRA method modified by entropy weight for optimization, Nusselt number (Nu) and thermal performance factor (TPF) reached the highest increment of 225.9% and 252.8% at vapor mass fraction (ω) equal to 15%, respectively, and the maximum reduction of Fanning friction coefficient (f) was −41.7% at ω = 30%, as compared without SPHWSs. A 3D steady CFD-aided method based on pseudo transient under-relaxation model was developed to predict Nu, f, and TPF of SPHWSs for different configuration parameters, including oblique pattern angle (β), hydrophilic (Wi) and hydrophobic (Wo) pattern width, hydrophilic (θi), and hydrophobic (θo) contact angle. The result indicated that the simulation was in good agreement with the experimental data. θi had a more pronounced effect on the thermohydraulic performance compared to other factors. Notably, the droplet reached a specific dynamic force balance at θi = 60°, effectively restraining near-wall erratic flow and enabling cost-optimal heat transfer.

Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhiza did not affect growth, root traits or gas exchange of grafted almond saplings when exposed to drought stress

Very little is known about potential benefits of using AM inoculation as a tool to alleviate drought stress of trees grown under nursery conditions. There is some evidence that benefits of mycorrhiza on gas exchange parameters and growth of trees are proportionally greater when trees are subjected to drought stress. We hypothesized that inoculation with mycorrhiza would increase growth, nutrition, stem water potential and gas exchange of containerized almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) when young trees are grown under low water availability.In the spring of 2015 and 2016, forty containerized almond trees (Nonpareil scion grafted on Hansen 536, a peach/almond hybrid rootstock) were either inoculated or not with a commercially available arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum and kept well-watered for 60 days in 2015 and 54 days in 2016, after which half of the plants were exposed to gradually reduced water availability over 38 days in 2015 and 61 days in 2016. Measurements included growth metrics, stem water potential, stomatal density, leaf NPK concentration, light saturated photosynthesis, and parameters calculated from CO2 response curves (Vcmax, J, TPU, Rd, gm, and stomatal limitation).The low-water treatment decreased stem water potential and reduced trunk diameter growth, light saturated photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (gs), Vcmax, J, TPU, gm, specific root length, leaf N and K concentration and total leaf N, P, and K content. Inoculation decreased root mass, increased leaf mass fraction, and decreased root mass fraction in 2015, but not in 2016. Neither stem water potential nor gas exchange were significantly altered by inoculation. Inoculation decreased leaf stomatal density, and slightly elevated leaf N and P concentrations in the low water treatments, although not consistently across years. Contrary to expectations we did not find substantially greater benefits from mycorrhizal inoculation in young drought stressed almond trees and conclude that the potential for mycorrhizal inoculant to alleviate drought stress in containerized trees is minimal.

Identification of Pheophytin a and Hydroxy Pheophytin a from Rang Chuet (Thunbergia laurifolia Linn.) as Potent NQO-1 Inducers in Liver Cells.

Thunbergia laurifolia Linn. (Rang Chuet, RC), a Thai medicinal plant, possesses various bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. This study aimed to identify detoxifying compounds within RC crude extract. RC leaves were extracted using the Soxhlet method with chloroform. Total carotenoids, chlorophylls, extract yield, total phenolic contents (TPCs), and total flavonoid contents (TFCs) were measured. The extract's composition was analyzed. Cytotoxicity and effects on the detoxification enzyme NQO-1 were assessed in liver cell lines (AML12 and HepG2) using MTT and NQO-1 assays, respectively. Bioactive fractions were identified using fractionation techniques and mass spectrometry (LC-MS). RC extract displayed significant levels of carotenoids (0.375 mg/g), chlorophylls (2.682 mg/g), and favorable yield (15.3%). TPC and TFC were 363.776 mg/g and 112.22 mg/g of extract, respectively. Analysis revealed phenolic acids (gallic acid, caffeic acid), flavonoid (apigenin), chlorophylls (chlorophylls a, b, pheophytin a and b), and lutein. Among the fractions, Fraction 3 (F3) exhibited the highest NQO-1 enzyme activity. F3 contained pheophytin a and hydroxy pheophytin a, confirmed by LC-MS (m/z 871.59+ [M + H]+ and 887.59+ [M + H]+). F3 significantly induced NQO-1 activity in both HepG2 (3.908-fold) and AML12 (1.99-fold) cells. This study identified F3 from RC extract as a promising fraction containing pheophytin a and hydroxy pheophytin a, responsible for inducing the detoxification enzyme NQO-1 in liver cells. These findings suggest RC's potential for promoting detoxification.