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PURPOSE Hypercalcemia has been reported as a poor prognostic factor in malignant tumors. However, no report has shown the clinical impact of serum calcium levels on patients with esophageal cancer. We evaluated the prognostic impact of preoperative serum calcium levels on patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS We evaluated 240 patients (197 men, 43 women; mean age, 66 years; age range, 34-85 years) with esophageal cancer who underwent radical surgery between September 2008 and December 2017. After assigning the patients to two groups (high calcium group, 8.8 mg/dL or more and low calcium group, 8.7 mg/dL or less), we compared the groups' overall survival and the clinicopathological features. The clinicopathological and prognostic significance of preoperative serum calcium levels were evaluated in a univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS The patients with deep tumors showed low serum calcium levels significantly more frequently (P

Aims: We aimed to explore the role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase subunit 4 (Nox4) in the regulation of hypercalciuria-induced renal oxidative damage and crystal depositions...

Information processing in the brain is controlled by quantal release of neurotransmitters, a tightly regulated process. From ultrastructural analysis, it is known that presynaptic boutons along single axons differ in the number of vesicles docked at the active zone. It is not clear whether the probability of these vesicles to get released (pves) is homogenous or also varies between individual boutons. Here, we optically measure evoked transmitter release at individual Schaffer collateral synapses at different calcium concentrations, using the genetically encoded glutamate sensor iGluSnFR. Fitting a binomial model to measured response amplitude distributions allowed us to extract the quantal parameters N, pves, and q. We find that Schaffer collateral boutons typically release single vesicles under low pves conditions and switch to multivesicular release in high calcium saline. The potency of individual boutons is highly correlated with their vesicular release probability while the number of releasable vesicles affects synaptic output only under high pves conditions.

Engay food is a Japanese term for a modified texture food for elderly people with dysphagia. The enrichment of the nutritional value of food is carried out by adding the calcium found in the scallop shells. This study aimed to investigate the chemical, physical, and sensory properties of engay food enrich with scallop shell flour. The food formulation consisted of milkfish and the addition of scallop shell flour as much as 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% of the basic ingredients with 5 repetitions. The result showed, the best formulation of engay food from chemical, physical, and sensory was the concentration of 4% scallop shell flour with the calcium content of 0.099 mg / 100g, water content 68.97%, ash content 0.98%, fat 1.39%, protein 9.00%, carbohydrates 19.66% and contains 562 cal / 100g. L* 30.8, a* 2.4, b* 13.9, °Chroma 14.07, and °Hue 80.27 with the type of yellow-red color, cohesiveness value 0.334 J / m2, adhesion value 0.034 mJ, and gumminess value 206.176 N/m2. High calcium engay food with milkfish as the main ingredient can be used as an alternative food for elderly people with dysphagia because it meets the requirements for food categories level 4-5 based on IDDSI recommendation.

Purpose Concrete is a building material widely used for the infrastructural development. Cement is the binding material used for the development of concrete. It is the primary cause of CO2 emission globally. The purpose of this study is to develop sustainable concrete material to satisfy the present need of construction sector. Geopolymer concrete (GPC) is a sustainable concrete developed without the use of cement. Therefore, investigations are being conducted to replace the cement by 100% with high calcium fly ash (FA) as binding material. Design/methodology/approach High calcium FA is used as cementitious binder, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicates (Na2SiO3) are used as alkaline liquids for developing the GPC. Mix proportions with different NaOH molarities of 4, 6, 8 and 10 M are considered to attain the appropriate mix. The method of curing adopted is ambient and oven curing. Workability, compressive strength and microstructure characteristics of GPC are analysed and presented. Findings An increase of NaOH in the mix decreases the workability. Compressive strength of 29 MPa is obtained for Mix-I with 8 M under ambient curing. A polynomial relationship is obtained to predict the compressive strength of GPC. Scanning electron microscope analysis is used to confirm the geo-polymerisation process in the microstructure of concrete. Originality/value This research work focuses on finding some alternative cementitious material for concrete that can replace ordinary portland cement (OPC) to overcome the CO2 emission owing to the utilisation of cement in the construction industry. An attempt has been made to use the waste material (high calcium FA) from thermal power plant for the production of GPC. GPC concrete is the novel building material and alternative to conventional concrete. It is the ecofriendly product contributing towards the improvement of the circular economy in the construction industry. There are several factors that affect the property of GPC such as type of binder material, molarity of activator solution and curing condition. The novelty of this work lies in the approach of using locally available high calcium FA along with manufactured sand for the development of GPC. As this approach is rarely investigated, to prove the attainment of compressive strength of GPC with high calcium FA, an attempt has been made during the present investigation. Other influencing parameter which affects the strength gain has also been analysed in this paper.

The post-sintering properties of walling high-calcium ceramics based on clay-containing raw materials in low-temperature roasting depend on the chemical-mineralogical composition of clay with different contents of iron, calcium-containing and alkaline oxides that contribute to the formation of new crystalline phases, which provide for the production of low-density ceramic material with high-strength properties.

Taro plant (Colocasia esculenta) is a type of tuber that contains many useful compounds, less fat and lots of vitamin A. The high calcium oxalate content in taro is an anti-nutritional and toxic which can cause itching in the mouth, burning sensation, irritation of the skin, mouth, and digestive tract. Taro processing reduced its oxalate levels, which also influenced the morphological changes observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM imaging. There is no practical way to predict the oxalate level of taro, making it easier to predict its toxicity. The purpose of this study is to predict the level of taro toxicity based on its morphology using a more practical tool such as a macro lens combined with a smartphone. The prediction of oxalate levels in taro was carried out by combining taro morphological data based on SEM and several object images produced by a macro lens equipped with a smartphone. The image of the object captured with a macro lens is supplemented with a fluorescent procedure to enhance the sharpness of the image. The prediction of oxalate levels in taro using a macro lens is distinguished based on the number of dark sides (dots) in the imaging results. The accuracy of macro lenses is of course lower than SEM, but at least the results are used as an initial prediction of oxalate levels in taro.

Because of the alkaline nature and high calcium content of cements in general, they serve as a CO 2 -absorbing agent through carbonation processes, resembling silicate weathering in nature. This carbon uptake capacity of cements could abate some of the CO 2 emitted during their production. Given the scale of cement production worldwide (4.10 Gt in 2019), a life-cycle assessment is necessary to determine the actual net carbon impacts of this industry. We adopted a comprehensive analytical model to estimate the amount of CO 2 that had been absorbed from 1930 to 2019 in four types of cement materials, including concrete, mortar, construction waste, and cement kiln dust (CKD). In addition, the process CO 2 emission during the same period based on the same datasets was also estimated. The results show that 21.02 Gt CO 2 (95 % confidence interval, CI: 18.01–24.41 Gt CO 2 ) had been absorbed in the cements produced from 1930 to 2019, with the 2019 annual figure mounting up to 0.89 Gt CO 2 yr −1 (95 % CI: 0.76–1.06 Gt CO 2 ). The cumulative uptake is equivalent to approximately 55 % of the process emission based on our estimation. In particular, China's dominant position in cement production or consumption in recent decades also gives rise to its uptake being the greatest, with a cumulative sink of 6.21 Gt CO 2 (95 % CI: 4.59–8.32 Gt CO 2 ) since 1930. Among the four types of cement materials, mortar is estimated to be the greatest contributor (approximately 59 %) to the total uptake. Potentially, our cement emission and uptake estimation system can be updated annually and modified when necessary for future low-carbon transitions in the cement industry. All the data described in this study, including the Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis results, are accessible at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4459729 (Wang et al., 2021).

Hydroxyapatite has been widely used as bone graft materials in periodontics. However, hydroxyapatite is still considered costly, and many of them are imported. Hydroxyapatite manufacturers from natural sources could be an affordable alternative for periodontal regeneration therapy. Pugilina cochlidium and Babylonia spirata, L are the natural sources with high calcium carbonate. The two clamshells are easily found in Indonesia but their usage is still limited as hydroxyapatite materials. This study aims to synthesize the hydroxyapatite with sol-gel method from Pugilina cochlidium and Babylonia spirata, L as bone graft materials candidates.

The paper presents the studies’ results of chemical composition, structure, and physico-mechanical properties of high-calcium ashes from the Kansk-Achinsk coals (2017-2019 selection). It was found that ash has a complex poly-mineral composition and contains hydraulically active minerals and oxides of СаОfr, β-C2S, CA, C3A, C4AF, C2F, CaSO4. According to the content of CaOfr, MgO does not meet standards’ requirements. The uniformity of the volume change is maintained by the composition with 50% of cement. The structure and hardening kinetics of ash and ash-cement stone compositions, obtained from the test of normal density, were analyzed. It was established that the hardening of compositions with ash from the Kansk-Achinsk coals was largely influenced by ash minerals. An equivalent amount of cement in composite binders cannot be replaced. In order to obtain a positive effect, compositions with ash instead cement of no more than 30% and a part of fine aggregate, without exceeding the ratio of ash: cement = 1: 1, should be used.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:29:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 Due to its exceptional biocompatibility, Polyurethane (PU) reinforced with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is a composite material with significant biomedical applications. However, much of the currently known mechanical and chemical information regarding composites has been obtained at low and moderate CaCO3 content levels. This study employs experimental and theoretical tools to evaluate the structural, morphological, and mechanical properties of pristine polyurethane, and when doped with CaCO3 at 25 and 50 wt.%. In the experiments the samples are characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectrophotometry (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and tensile and flexural mechanical tests, while theoretical calculations are performed to evaluate the carbonate-polymer interaction. The XRD and FT-IR results indicate that CaCO3 is at the calcite phase and that PU-CaCO3 materials exhibit a broadening of bands related to the NH2 group. This result is explained using theoretical calculations that demonstrate a weak interaction between those molecules with the CaCO3 surface, where the molecule-calcite interaction occurs primarily through the NH2 molecular link. With respect to mechanical behaviour, the results show less fracture resistance and greater stiffness for the materials containing CaCO3, compared to those containing only PU. These results are explained in terms of the stress concentration due to CaCO3 within the polymer. Finally, the results detailed in this paper show that a high calcium carbonate loading is suitable for increasing the rigidity and decreasing the fracture toughness of the biomaterial, in association with a reduction of the plastic region. Department of Mechanical Engineering Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná UTFPR Grupo de Compósitos e Nanocompósitos Híbridos (GCNH) Department of Physics and Chemistry FEIS São Paulo State University Department of Natural Sciences Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná UTFPR Grupo de Compósitos e Nanocompósitos Híbridos (GCNH) Department of Physics and Chemistry FEIS São Paulo State University

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) provide protection against myocardial damage in ischemia-reperfusion. However, the mechanisms that provide cardioprotection are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a member of omega -3 PUFA, on mitochondrial respiration parameters and the role of mitochondrial calcium-dependent potassium channels of large conductance (ВКСа) in the implementation of these effects. Using the patch-clamp method, it was shown that functional ВКСа channels are expressed in the inner mitochondrial membrane of cardiac cells and their activity increases with the addition of DHA. We investigated the role of mitochondrial ВКСа channels in the regulation of mitochondrial respiratory processes. In experiments with isolated mitochondria from rat hearts, we showed that DHA prevented an increase in the respiratory rate of mitochondria in the V4 state and a decrease in the respiratory control elicited by addition of 10 μM Ca2+. Qualitatively the same effect was caused by NS1619, the ВКСа opener. In the presence of 10 μM Ca2+, the ВКСа channel inhibitor paxilin (1 μM) prevented the protective effect of DHA and NS1619 on the parameters of respiratory control. We conclude that mitochondrial ВКСа channels are involved in the implementation of the effects of DHA on mitochondrial respiration.

The flow behavior of high-temperature ash (HTA) and low-temperature ash (LTA) of high calcium coal in the heating process was investigated systematically. By means of the heating stage microscope, the behavioral changes of samples were studied visually. The composition and mineral matters transformations of HTA and LTA samples were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. The results show that the original composition of HTA sample is different from that of LTA sample. In addition, the HTA and LTA samples experience the shrinkage, fusion and spreading processes in succession. However, the volume change of HTA sample is different from that of LTA sample. The volume of LTA sample shows a slow change at the temperature lower than 800 °C, while the volume of HTA sample is unchanged. In the temperature range of 800°C–1100 °C, the remarkable shrinkage of HTA and LTA samples are demonstrated. The formation of srebrodolskite and gehlenite attributes to this volume change. Moreover, the sharp shrinkage of HTA and LTA samples is indicated at 1100°C–1300 °C. This is caused by the formation of eutectics. Because of the diverse content and species of mineral matters in LTA sample, the volume change of LTA sample is more remarkable than that of HTA sample. The maximal shrinkages of LTA and HTA sample are 57% and 53%, respectively.

Vascular calcification is an important risk factor for the mortality and morbidity in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Unfortunately, until now there is no certain medication targeting vascular calcification in CKD. In this study, we explored the inhibitory effect of celastrol on high calcium–induced vascular calcification and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Cell proliferation assay showed that celastrol inhibited aortic valve interstitial cell (VIC) and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation when its concentration was higher than 0.6 μmol/L. 0.8 μmol/L celastrol inhibited the expression of osteogenic genes and calcium deposition induced by high‐calcium medium in both AVICs and VSMCs. In mouse vascular calcification model induced by adenine combined with vitamin D, alizarin red and immunostaining showed that celastrol inhibited pro‐calcification gene expression and calcium deposition in aortic wall and aortic valve tissues. At the molecular level, celastrol inhibited the increase of BMP2, phosphorylated Smad1/5 (p‐Smad1/5) and non‐phosphorylated β‐catenin (n‐p‐β‐catenin) induced by high‐calcium medium both in vitro and in vivo. Also, BMP2 overexpression reversed the anti‐calcification effects of celastrol by recovering the decrease of p‐Smad1/5 and n‐p‐β‐catenin. Furthermore, celastrol prevented the up‐regulation of BMPRII and down‐regulation of Smad6 induced by high calcium, and this protectory effect can be abolished by BMP2 overexpression. In conclusion, our data for the first time demonstrate that celastrol attenuates high calcium–induced arterial and valvular calcification by inhibiting BMP2/Smad1/5 signalling, which may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for arterial and valvular calcification in patients with CKD.

OBJETIVO:Identificar los elementos esenciales relacionados con los principales síntomas y signos del climaterio, los factores de riesgo en esta etapa, así como en la conducta terapéutica que se debe tener en cuenta para su adecuado manejo, en la atención integral, por los profesionales de la salud.METODO: Se utilizó el método con enfoque Inductivo- descriptivo, con una población constituida por 35 mujeres del barrio Libertador Simón Bolívar del Distrito de Sapallanga. La recolección de datos fue por medio de una encuesta – entrevista personalizada.De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos se afirma que el consumo habitual es la hoja de coca, por ende no presentan signos y síntomas que predispongan la enfermedad. RESULTADOS: La población total de estudios se encuentra comprendida entre las edades de 45 y 65 años, en un número de 35 que representa el 100%. Encontrándose asi que 33 pacientes que representa el 94% no han sido histerectomizadas, situación que ha permitido que el ciclo hormonal de esta población ha continuado, esta característica nos permitirá generalizar los resultados al ser una muestra homogénea. La mayoría de la población 32 pacientes que representa el 91% no consume cigarrillos, alcohol ni otros hábitos nocivos; así mismo efectuan actividades fisicas lo que significa que si existe prevención de osteoporosis. También 32 pacientes que representa el 91% consume la hoja de coca a traves del masticado. Lo que significa que esta población tiene grandes requerimientos de calcio, así contribuye a la prevención de osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: Según resultados estadísticos arrojados en el trabajo de investigación en la población estudiada (mujeres menopaúsicas) no presentan osteoporosis, teniendo como consumo habitual el masticado de la hoja de coca; según revisión de articulos y revistas manifiestan que la hoja de coca posee un alto porcentaje de calcio como propiedades que coadyuvan a la no predisposición de osteoporosis y aumenta la resistencia física.

Conventional cement production process emits tons of carbon dioxide gas which is one of the greenhouse gases that influence the environment across the world. Discovering the alternative construction material with the eco-friendly process and the performance similar to or greater than ordinary Portland cement has been attractive to find out. This research presented green construction materials or so-called geopolymers from metakaolin substituted by high calcium fly ash by 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 wt%. Some researches reported that geopolymer produced from metakaolin and fly ash with alkali solution gave a great result, but usually, they used fly ash containing very low calcium component. Compressive strength at 3, 7 and 28 curing days and flowability were conducted. The compressive strength of geopolymers blended with high calcium fly ash was still developed as the curing day increased and revealed the highest at 28 days especially on MK40 (high calcium fly ash 60 wt%). Geopolymer pastes prepared with a higher amount of high calcium fly ash exhibited less viscous. It was proved that the high amount of high calcium fly ash could be applied and gave extraordinary compressive strength. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence were used to investigate chemical properties as well as microstructure by a scanning electron microscope. For phase analysis, the existence of oxides of calcium and sulfur in high calcium fly ash resulted in the formation of thenardite, calcite, portlandite and C-S-H phase associating with geopolymeric phase. Therefore, this research proposed the opportunity for geopolymer production by using abundant high calcium fly ash to raise the value of the industrial waste products and green alternative construction material compared with OPC.

s Food industry's wastes such as eggshell, bones and seafood shells that are usually piled up in landfill can indeed serve as an excellent precursor to form bioceramic materials such as hydroxyapatite owing to its high calcium content. The present manuscript is aimed to provide a comprehensive overview on the utilization of various food industry's bio-waste in producing hydroxyapatite. Properties of hydroxyapatite prepared using different bio-waste sources will be thoroughly discussed with respect to different preparation methods used. In addition, this review also explores the potential employment of different biowaste-derived hydroxyapatite in multidisciplinary fields, including biomedical (bone tissue engineering, metallic implant coating, drug delivery) and environmental pollution remediation applications. The concept of transforming bio-waste into hydroxyapatite is not only promising in addressing the environmental issues caused by waste disposal but also creating an economic opportunity to manufacture products required for pharmaceutical and environmental-related industries.

In previous studies, it has been found that the Nigerian bentonite is deficient in terms of its fluid loss and rheological properties which includes yield point. Also, due to its high calcium content and low sodium content as opposed to foreign bentonite, it does not meet the API standard of drilling. This research was carried out to beneficiate the Nigerian bentonite as regards its fluid loss properties, rheological properties and wellbore stability. Snail shell is seen as waste substance in Nigeria, and Mucuna solannie on the other hand is a local major food supplement in Nigeria and is found in large quantities. The elemental and oxide compositions of the snail shell and Mucuna solannie were determined through scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction measurements, respectively. The additives were used to beneficiate the Nigerian bentonite, and the test result proved that at considerable concentrations of the additives, the Nigerian bentonite was able to compete with foreign bentonite and also met API specifications. Both additives contain high concentrations of nanoparticles and inhibitive calcium and potassium for wellbore stability. Beneficiated Nigerian bentonite also proved to be viable economically when compared with foreign bentonite.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a non-pathogenic and plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium that enhances plant resistance to drought and diseases. Arabidopsis thaliana is a multipurpose model plant for exploring microorganism-plant interactions and a crucial vegetal tool for molecular research. Non-coding RNAs are RNA molecules involved in the regulation of various biological functions and constitute a research hotspot in the field of plant biology. In this study, the effect of B. amyloliquefaciens treatment on the resistance of A. thaliana to high calcium stress was analyzed. The transcriptome sequencing of A. thaliana roots under four treatment conditions was performed to screen differentially expressed lncRNAs, mRNAs and miRNAs. Functional analysis was also performed to understand the potential mechanism by which B. amyloliquefaciens-regulated lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs affect the resistance of A. thaliana to high calcium stress. The results indicated that B. amyloliquefaciens treatment increased the resistance of A. thaliana to high calcium stress. A set of differentially expressed lncRNAs, mRNAs and miRNAs were screened between the high calcium and control group on one hand, and high calcium and high calcium + B. amyloliquefaciens groups on the other hand. Functional analysis indicated that the differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNA were involved in various biological functions and that transcriptional dysregulation caused by high calcium stress involves metabolic processes rather than defense responses. Conclusively, B. amyloliquefaciens may improve the resistance of A. thaliana to high calcium stress via a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network. These findings will contribute to the development of agriculture in karst regions with high calcium content.

Nanotechnology is receiving widespread attention in many industrial sectors, including construction material industry. One of the nano-scale admixtures, which has the potential to enhance the performance of cement and concrete, is known as Nano-silica (n-SiO2). In general, fly ash (FA) is currently used in cement and concrete industry for replacing the consumption of Portland cement (OPC) to reduce its production cost as well as to improve some specific required properties, e.g., workability or low internal heat liberation. However, the strength of hardened Portland cement is normally decreased when a higher amount of fly ash is presented. This research article is therefore pointed on the influence of nano-silica dosage on the properties of cement paste incorporating with high calcium fly ash. Seven different proportions of OPC:FA were prepared viz. 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100 by weight. The commercial grade nano-silica (in liquid form) was used as an admixture in those mixes by 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 wt% of the mixing water with a water-to-binder (w/b) ratio of 0.30. The results indicated that the addition of n-SiO2 improved the compressive strength of all mixtures (with and without high calcium FA) as the presence of n-SiO2 can be a source of silica and easily contribute to an additional formation of CSH in the cementing system, confirmed by the results of XRD analysis. The main findings show a potential approach of using n-SiO2 as an admixture for cement and concrete construction.

This study examined the fire resistance behaviours of high calcium fly ash (HCFA)-based geopolymer mortar incorporating natural zeolite (Z) and mullite (M). Fly ash was replaced by Z and M at the r...

This paper examined the mechanism of polypropylene fiber (PP) reinforced alkali-activated high calcium fly ash paste (AHFP) exposed to high temperature. The PP was added into the AHFP mixture at the dosages of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 % wt of fly ash. The 10 M (molar) NaOH, Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio of 2.0, and liquid/binder ratio of 0.60 were used. Compressive and flexural strengths, and microstructure of AHFP after exposed to 200, 400, 600 and 800 °C were studied. The results showed that the use of PP at 0.5 % wt of fly ash resulted in the best improvement in compressive strength of paste. For flexural strength, a slightly higher PP content at 1.0 % wt of fly ash was the optimum. For exposure to high temperature, the residual flexural strength was nearly one third at 400 °C and reduced to 8–12 % for temperatures beyond this. With the increasing exposed temperature, the air void and large capillary pore increased, but the medium capillary pore and gel pore reduced. The results indicated that the mechanisms of weight and strength losses of AHFP were due to thermo-hygral damage around 220−320 C, followed by thermo-mechanical damage at 430−660 C and thermo-chemical damage at 700 C onwards.

Various types of waste are generated by the paper industry when processing paper. Hypo sludge is the term for the preliminary waste from the paper industry which contains low calcium content, high calcium chloride content, and low silica content. Because of its silica and magnesium content, hypo sludge behaves like cement. Silica helps in developing the bonding between aggregates in concrete.

High-calcium fly ashes contain a large content of small particles including cenospheres of chemical constituents known to be similar to fly ash and the parent coal. Coal fly ash contains metal and trace elements that may leach out during disposal or utilization. This work aimed to understand an overview of cenosphere characteristics relating to fly ash and leaching study. To our knowledge, this is the first report on metal and trace element leaching of cenospheres separated from high-calcium (28.9 wt.%) class C fly ash produced from the Mae Moh coal-fired thermal power plant in Thailand. In this study, the cenospheres were separated from fly ash by a wet separation process (sink-float method) using water as medium. Physical properties, morphology, chemical composition, the mineral phases of cenospheres and fly ash have been characterized. Extraction was carried out by acid digestion, the selected metal and trace elements in this study are Mg, Al, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Cu, the obtained environmentally available concentrations of cenospheres were analyzed in comparison to those of fly ash. The concentrations of Cu, Cr, Pb, and Cd elements of interest in the leachates obtained from the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) showed the tendency to decrease in that order. All the elements were found below the permissible limit values regarding Thailand soil quality standards. Association of the heavy metal trace elements in cenospheres and fly ash was discussed in in terms of physico-chemical-geochemistry correlating with the leaching concentrations.

Raksaworn Jaisaard,1 Tipaporn Kanjanarach,2 Sutin Chanaboon,3 Borey Ban4 1Pharmacy and Health System Graduate Program, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand; 2Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy and Center for Research and Development of Herbal Health Product, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand; 3Department of Community Health, Sirindhorn College of Public Health Khon Kaen, Khon Kaen, 40000, Thailand; 4Technical School for Medical Care, University of Health Sciences, Phnom Penh, CambodiaCorrespondence: Tipaporn KanjanarachDepartment of Social and Administrative Pharmacy and Center for Research and Development of Herbal Health Product, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, 123 Moo 16, Mittraphap Road, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Khon Kaen, 40002, ThailandTel +66 81 739 2822Fax +66 043 202 379Email otipkan@kku.ac.thBorey BanTechnical School for Medical Care, University of Health Sciences, Phnom Penh, CambodiaTel +855 17 436 496Email boreyban89@gmail.comObjective: A three study research program was conducted to identify high calcium products available in the market (study I), identify high calcium products that were known or consumed by lower secondary school students in the last three months (study II), and identify the amount and sources of calcium that students had consumed in the prior 24 hours, their knowledge about sources of high calcium and how to interpret calcium information on nutrition labels of food packages (study III).Methods: In study I, a cross-sectional market survey was employed. In studies II and III, a school-based cross-sectional survey was employed. The survey population was students enrolled in grades 7– 9 (11– 14 years old) in a medium-sized lower secondary school in semi-urban Khon Kaen, Thailand. A total of 309 students were invited, with 168 and 209 students participating in studies II and III, respectively. Data were collected with self-administered questionnaires.Results: Ninety-three high calcium products were identified. Only 49 were known or consumed by students in the last three months. The median amount of calcium consumed in the previous 24 hours was 410 mg (IQR: 160, 983). Only 31.1% of students (65/209) consumed more than the Thai recommended daily intake (TRDI) of calcium (800mg) in the previous 24 hours. Their main source of calcium was milk. Other high calcium items that were consumed were malt drink, minnow, canned fish, calcium fortified soy milk and Chinese kale. The overall average knowledge score was 6.5± 2.4 out of a maximum of 17. The average knowledge scores for high calcium food sources and for interpreting the calcium information on a sample nutrition label were 4.6+1.8 (out of 12), and 1.9± 1.2 (out of 5), respectively.Discussion: Students should be introduced to high calcium products in their community such as hard tofu, minnow, and small freshwater shrimp. Educational programs on nutrition label interpretation are needed.Keywords: calcium intake, adolescent, calcium-rich food, calcium knowledge, source of calcium, nutrition fact

This experiment investigated the effect of excess crude protein and/or calcium on male broiler breeder fertility. Forty-eight broiler breeder males, from a group of 60 that consistently produced a semen sample were allocated to one of 4 dietary treatments, formulated to provide either the male or female recommendation for crude protein and calcium, or their combinations. Birds were provided a constant daily feed allocation. Semen samples were collected and assessed for concentration and sperm mobility index. Commercial laying hens were also inseminated and the points of sperm hydrolysis counted in the membranes of the eggs produced after insemination. Dietary crude protein had no significant effect on sperm concentration at any age, but significantly poorer sperm concentration was seen in the males fed high calcium at 42 and 57 wk of age, and a significant interaction was observed at 60 wk of age, with the poorest sperm concentration from birds fed high crude protein and high calcium. There was no significant effect at any age of crude protein or calcium on sperm mobility index. The birds fed levels of crude protein and calcium recommended for males had significantly more points of sperm hydrolysis at 40 wk of age compared to all other dietary treatments, which indicates better fertilizing potential. While there were a few incidences of birds fed a ration with levels of crude protein and calcium recommended for males showing superior sperm quality, this was not a consistent trend across all ages or measures of fertility. Therefore, males fed a female ration at the correct allocation to ensure adherence to the bodyweight curve should not exhibit reduced (or improved) fertility, however, there were instances where birds fed the male recommended concentration of CP and Ca had improved measures of sperm quality.

Background: There is a folk belief that drinking Ramsar spring mineral water (RSW) is a remedy for renal stones. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of RSW on prevention or treatment of nephrolithiasis in male Wistar rats and identify the constituents of the water. Methods: Nephrolithiasis was induced by providing drinking water containing 1% ethylene glycol (EG) for two weeks in male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into prevention and treatment groups, each contained five sub-groups (10 rats for each). Prevention groups were treated for two weeks: control group (without treatment), EG group (1% ethylene glycol in drinking water), RSW 5, 10, and 15% groups (1% ethylene glycol + RSW 5, 10, and 15% in drinking water). The treatment groups received 1% EG for two weeks, then it was discontinued, and the RSW (10, 15, and 20%) was added to the drinking water for the next two weeks. The calcium oxalate (CaOx) depositions in the kidneys' tubules were evaluated by Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. The spring water was analyzed for its constituents. Results: Calcium oxalate crystals were significantly increased in EG group (in the prevention protocol) as compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Moreover, RSW did not significantly prevent CaOx crystals but alleviated CaOx crystals at 15 and 20% concentrations in the treatment protocol (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The hard water of Ramsar spring reduced CaOx crystals in nephrolithiatic rats, which may be due to its high calcium and magnesium content.

This study aims to investigate the lignite ash behavior during combustion for electricity generation and to predict the Ash Fusion Temperatures (AFTs) using ash chemical composition. The studied li...

—Perovskite crystals from the ore-bearing olivinite and phoscorite of the Kugda massif were analyzed by LA-ICP-MS. Age obtained for the alkaline rocks of the Kugda massif is 257 ± 6 Ma. This implies that the Kugda massif was formed simultaneously with the Siberian flood basalts and Guli Massif (250 ± 9 Ma), which is the largest and highly differentiated pluton in the Maymecha–Kotuy Province. The simultaneous formation of the melilite-bearing Kugda Complex, Siberian flood basalts, and Guli Massif suggests the possible genetic relation of these rocks.

In this study, the effect of high Ca fly ash on the corrosion behavior and microstructure of Al6061 alloy matrix composite was investigated. The Al6061 matrix composites containing 5, 7, and 10 wt% of fly ash particles were prepared by the stir casting process. The corrosion behavior was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization measurement using 5 wt% NaCl. The results revealed that the Icorr increased from 2.44 µA/cm2 to 8.60 µA/cm2 as the fly ash concentration increased from 5 wt% to 10 wt%. This increase of Icorr indicates an increase of the corrosion rate. The corrosion mainly occurs at the interface between fly ash particles and Al 6061 matrix.

The combination of factors was established for using high-calcium fly ash (HCFA) as a binder material of high early and long-term strength: (1) high dispersity of microspherical HCFA, 90%

The effects of replacing high calcium fly ash with containment glass powder and limestone powder in the geopolymer are investigated in this paper. The high calcium fly ash was replaced by either glass powder or limestone powder at 20% and 40% by weight. The geopolymer paste was tested for setting time and compressive strength and evaluated of its microstructure on SEM, XRD, FTIR, and MIP. The results indicated that the setting time of geopolymer paste was increased with the replacement of glass powder and reduced by replacement of limestone powder. The compressive strengths were generally higher than those of controls. The maximum increase of compressive strength was 33% when replaced fly ash with 20% of glass powder at 8 molar NaOH concentration of sodium hydroxide solution. The microstructure evaluations show the remaining particles of raw materials and the compatible of hydration reaction and polymerization when having limestone powder in the mix proportion. Furthermore, the powder acts as a filler in the gels.

Fly ash and glass cullet - two materials, which are produced in quite large amounts. This paper presents the new way the high calcium fly ash (HCA) and the industrial glass waste powder (GP) disposal in building materials technology as main components of binders. Samples were examined over the period up to 6 years of maturity. There were used only two kinds of waste materials (GP + HCA) and water to produce pastes. Fine grinded glass was used as alkaline activator. The HCA was used to induce alkaline activation and dissolution of the glass powder in HCA – GP mixtures. Materials were mixed in three different proportions to prepare the samples. The mechanical strength, microstructure, phase composition and expansion were examined. Results showed that the HCA in connection with GP gave a good alkali activated binding materials for some special applications. In addition to that, the GP + HCA mixtures could be prepared with neither Portland cement nor any additional activator using exclusively waste materials. This is important for the perspective of reducing the CO2 emission. Presented materials were prepared. This is the first work which presents the usage of GP as an alkali activator.

The oasis environment, where Tunisian pomegranates are cultivated simultaneously with several crops, was shown to fulfill ecological functions. Few studies related to the effects of environmental factors on pomegranate pre-harvest quality have been carried out, and even less have focused on the interaction between oasis environment and harvest date. This study aims to evaluate the physico-chemical and nutritional properties of pomegranate fruits cultivated under and outside oasis in order to determine the most accurate harvest indices and harvesting date in relation with cropping system. Results revealed that oasis environment was more favorable to produce large sized-fruits with high aril yield and high juice content compared to full sun conditions. Oasis pomegranates exhibited high total anthocyanin content, high hydrophilic antioxidant activity, high level of magnesium, potassium and manganese content. The visual colour of fruits and arils as well as TSS/TA ratio were found the most reliable maturity indices for taking harvest decision of pomegranate fruits. A better red coloration of fruit and arils associated with a balance between sugar content and acidity as well as high nutritional value (high mineral contents particularly Mg, K, Mn, high flavonoid and anthocyanin contents) of pomegranates harvested from different orchards at mid-october (D3) indicated their optimal use at this stage. Nevertheless, the full sun exposed fruits harvested at beginning of October (D2), characterized by pink/pink reddish colour, high TSS content and (TSS/TA) ratio and high calcium content, were considered as matured (commercial maturity) and would be ready for harvesting. Final fruit quality depends on both environmental factors and maturity stage. Based on the identified indices, Gabsi pomegranate harvesting could be started in regular full sun exposed plantations, then in orchards under date palm trees and at least one week later in traditional oases.

A systematic investigation was carried out to assess the nutritional composition of 18 different seaweeds belonging to Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta and Phaeophyta collected from Okha coast of Gujarat, India. The results showed that the carbohydrate content ranged from 0.50 ± 0.01 to 34.89 ± 0.02%, protein from 0.429 ± 0.7 to 20.2 ± 0.1%, lipid from 1.0 ± 0.05 to 4.8 ± 0.2% and ash content was in the range of 20 ± 0.2–50 ± 0.5%. Total free amino acid content was fluctuated between 3.36 ± 1.2 and 364.8 ± 8.67 mg/g dry weight basis. In the mineral composition, brown seaweeds contained high calcium and potassium values than the red and green seaweeds. Red seaweeds showed higher concentration of Na and Fe among three groups. Heavy metals were found to be below the detectable levels.

Dental caries occurred due to acidic attack to the enamel tooth surface causing loss of minerals. Remineralization reversed the effect provided high calcium and phosphorus are presence in the oral environment. This study aims to investigate the potential of VCO, coconut milk, and coconut water in remineralization of enamel subsurface. The study uses SEM/EDX to evaluate the changes of calcium and phosphorus on the enamel subsurface before and after treatment. An overall comparison of the treatments using one-way ANOVA showed a significant difference with p

Hyperparathyroidism is a common calcium metabolic disorder, characterized by the presence of high concentrations or inappropriately normal concentrations of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the context of high calcium. Pharmacological and surgical management is available as treatment. The objective of diagnostic imaging is to determine the location of the causal lesion. For these purposes, non-invasive methods can be divided into anatomical or functional studies, with nuclear medicine studies being in the latter category. The objective of this review, is to establish the similarities and differences that exist in the clinical practice guidelines on conventional and molecular nuclear medicine studies in parathyroid disease.

The purpose of this study is to determine the factors responsible for the prevalence of urinary stones disease among the inhabitants of selected regions in northern Jordan and to trace the extent of their link with the hydrogeochemical properties of groundwater in the area in addition to geoenvironmental factors and some certain dietary habits. By comparing the disease spread in the studied areas, results showed that the elevated areas (Irbid and Amman) are the most affected regions with the disease. One hundred and thirty water samples collected from 15 wells were distributed across the three studied regions to identify urinary stone patients among individuals. All samples were analyzed for percentages of cations and anions to assess water quality. Anions are distributed in the following order: HCO3− >Cl− >SO42− >NO3− >F− >PO43−, while the cations are distributed as follows: Ca2+ >Mg2+ >Na+ >K+ >Fe2+. The hydrogeochemical analysis results for the three regions compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The significant difference in the values of TDS, TH, Cl−, NO3−, Ca2+, and Mg2+ is p < 0.05 compared with water quality in the regions of Amman–Mafraq and Irbid–Mafraq. Depending on Gibbs’ diagram and the factor analysis, elements ratio plots strongly suggest that the source of chemical ions in the groundwater is the interaction of water with carbonate rocks. Therefore, this study confirms the strong relationship between urinary stones formation and the geochemistry of drinking water during the high calcium content and increase of the water hardness used by the residents of the study areas. The effect of temperature on the formation of urinary stones was observed through the direct correlation with the amount of water consumed by individuals. In winter, the daily water intake decreases, which leads to an increase in the concentration of Ca, Na, and P ions in the bladder. The high temperature in the summer increases the dehydration process in the body, which increases the concentration of calcium and other ions to create an opportunity for urine stones to form.

Introduction: Kidney stone disease (KSD) is a highly prevalent disease worldwide. As water intake and its mineral content influence stone formation and recurrence, patients and physicians must be aware of the mineral content of drinkable water. We analyzed commercial bottled still water within Europe to assess the variation in its mineral composition across different manufacturers and countries. Materials and Methods: Data on the mineral composition of bottled still water regarding bicarbonate, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and sulfate concentration (mg/L) were collected from ten European countries. To collect the data, the two main supermarket chains in each participating country were either visited to check for the ingredient label on bottles or the online shop was consulted through the website of the supermarket in question. Descriptive statistics such as simple boxplots were used to illustrate the variation in mineral content. Results: One hundred eighty-two different commercial water brands were analyzed. Up to a fivefold variation in average concentrations per mineral between countries was observed. For calcium, a wide distribution was found in France and Switzerland compared with other countries with calcium levels ranging from 10.5 to 565 mg/L and 8.4 to 579 mg/L, respectively. By consuming 2 L of water with such high calcium levels, the daily reference intake for calcium is already achieved. Conclusions: The mineral content of bottled still water across Europe varies greatly. For patients with KSD it is important to be aware of the mineral content of the water they drink, as it might influence stone recurrence rates and necessitate alterations of their diet.

The present study deals with the characterization of a ceramic assemblage from the Late Mycenaean (Late Helladic III) settlement of Kastrouli, at Desfina near Delphi, Central Greece using various analytical techniques. Kastrouli is located in a strategic position supervising the Mesokampos plateau and the entire peninsula and is related to other nearby coeval settlements. In total 40 ceramic sherds and 8 clay raw materials were analyzed through mineralogical, petrographic and microstructural techniques. Experimental briquettes (DS) made from clayey raw materials collected in the vicinity of Kastrouli, were fired under temperatures (900 and 1050 &deg, C) in oxidizing conditions for comparison with the ancient ceramics. The petrographic analysis performed on thin sections prepared from the sherds has permitted the identification of six main fabric groups and a couple of loners. The aplastic inclusions recognized in all fabric groups but one confirmed the local provenance since they are related to the local geology. Fresh fractures of representative sherds were further examined under a scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDS) helping us to classify them into calcareous (CaO &gt, 6%) and non-calcareous (CaO &lt, 6%) samples (low and high calcium was noted in earlier pXRF data). Here, the ceramic sherds with broad calcium separation are explored on a one-to-one comparison on the basis of detailed mineralogical microstructure. Moreover, their microstructure was studied, aiming to estimate their vitrification stage. The mineralogy of all studied samples was determined by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), permitting us to test the validity of the firing temperatures revealed by the SEM analysis. The results obtained through the various analytical techniques employed are jointly assessed in order to reveal potters&rsquo, technological choices.

Background: Yellow Camellia is a kind of rare plant with high economic and medicinal value. It is known as the "giant panda" of the botanical world. Camellia group of plants (Camellia Sect. Chrysantha Chang) is the only golden flower of Theaceae. Compared with Camellia nitidissima, Camellia limonia grows in karst areas, where the soil has the characteristic of high calcium content. However, there are few studies about the Camellia limonia in karst soil environment and the adaptation mechanism is no clear. Results: In this study, we found that under high calcium treatment, the chlorophyll content and leaf areas of Camellia limonia increased, while those of Camellia nitidissima decreased. The photosynthetic efficiency of Camellia limonia was more stable and higher than Camellia nitidissima. Compared with Camellia nitidissima, the conductance was larger and the degree of leaf shrinkage was smaller in Camellia limonia. The metabolomics analysis showed that the kaempferol-3-o-rutinoside, tyrosol, 6-o-methyldeacetylisoipecoside and (r)-mandelic acid are the main differently metabolic compounds . The results of karst high calcium soil metagenomics showed that microbacterium-testaceum, intrasporangium-calvum and rubrivivax-gelatinosus significantly changed. Through metabonomics and metagenomics integrative analysis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis is suggested to be the main regulation pathway, which is regulated by apigenin, kaempferol, astragalin, isoquercitrin metabolites and TT7, UGT78D1, UGT78D2 genes. This metabolic pathway involves the synthesis of flavonoids. Flavonoids have the functions in drought and salt resistance, which play an important role in the adaptation of Camellia limonia in karst high calcium environment.Conclusion: This omics study identified key regulation metabolites and genes for Camellia and provided important basis for the adaptive mechanism of plants to adapt to the high-calcium environment and the protection of Camellia species.