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Ectoine and hydroxyectoine are compatible solutes with enormous potential for use in the medical and cosmetic industries. Considering the excellent osmoprotective properties of these compatible solutes, we investigate the presence of four compatible solutes (ectoine, hydroxyectoine, proline, and glutamic acid) quantitatively by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in forty-five halophilic/halotolerant bacterial isolates. We determined ectoine production by Marinibacillus sp., Nesterenkonia xinjiangensis, Halobacillus sp., Bacillus patagoniensis, Virgibacillus picturae, Halomonas neptunia, Bacillus patagoniensis, Gracilibacillus sp., Thalassobacillus devorans, Microbacterium sp., Nesterenkonia sp., and Bacillus agaradhaerens, and this production was NaCl dependent. Additionally, the production of hydroxyectoine was observed in six bacterial isolates (Nesterenkonia xinjiangensis, Halobacillus sp., Halomonas neptunia, Thalassobacillus devorans, Nesterenkonia sp., and Bacillus agaradhaerens) which was NaCl and temperature dependent. The study identified new bacterial isolates producing ectoine or hydroxyectoine. While the ectoine production in many different Bacillus members and a few Nesterenkonia have been documented before, ectoine production by Bacillus patagoniensis and Nesterenkonia xinjiangensis has not been shown so far. Further, ectoine production by a member of the genus Thalassobacillus (Thalassobacillus devorans) was demonstrated experimentally for the first time. The findings reported in the study may serve as a basis for the large-scale production of ectoine and hydroxyectoine in the future.

The presence of the Evaporate salt zone in Ankara-Polatlı region has been determined by the drillings and is thought to be the largest reserve in Turkey. The seismic reflection method was used to determine the top-bottom levels of the zone; its depth; its thickness and extent boundaries; the horst-graben structures; base depth and tectonic movements affecting the study area. Data were collected on three seismic lines. The near-surface tomographic velocity sections were compatible with the top of the zone depth observed in the drillings. As a result of the study, the depth and thickness of the top-bottom of the zone were determined along the lines. Within the scope of the study, a combined interpretation was made on the lines by using gravity and seismic data. The extent of the ore zone was determined only in the E-W direction section, but not in the north-south direction lines since they are outside the license area and so, the seismic lines. The closest point of the evaporate zone to the surface is approximately 150 m, deepest point is approximately 310 m, average thickness is approximately 100 m and maximum thickness is 185 m.

La présente étude s’inscrit dans un vaste programme de recherche multidisciplinaire entamé au Sénégal pour la promotion de la géodiversité et fait suite aux travaux réalisés dans la Réserve Naturelle Communautaire de Dindéfélo. Elle vise à renforcer la proposition de l’état du Sénégal pour que le Lac Rose acquière le statut de patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO, de Réserve de Biosphère et de site Ramsar. Pour évaluer le géosites, nous avons essayé de prendre en compte les préoccupations de la méthode d'évaluation quantitative des sites selon Brilha (2016). Le Lac Rose est situé à 30 km environ au NE de Dakar et se caractérise par ses eaux sursalées renfermant l’algue verte halophile Dunaliella salina, responsable de sa coloration rose. Son fond est tapissé d’une mince croûte saline surmontant une vase riche en foraminifères, ostracodes et diatomées dont l’étude a permis de reconstituer son histoire. Autour du Lac Rose, plusieurs écosystèmes ont été décrits : les étangs, les dunes, la frange bordière du lac, dont la survie dépend de celle du lac menacé par un arrêt de l’alimentation en eau et sel et un comblement de la dépression. Notre proposition s’appuie sur quatre critères parmi les dix proposés par l’UNESCO pour la mise en œuvre de la Convention du patrimoine mondial : le critère 8 vérifié par la reconstitution de l’histoire du lac ; le critère 5 justifié par l’exploitation du sel, des coquillages et du sable dunaire ; le critère 7 justifié par la coloration rose des eaux du lac et le critère 9 par le développement de Dunaliella salina. À terme, ce travail permettra de créer les prémices d’un Patrimoine Mondiale de l’Unesco et accompagner l’état du Sénégal dans son programme de mise en place d’un géoparc dans la région de Dakar. This study is part of a wide multidisciplinary research program initiated in Senegal for the promotion of geodiversity and is the continuation of previous works carried out in the Dindéfélo Community Nature Reserve. It aims to strengthen the Senegalese state's proposal for Lac Rose to acquire the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar site. To evaluate the geosite, we tried to take into account the concerns of the quantitative site evaluation method according to Brilha (2016). The Lac Rose is located about 30 km NE of Dakar and is characterized by its salty waters containing the green halophilic alga Dunaliella salina, which is responsible for its pink coloration. Its bottom is a thin saline crust on top of a mud rich in foraminifera, ostracods and diatoms, which study has enabled to reconstruct its history. Around the Lac Rose, several ecosystems have been described (ponds, dunes, lakeshore fringe), whose conservation depends on the conservation of the lake that faces threats due to lack of water and salt supply along with the backfilling of the depression. Our proposal is based on four among ten criteria proposed by UNESCO for the World Heritage Convention implementation: criterion 8 verified by the historical reconstruction of the lake; criterion 5 justified by the extraction of salt, shells and dune sand; criterion 7 justified by the pink coloration of the lake waters and criterion 9 justified by the development of Dunaliella salina. Ultimately, this work will pave the way for implementing of UNESCO World Heritage Site and will support the State of Senegal in its program to set up a geopark in the Dakar region.

The presence of micro and nano plastics in the environment and their impact on the various life forms within it are of principle concern around the globe. However, whilst a considerable amount of work has been done on the detection of microplastics, many challenges remain in the development of analytical techniques for nanoplastics due to their inherent ultra-small size and ubiquitous shapes. Here, a simple technique is reported based on surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and salt (NaCl) induced aggregation of gold nanoparticles that has been used to detect 100 nm diameter polystyrene (PS) beads. The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized and stabilized by negatively charged sodium citrate. When the PS beads present in a water sample were introduced into the solution of colloidal AuNPs, they interact to each other via hydrophobic interactions and other weak forces (i.e. hydrogen, ionic, and Van der waals forces). Upon an addition of NaCl, the negatively charged ions around the AuNPs are shielded and disturbed, resulting in their aggregation around the PS beads. As a consequence, strong SERS signal enhancement produced by the aggregated AuNPs was observed, and also demonstrated in numerical modelling. Concentrations of 100 nm PS beads as low as 1 part per million (ppm) were measured, and to the best of the author's knowledge, this is the lowest concentration detected for nanoplastics of that size or smaller by such a simple technique that has been reported.

Background Dietary sodium has a dose-response relationship with cardiovascular disease, and sodium intake in Sweden exceeds national and international recommendations. Two thirds of dietary sodium intake comes from processed foods, and adults in Sweden eat more processed foods than any other European country. We hypothesized that sodium content in processed foods is higher in Sweden than in other countries. The aim of this study was to investigate sodium content in processed food items in Sweden, and how it differs from Australia, France, Hong Kong, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. Methods Data were collected from retailers by trained research staff using standardized methods. Data were categorized into 10 food categories and compared using Kruskal-Wallis test of ranks. Sodium content in the food items was compared in mg sodium per 100 g of product, based on the nutritional content labels on the packages. Results Compared to other countries, Sweden had among the highest sodium content in the “dairy” and “convenience foods” categories, but among the lowest in “cereal and grain products,” “seafood and seafood products” and “snack foods” categories. Australia had the overall lowest sodium content, and the US the overall highest. The highest sodium content in most analyzed countries was found in the “meat and meat products” category. The highest median sodium content in any category was found among “sauces, dips, spreads and dressings” in Hong Kong. Conclusion The sodium content differed substantially between countries in all food categories, although contrary to our hypothesis, processed foods overall had lower sodium content in Sweden than in most other included countries. Sodium content in processed food was nonetheless high also in Sweden, and especially so in increasingly consumed food categories, such as “convenience foods”.

Khon Kaen Agriculture Journal, 51, 1, 172-186

The article describes the analysis of scientific sources about the clinical signs observed in the diagnosis of lerniosis in artificial ponds and methods of prevention.

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of ammonia inhalants in countering the effects of total sleep deprivation on cognitive and physical performance tests relevant to military personnel.

In this work, we address the difficulty of reliably identifying traces of life on Mars. Several independent lines of evidence are required to build a compelling body of proof. In particular, we underline the importance of correctly interpreting the geological and mineralogical context of the sites to be explored for the presence of biosignatures. We use as examples to illustrate this, ALH84001 (where knowledge of the geological context was very limited) and other terrestrial deposits, for which this could be properly established. We also discuss promising locations and formations to be explored by ongoing and future rover missions, including Oxia Planum, which, dated at 4.0 Ga, is the most ancient Mars location targeted for investigation yet.

Background. Salt intake currently poses a serious threat due to the cardiovascular challenge incurred by excessive sodium consumption.Objectives. The identification of markers associated with high salt intake in hypertensive patients.Methods. A retrospective observational case-control study surveyed 251 persons, including 194 hypertensive patients with stable salt intake. The intake was assessed in the “Charlton: SaltScreener” questionnaire. General, biochemical blood panels and interleukin levels (IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18) were evaluated in the outcome of medical examination. Statistical data processing was performed with R using the RStudio software.Results. The mean patient age in survey was 72.47 ± 9.8 years, women prevailed in the selected cohort (n = 151, 60.1%). All patients were assigned in cohorts by the daily salt intake rate, ≤5 g (n = 12), 6–10 g (n = 144), >10 g salt per day (n = 38). The largest cohort (74.2%) united patients consuming 6–10 g salt per day, whereas only 6.2% patients consumed salt Conclusion. The study infers a direct relationship between salt intake >10 g/day and blood monocyte count. However, its significance ceases at CRP rising to ≥20 mg/L.

Salt is an inexpensive, widely available substance that has few treatment side effects, apart from a mild stinging sensation that resolves after topical application. Salt has proven to be an effective treatment for pyogenic granulomas in children and leads to rapid lesion resolution without recurrence. We report a case of a young girl in whom salt is used as a treatment for a partially excised pyogenic granuloma, with complete lesion resolution.

Background Salt restriction may lower blood pressure variability (BPV), but previous studies have shown inconsistent results. Therefore, we investigated in an observational study and intervention trial whether urinary sodium excretion and salt intake are associated with 24‐hour BPV. Methods and Results We used data from the cross‐sectional population‐based Maastricht Study (n=2652; 60±8 years; 52% men) and from a randomized crossover trial (n=40; 49±11 years; 33% men). In the observational study, we measured 24‐hour urinary sodium excretion and 24‐hour BPV and performed linear regression adjusted for age, sex, mean blood pressure, lifestyle, and cardiovascular risk factors. In the intervention study, participants adhered to a 7‐day low‐ and high‐salt diet (50 and 250 mmol NaCl/24 h) with a washout period of 14 days, 24‐hour BPV was measured during each diet. We used linear mixed models adjusted for order of diet, mean blood pressure, and body mass index. In the observational study, 24‐hour urinary sodium excretion was not associated with 24‐hour systolic or diastolic BPV (β, per 1 g/24 h urinary sodium excretion: 0.05 mm Hg [95% CI, −0.02 to 0.11] and 0.04 mm Hg [95% CI, −0.01 to 0.09], respectively). In the intervention trial, mean difference in 24‐hour systolic and diastolic BPV between the low‐ and high‐salt diet was not statistically significantly different (0.62 mm Hg [95% CI, −0.10 to 1.35] and 0.04 mm Hg [95% CI, −0.54 to 0.63], respectively). Conclusions Urinary sodium excretion and salt intake are not independently associated with 24‐hour BPV. These findings suggest that salt restriction is not an effective strategy to lower BPV in the White general population. Registration URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02068781

Composite particles are attractive multi-constituent systems. Depending on their structure and chemical composition, they can be used for applications such as bio-separation, hetero-catalysis, theragnostic, and antimicrobial application. However, their preparation often presents significant practical, economic, and environmental limitations. This work presents a novel method for “building up” multifunctional inorganic composite particles at room temperature via salt-driven assembly of readily available nanoparticles in emulsion droplets. With the emulsion acting as a geometrical template, the structure and size of the final system can be controlled. Using nanoparticles as building blocks, enables facile tuning of the final system to produce materials with multiple properties. Due to those two features, complex structures can be produced without the use of toxic chemicals, high temperatures, or bespoke lab equipment. The first chapters of this work focus on the preparation of composite microparticles in reverse emulsion templates (W/O) and the use of those systems for biological and environmental applications. Magnetic silica particles (Fe3O4/SiO2) were produced for use as a low-cost and easy to implement biological separation technique, aiming to offer a sustainable alternative to commercial DNA purification kits for resource constrained labs. Magnetic photocatalysts (TiO2/Fe3O4/SiO2) were prepared for use as an easily recoverable system for adsorption and light-induced degradation of synthetic dyes (e.g. Rhodamine B and Methylene blue) from water. Antibacterial magnetic particles (ZnO/CuO/Fe3O4/SiO2) were assembled and investigated for use as an inexpensive approach for disinfecting surfaces. The final chapters explore the optimization of this approach for producing more diverse systems such as nanocomposites and composite microcapsules. Nanocomposites were successfully produced in a reverse emulsion template by using a high energy emulsification method (i.e. ultrasonic homogenization). Multicore silica microcapsules were prepared via assembly of commercial nanoparticles within a double emulsion template (O/W/O). Using this approach nanoparticle-assembled capsules with adjustable diameter, internal structure and functionalities were prepared, offering a promising approach for producing tuneable multifunctional systems for oil encapsulation. We believe the work presented in this thesis establishes a significant advance in the preparation of composite materials, offering a green, versatile, and easy to implement procedure for producing novel colloidal materials for biological and environmental applications using cheap, commercially available nanoparticles as building blocks., Cambridge W.D. Armstrong Studentship

The omnipresence of micro and nano plastics is a worldwide growing concern that has increased following recent research published on their harmful effects on the ecosystem and itsliving organisms Although significant work has already been done on detection of microplastics, there is an undeniable need for further developments in analytical techniques for the detection and identification of nanoplastics. Here, a simple analytical technique based on surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy through the use of gold nanoparticles as a substrate which enables the successful detection of 100 nm diameter polystyrene beads through salt assisted aggregation of the nanoparticles is reported. The gold nanoparticles are synthesized using the Turkevich method which involves the use of sodium citrate as both reducing and stabilizing agent that leaves them very stable due to the surrounding negative charge on their surfaces. However, upon the addition of the sodium chloride solution, the ions present in the solution disturb the negative charge consequently reducing the energy barrier to an aggregation of the nanoparticles around the polystyrene beads. The controlled aggregation of the nanoparticles was used to shift the plasmon resonance peak for optimal SERS signal demonstrating an efficient detection for a low concentration of nanoplastics. Through this technique, a concentration of nanoplastics as low as 1 part per million was detected, which to the best of the author's knowledge is the lowest concentration of nanoplastics of that size or smaller that has been detected by a simple technique. With these experiments having been performed with deionized water, the reproducibility of the technique was then demonstrated by quantifying the recovery rate for spiked drinking water samples. Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/427091/document, In MICRO 2022, Online Atlas Edition: Plastic Pollution from MACRO to nano

Uromodulin, also named Tamm Horsfall protein, have been associated with renal function and sodium homeostasis regulation. The authors sought to examine the effects of salt intake on plasma and urinary uromodulin levels and the association of its genetic variants with salt sensitivity in Chinese adults. Eighty patients from our natural population cohort were maintained sequentially either on a usual diet for 3 days, a low‐salt diet (3.0 g) for 7 days, and a high‐salt diet (18.0 g) for an additional 7 days. In addition, the authors studied 514 patients of the Baoji Salt‐Sensitive Study, recruited from 124 families who received the same salt intake intervention, and investigated the association of genetic variations in uromodulin gene with salt sensitivity. Plasma uromodulin levels were significantly lower on a high‐salt diet than on a baseline diet (28.3 ± 4.5 vs. 54.9 ± 8.8 ng/ml). Daily urinary excretions of uromodulin were significantly decreased on a high‐salt diet than on a low‐salt diet (28.7 ± 6.7 vs. 157.2 ± 21.7 ng/ml). SNPs rs7193058 and rs4997081 were associated with the diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses to the high‐salt diet. In addition, several SNPs in the uromodulin gene were significantly associated with pulse pressure (PP) response to the low‐salt intervention. This study shows that dietary salt intake affects plasma and urinary uromodulin levels and that uromodulin may play a role in the pathophysiological process of salt sensitivity in the Chinese populations.

Subsurface salt flow can deform overlying strata and influence contemporaneous sedimentary processes. Studying salt-sediment interactions is challenging in the subsurface due to poor imaging adjacent to salt, and in the field due to the dissolution of halite. Discrete Element Modelling provides an efficient and inexpensive tool to model stratigraphy and deformation around salt structures, which is advantageous over other modelling techniques as it realistically recreates brittle processes such as faulting. Six 2D experiments were run representing 4.6 Myr (46,000 timesteps) to determine the effect of salt growth on syn-kinematic stratigraphy. Halokinetic deformation of stratigraphic architecture was assessed by varying sediment input rates (slow, intermediate, and fast), and increasing and decreasing them through time. Results show the realistic formation and evolution of salt-related faults which define a zone of halokinetic influence, ~3 times the width of the initial diapir. Outside of this, pre- and syn-kinematic stratigraphy are undeformed. Within this zone, syn-kinematic strata are initially isolated into primary salt withdrawal basins, onlapping and thinning towards the salt-cored high. In most models, syn-kinematic strata eventually thin across and cover the diapir roof. Thinning rates are up to six times greater within 350 metres of the diapir, compared to further afield, and typically decrease upwards (with time) and laterally (with distance) from the diapir. Outputs are compared to a subsurface example from the Pierce field, UK North Sea, which highlights the importance of considering local fluctuations in diapir rise rate. These can create stratigraphic architectures that may erroneously be interpreted to represent ‘apparent’ increases/decreases in sedimentation rate. Exposed examples, such as the Bakio diapir, northern Spain, can be used to make inferences of the expected depositional facies, below model resolution. Our models aid prediction of sedimentary unit thickness and thinning rates, and can be used to test interpretations arising from incomplete or low-resolution subsurface and outcrop data when building geological models for subsurface energy.

Twenty‐four‐hour urine collection is the gold standard method for the evaluation of salt intake, but it is often impractical in large‐scale investigations, especially in resource‐poor areas. Methods for the estimation of 24‐hour urinary sodium excretion (USE) using a spot urine sample have been established, but have not been validated in Chinese Tibetans. Therefore, the authors aimed to evaluate the Kawasaki, Tanaka, and the International Cooperative Study on Salt, Other Factors, and Blood Pressure (INTERSALT) formulas for the prediction of 24‐hour USE in Chinese Tibetan adults. The authors analyzed the bias, correlation, agreements between estimated values and measured values, and the relative and absolute differences and misclassification at the individual level for the three methods in 323 Tibetan participants from the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, China. The mean biases between the measured values and the estimated 24‐hour USE using the Kawasaki, Tanaka, and INTERSALT methods were 5.4 mmol/day (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.8–10.1 mmol/day), −40.8 mmol/day (95% CI: −44.6 to −36.9 mmol/day), and −57.1 mmol/day (95% CI: −61.9 to −52.4 mmol/day), respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficients for the relationships between the measured values and the estimated 24‐hour USE were 0.43 (Kawasaki), 0.38 (Tanaka), and 0.27 (INTERSALT), respectively (all p

Background Sodium intake in the USA exceeds recommendations. The replacement of added sodium chloride (NaCl) with potassium chloride (KCl) provides a potential strategy to reduce sodium intake. Objective The purpose of this study was to quantitatively estimate changes in intakes of sodium and potassium by the US population assuming use of potassium-based NaCl replacers in top dietary sodium sources. Methods Data collected in the What We Eat in America (WWEIA) component of the 2015–2016 and 2009–2010 NHANES were used to identify top-ranking sources of dietary sodium among the population aged 2 y and older based on contributions from food categories aligning with the FDA draft guidance for voluntary sodium reduction. Predicted nutrient intakes were estimated in models assuming total and feasible and practical (F&P) replacement of added NaCl with KCl in foods and ingredients within the top food sources of sodium. An expert elicitation was conducted to collect information on the F&P KCl replacement of added NaCl. Results Using 2015–2016 consumption data, the total replacement of added NaCl with KCl in the 18 top-ranking sources of dietary sodium results in a predicted sodium intake of 2004 mg/d from the replacement of 1406 mg/d sodium with 1870 mg/d potassium as KCl. Modeled F&P replacement predicted sodium intakes of 3117 mg/d (range of 2953 to 3255 mg/d) from the replacement of 294 mg/d sodium (155 to 457 mg/d) with 390 mg/d potassium (206 to 608 mg/d). Similar results are seen with 2009–2010 data. Conclusions The F&P replacement of NaCl with KCl in top-ranking sources of dietary sodium modeled in this study can result in decreased sodium to a level consistent with the short-term intake goal targeted by the FDA of 3000 mg/d, with the mean potassium intake remaining in the range recommended for the apparently healthy population.

The present research was carried out to investigate the behavior of radon (222Rn) concentrations over the carbonate and evaporite sequences and to assess the related health hazards. A total of 50 points from three different stratigraphic units, namely, the Bahadurkhel Salt, Jatta Gypsum, and the Kohat Formation of the Eocene age, were analyzed for radon concentrations in the district of Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Measurements for radon levels were made by using RAD7 of Durridge, United States. The highest average 222Rn concentration (16.5 Bq/L) was found in the limestone unit of the Kohat Formation of the Eocene age. However, the lowest radon levels were observed in the salt-bearing strata of the Bahadurkhel Salt of the Eocene age. The study revealed that the average radon concentration in all the lithologies varied in the order of RnLimestone > RnSalt > RnGypsum. The findings of the current research suggest that the study area is safe from radon-related health hazards.

Despite adverse impact of excess salt intake on population health, reliable global salt intake data were not available, with limitations of coverage, time era, representativeness, comparability and potential heterogeneity by age and sex. The overall purpose of the work presented in this thesis was to provide, for the first time, the best estimates of the national (187 countries), regional (21 regions) and global burden of cardiovascular disease attributable to higher than optimal salt intakes in 1990 and 2010 by systematically retrieving the best available evidence. First, I reviewed and critically appraised the scientific evidence on the link between excess salt intake and health outcomes, including its relationship with high blood pressure, gastric cancer, osteoporosis, and renal disease. After that, existing controversies about the impact of excess salt intake on health were discussed; to do so, a recent publication that questioned the health benefits of population salt reduction was critically evaluated. In the next part, various terminologies for defining the exposure to salt and their strengths and limitations were discussed. In the following chapter, using a multi‐disciplinary approach, an optimal level for salt intake was suggested. Systematic review and analysis of 24‐hour urinary sodium excretion and dietary surveys worldwide were the bases of the next chapter. Data from 247 surveys conducted from 1980 onwards including 143 using 24‐h urinary sodium and 104 diet‐based surveys, representing 66 countries and 74.1% of the world population were used. Using a Bayesian Hierarchical method, national, regional, and global average sodium intakes and their associated uncertainties in 1990 and 2010, were estimated. Mean global salt intake in 2010 was 10 g/d, twice the WHO recommendation of 5 g/d. Substantial heterogeneity was seen by country and sex. Mean intakes of adult men and women in 97% and 95% of countries were >5g/d. Highest intakes were seen in Kazakhstan (15.2 g/d), Mauritius (14.2) and Uzbekistan (14.0); and lowest in Kenya (3.8), Malawi (3.8) and Rwanda (4.0). Little variation was seen by age. From 1990 to 2010, global salt intake increased by 315 mg/d; it increased by >250 mg/d in 83 countries, and decreased by >250 mg/d in only 15 countries. The chapter after that was dedicated to estimation of national, regional and global impacts on mortality due to excess salt intake. First, the relationship of salt intake with blood pressure was quantified by reviewing the literature and performing new meta‐analyses of sodium reduction randomized trials. After that, changes in national, regional, and global levels of blood pressure due to reduction in salt intake ‐ including a hypothetical situation in which salt intake was reduced to the optimal level ‐ were estimated. Finally, by taking into account the mortality associated with different blood pressure levels, the reductions in national, regional, and global cardiovascular mortality that would be gained by reducing populations salt intake levels were estimated. 1.38 million (95% CI 0.9, 1.5M) cardiovascular deaths were attributable to excess salt in 2010, 45% due to coronary heart disease, 46% to stroke, and 9% other cardiovascular disease. 55% of these deaths were in men. More than 80% of deaths were in low and mid‐income countries. Among the top 30 most populous nations, highest mortality due to excess salt intake was seen in Ukraine (1,163 deaths per million adult population), Russia (1,006), and China (505); highest proportional mortality in Thailand (18.5% of all CVD deaths attributable to excess salt), China (17.6%), and Korea (17.4%). The final two chapters focused on salt reduction in Iran, where a national salt reduction plan was proposed and discussed.

This position statement outlines key findings and recommendations from the Heart Foundation on the relationship between sodium and heart disease for adults. This position was guided by three research questions and replaces the ‘Sodium’ position statement and evidence paper (2011).

Pre-registration (before conducting the data analysis) of the protocol for data analysis for a planned manuscript entitled: "Food consumption behaviour among UK adults during the Covid-19 pandemic: findings from the HEBECO study". The document provides the background for the project, research questions, outcomes and predictors of interest, and the planned analyses.

Sodium intake among the United States (US) population exceeds recommended levels, and efforts have long been underway to reduce the amount of sodium in foods. Potassium chloride (KCl) is one of the most effective tools for sodium chloride (NaCl) replacement due to its ability to perform many of the functional roles of NaCl without sacrificing palatability, and thus, sodium reduction in foods. A switch to the use of KCl from NaCl, therefore, has the potential to alter intakes of both sodium and potassium. To our knowledge, there have been no efforts to estimate the effects of KCl replacement of NaCl on dietary intakes of potassium and sodium in the US. Estimates based on practical and feasible replacement scenarios would provide important insight on the potential impact of sodium-reduction initiatives on public health. The objective of this project is to estimate the effect of potassium-based NaCl replacers on intakes of both potassium and sodium in the US population, using data from the What We Eat In America (WWEIA) component of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Three different types of typical Korean foods were studied to investigate the effect of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on the sensory characteristics and hedonic perception of sodium- or sugar-reduced samples. The first consumer test (n = 300) was conducted to evaluate the overall liking (OL) of the samples containing four different levels of salt and sugar contents without added MSG, while the second consumer test (n = 300) was designed to examine the effects of MSG on the samples containing reduced salt and sugar contents with the lowest observed OL in the first consumer test. The results showed that the intensity of the umami taste and saltiness of the samples increased, whereas sourness and bitterness were suppressed with added MSG. The samples with the lowest salt contents were observed to be acceptable to consumers after MSG addition, indicating a 23% reduction in sodium intake. Bitterness was partially masked, while sweetness, umami taste, and saltiness were the main factors affecting the OL after MSG addition. However, no consistent results of added MSG on the sensory attributes of samples with reduced sugar contents were observed, possibly indicating that the effect of umami taste on sweetness depends on the MSG concentration used or the type of food studied. This study could be beneficial to researchers who want to know the optimal level of MSG required to reduce the sodium or sugar contents in cooked food.

Biologically enhanced transport of radionuclides is one of several processes that can affect the performance of a nuclear waste repository. In this work, several microbial isolates from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) were tested for their influence on the concentration of neodymium, as an analog for +3 actinides, in simple sodium chloride solutions and in anoxic WIPP brines. Batch sorption experiments were carried out over a period of 4–5 weeks. In many cases, the effect on neodymium in solution was immediate and extensive and assumed to be due to surface complexation. However, over time, the continued loss of Nd from the solution was more likely due to biologically induced precipitation and/or mineralization and possible entrapment in extracellular polymeric substances. The results showed no correlation between organism type and the extent of its influence on neodymium in solution. However, a correlation was observed between different test matrices (simple NaCl versus high-magnesium brine versus high-NaCl brine). Further experiments were conducted to test these matrix effects, and the results showed a significant effect of magnesium concentration on the ability of microorganisms to remove Nd from solution. Possible mechanisms include cation competition and the alteration of cell surface structures. This suggests that the aqueous chemistry of the WIPP environs could play a larger role in the final disposition of +3 actinides than the microbiology.

Sodium intake is linked to multiple negative health outcomes, particularly hypertension, the leading cause of premature death globally. Sodium intake levels in human populations are high, due in part to our desire for palatable salty-tasting foods. Two leading salt replacement strategies are the use of potassium chloride (KCl) and monosodium glutamate (MSG), the latter of which still contains some sodium, but both of which can replace some salty taste in foods while reducing net sodium levels. In this report, we employed a trained descriptive sensory panel to optimize saltiness in sodium-reduced aqueous samples using various concentrations of KCl and MSG. Following this, we assessed consumer attitudes to sodium-reduction strategies in a model food, canned soup, known to typically be high in sodium. Finally, in a large consumer test, we verified that these optimized levels of KCl and MSG did not lead to a drop in liking for the reduced-sodium soups with saltiness subsidized in this manner. Our results showed that sodium can be readily reduced in soups by 18% while actually scoring higher in liking, and in some cases being perceived as even more salty tasting, but that consumers are more open to sodium reduction in this manner when sodium replacements are not specifically highlighted, and when percentage sodium reduction is stated over absolute levels.

The miR169 family is one of the largest families of known miRNAs, which performs important functions in plant growth, development, and responses to biotic/abiotic stresses. However, its functions in response to abiotic stresses are still unclear in poplar. In present study, a total of 33 precursor MIR169s were identified from poplar and divided into 3 groups by evolutionary analysis and multiple sequence alignment, with the members in same group sharing similar motifs. Collinearity analysis revealed miR169s in other species that are homologous to poplar miRNAs. Cis-acting elements predication showed that miR169s may respond to ABA (Abscisic acid) and salt stress, which was verified by qRT-PCR. In addition, 12 pairs of miR169/target gene modules were identified by degradome sequencing and most of these modules responded to ABA and salt stress. Specifically, a part of miRNAs showed opposite expression trends with their targets at a certain period, demonstrating a repressive effect on the target genes. All the results suggest that miR169s perform important functions in response to abiotic stresses in poplar.

Streptococcus mutans merupakan bakteri penyebab karies gigi. Bakteri ini dapat melekat pada gigi dan mampu menghasilkan asam. Garam mempunyai sifat antibakteri yang dapat menghambat pertumbuhan bakteri. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui efektivitas berkumur larutan garam terhadap jumlah koloni streptococcus mutans dalam saliva. Jenis penelitian ini adalah eksperimen laboratoris dengan menggunakan 23 sampel di Panti Asuhan Khaira Ummah. Selama 10 hari sampel berkumur larutan garam 12%. Pengukuran dilakukan sebelum berkumur, setelah 5 hari berkumur dan setelah 10 hari berkumur. Kemudian saliva diinkubasi selama 24 jam. Jumlah koloni streptococcus mutans dihitung dengan colony counter. Data dianalisis dengan uji paired t test. Hasil penelitian didapatkan jumlah koloni streptococcus mutans sebelum berkumur adalah 20,0435 x 10³ CFU/ml, 5 hari setelah berkumur adalah 14,1304 x 10³ CFU/ml dan 10 hari setelah berkumur adalah 9,9565 x 10³ CFU/ml. Hasil pengukuran sebelum dan setelah 5 hari berkumur terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan p=0,000 (p0,05), pengukuran sebelum dan setelah 10 hari berkumur terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan p=0,000 (p0,05) serta pengukuran setelah 5 hari dan setelah 10 hari terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan p=0,000 (p0,05). Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini bahwa berkumur dengan larutan garam 12% dapat menurunkan jumlah koloni streptococcus mutans dalam saliva.

Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PHD) inhibitors were developed for treatment of renal anemia. Patients applicable for HIF-PHD inhibitor treatment experience complications such as chronic kidney disease, whereby water and electrolyte homeostasis is disrupted. The effects of hypoxia-inducible factor stabilization on salt accumulation in the setting of reduced renal function remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of a HIF-PHD inhibitor, molidustat, on salt distribution and excretion in rats with subtotal nephrectomy-induced chronic kidney disease. Male Wistar rats were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy. After confirming blood pressure elevation (>150 mmHg, at 4 weeks after surgery), rats were treated with molidustat. After 1 week of treatment, molidustat did not significantly improve blood cell volume or blood pressure. Distribution of sodium, potassium, and water in skin, carcass, and bone samples was not affected by molidustat. Furthermore, molidustat had no significant effect on urinary sodium excretion or concentration in response to acute oral salt loading (1 g/kg). In conclusion, molidustat did not affect distribution or excretion of salt in rats subjected to a model of nephron loss.

These days, salts with a high sodium content are seen as a health risk. A high sodium intake raises blood pressure because it causes the body to retain more fluid, which puts more strain on the heart. Even staples like cereal and bread can have a lot of salt. Potassium-based salts have distinguished themselves from the other noteworthy choices by demonstrating a high nutritional efficiency. It has numerous negative side effects as well as similarities to table salt (NaCl). The most significant salt alternative, KCl, has a side that tastes mostly harsh, caustic, and metallic. Taste enhancers may be employed to commercially formulate the products for service. The flavour enhancers approach to marketing a product is distinct. Through the lenses of food science and safety, this review offers a new perspective on the topic of potassium chloride (KCl)-based salts as opposed to sodium-based salts offering health benefits. The nutritionally recognised mineral salts, amino acids and their salts, simple carbohydrates and sugar replacements, food acids, spices, and vegetables play a crucial role as flavour enhancers in KCl-based salts. In order to further reduce salt intake and enhance potassium intake, this research discusses the possible benefits of using salt substitutes in addition to salt reduction measures.

Twenty-four-hour urine sample collection is regarded as the gold standard for sodium intake evaluation, but the implementation can be difficult. The objective was to validate and evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of estimating sodium intake by four methods. A group of 268 healthy volunteers aged 18–25 years was enrolled in this study. Twenty-four-hour urine samples as well as timed (morning, afternoon, evening, and overnight) urine samples were randomly collected in summer and winter. The sodium intake was estimated by four published methods—Kawasaki, INTERSALT, Tanaka, and Sun’s. The consistencies between estimated sodium intake and real measured values of 24-h urinary sodium excretion were compared by Bland–Altman plots in each of the methods. The 24-h urinary sodium analysis result indicated that average daily sodium intake was 3048.4 ± 1225.9 mg in summer and 3564.7 ± 1369.9 mg in winter. At the population level, the bias (estimated value-measured value) was the least with the INTERSALT method with afternoon (−39.7 mg; 95%CI: −164.7, 85.3 mg) and evening (−43.5 mg; 95%CI: −166.4, 79.5 mg) samples in summer. In winter, the Kawasaki method (162.1 mg; 95%CI: 13.5, 310.7 mg) was superior to others. Estimation of sodium intake using the four methods is affected by the time and temperature. In summer, the INTERSALT method provides the best estimation of the population’s mean sodium intake. The Kawasaki method is superior to other methods in winter.

BackgroundMultiple micronutrient (MN) deficiencies remain highly prevalent among women of reproductive age (WRA) and preschool-aged children (PSC) in many areas within India. Salt is an attractive vehicle for MN fortification in this context, as it is universally consumed in fairly consistent amounts and coverage of iodized salt (IS) is 94%. The overall objective of this trial is to evaluate the nutritional impact of quintuply-fortified salt with iron in the form of encapsulated ferrous fumarate, zinc, vitamin B12, folic acid, and iodine (eFF-Q5S) vs. quintuply-fortified salt with iron in the form of ferric pyrophosphate plus EDTA, zinc, vitamin B12, folic acid, and iodine (FePP-Q5S) vs. IS for the improvement of MN status among non-pregnant WRA and PSC.MethodsThe study is a community-based, randomized, controlled trial that will be conducted in Punjab, India. 780 non-pregnant WRA 18–49 years old and 468 PSC 12–59 months old will be enrolled and assigned to one of three intervention groups. Salt will be provided to participants monthly for 12 months. Primary outcomes include changes in mean concentration of biomarkers of iron, zinc, vitamin B12, folate and iodine. Secondary outcomes include changes in the composition of the gut microbiome, and discretionary salt intake of PSC.DiscussionIf proven efficacious, multiply-fortified salt (MFS) has the potential to drastically reduce the burden of MN deficiencies in India, and around the world. Although effectiveness research will be needed to examine the impact of MFS under programmatic conditions, salt fortification will piggy-back on existing platforms to produce IS and doubly-fortified salt (DFS), making it possible to scale-up the intervention quickly.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov: NCT05166980; date of registration: December 22, 2021. Clinical Trials Registry-India: CTRI/2022/040332 and CTRI/2022/02/040333; date of registration: February 15, 2022.

Apple trees are susceptible to biotic and abiotic stresses in the Intermountain West. The arid climate along with non-ideal soils make apple production challenging. Also, as high-quality agricultural land is developed, crop production gets pushed to land that often is saline. Apple trees grow poorly in saline soils. If apples are going to be grown in Utah, rootstocks must be identified that will tolerate saline soils. The USDA rootstock breeding program produced some rootstocks that may show salt tolerance. This project assessed the salt tolerance of these apple rootstocks in the greenhouse and in the field. Test rootstocks were compared to M.9, a widely planted apple rootstock. In greenhouse tests, a near-continuous gradient dosing system was used to screen 19 apple rootstocks for tolerance to calcium chloride salinity. All of the rootstocks showed a decrease in height, fresh weight, and dry weight as salt concentration increased. Three field test locations were used: Kaysville had minimal salt, Goshen had sodium salt, and Tintic had calcium salt. Over two seasons, field studies showed that sodium salts reduced tree height and trunk cross sectional area more than calcium salts. No rootstock performed significantly better than M.9 in either the field or greenhouse. Bitter pit is a calcium related disorder of apples that often develops in storage. Affected apples have sunken dark spots on the peel and are unmarketable. The incidence of bitter pit is not uniform across apple rootstocks because apple rootstocks vary in their ability to partition calcium to fruit. Apples from 14 rootstocks in the 2014 NC-140 planting were examined for bitter pit incidence following storage at 4°C. In general, vigorous rootstocks showed lower peel calcium and a higher incidence of bitter pit following storage. Tree suckers can potentially harbor disease and insects in orchards. Removing suckers is important but expensive because of the labor required. Finding other cost-effective ways can help growers. Paraquat, fire, naphthalene acetic acid, and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) were compared along with water for sucker control. UAN provided excellent, but not long lasting, sucker suppression.

Brassinosteroid-related genes are involved in regulating plant growth and stress responses. However, systematic analysis is limited to Gramineae species, and their roles in plant architecture and salt stress remain unclear. In this study, we identified brassinosteroid-related genes in wheat, barley, maize, and sorghum and investigated their evolutionary relationships, conserved domains, transmembrane topologies, promoter sequences, syntenic relationships, and gene/protein structures. Gene and genome duplications led to considerable differences in gene numbers. Specific domains were revealed in several genes (i.e., HvSPY, HvSMOS1, and ZmLIC), indicating diverse functions. Protein-protein interactions suggested their synergistic functions. Their expression profiles were investigated in wheat and maize, which indicated involvement in adaptation to stress and regulation of plant architecture. Several candidate genes for plant architecture (ZmBZR1 and TaGSK1/2/3/4-3D) and salinity resistance (TaMADS22/47/55-4B, TaGRAS19-4B, and TaBRD1-2A.1) were identified. This study is the first to comprehensively investigate brassinosteroid-related plant architecture genes in four Gramineae species and should help elucidate the biological roles of brassinosteroid-related genes in crops.

Biomolecular condensates formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) are considered one of the early compartmentalization strategies of cells, which still prevail today forming nonmembranous compartments in biological cells. Studies of the effect of high pressures, such as those encountered in the subsurface salt lakes of Mars or in the depths of the subseafloor on Earth, on biomolecular LLPS will contribute to questions of protocell formation under prebiotic conditions. We investigated the effects of extreme environmental conditions, focusing on highly aggressive Martian salts (perchlorate and sulfate) and high pressure, on the formation of biomolecular condensates of proteins. Our data show that the driving force for phase separation of proteins is not only sensitively dictated by their amino acid sequence but also strongly influenced by the type of salt and its concentration. At high salinity, as encountered in Martian soil and similar harsh environments on Earth, attractive short-range interactions, ion correlation effects, hydrophobic, and π-driven interactions can sustain LLPS for suitable polypeptide sequences. Our results also show that salts across the Hofmeister series have a differential effect on shifting the boundary of immiscibility that determines phase separation. In addition, we show that confinement mimicking cracks in sediments and subsurface saline water pools in the Antarctica or on Mars can dramatically stabilize liquid phase droplets, leading to an increase in the temperature and pressure stability of the droplet phase.

The prevention and management of hypertension are untimely associated with a lowering of sodium intake. The present study aimed to evaluate the sodium and potassium intake levels of Tunisian population through measurement of 24‐hr urinary sodium excretions. A randomly, multistage, cross‐sectional study was conducted in an urban region (Bizerte) in Tunisia during 2015. The target population involved adults aged from 25 to 64 years. Sodium, potassium, and creatinine concentrations were determined in each urine sample using indirect potentiometric method. From the 420 selected participants, only 194 gave urine samples complying completeness criteria. A multivariate regression model was used to assess the variables related to sodium and potassium excretion. The daily mean excretion of sodium and potassium was 138.3 ± 46.5 mmol/d (corresponding to 8.1 ± 2.7 g/d of salt intake) and 61.0 ± 22.7 mmol/d, respectively. More than 87.1% of the participants (89.8% for men vs. 84.9% for women; p = .31) exceeded the WHO recommendation of 5 g/d. The upper limit of 10 g salt intake per day was still exceeded by 26.3%. After adjusted analysis, sex (for women, coef = −1.6; (95% CI: −2.4, −0.7)), level of instruction (≥30 kg/m2, coef = +1.1; (95% IC: 0.4–2.0)), and body mass index (≥30 kg/m2, coef = +1.1; (95% CI: 0.1, 2.0)) were associated with the sodium excretion. High sodium intake and inadequate potassium intake were found among participants. This consumption profile complies with the diet westernization context occurring in Tunisia. The initiated strategy focused on the downward of sodium in bread (the main source of salt intake) seems to be promising., Excess of salt intake is one of the major dietary risk factor of chronic diseases. In the following study, we are assessing salt intake using both urinary sodium excretion and dietary assessment among Tunisian adults. Of the food groups, bread is the most important contributor to the daily salt intake.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide and raised blood pressure is the leading risk for these conditions. Excess sodium intake clearly elevates blood pressure though the association of sodium intake with cardiovascular outcomes has been disputed. Nonetheless, it was estimated that in 2017 excess dietary sodium caused between 1.4 and 5.4 million deaths. Key underlying assumptions for those estimates were that the association between sodium intake and cardiovascular disease is direct and linear, and that a daily consumption level of 2.0 g of sodium minimised risk. Recent data indicating that reported U-shaped associations of sodium with risk are the result of confounding provide strong support for the first assumption. Cardiovascular risks may, however, continue to decline below intake levels of 2.0 g per day. Further, because excess sodium intake appears to drive a progressive rise in blood pressure with age, the magnitude of the disease burden avoidable by sodium reduction may have been under-estimated. Regardless, health benefits will only be achieved if safe, effective and scalable interventions can be defined and none have been identified to date. Salt substitution, which switches regular salt for a reduced-sodium, added-potassium alternative offers a significant opportunity. Falls in blood pressure with salt substitution are comparable to single-drug therapy and salt substitutes are low cost, simple to use, well-tolerated and could be applied community-wide. Data that prove clinical benefits and exclude risks will be required to support widespread use. An ongoing large-scale randomised trial of the effects of salt substitution on stroke, major cardiovascular events and death will complete soon and define the role of salt substitutes in public health.

Thiamine deficiency is a public health issue in Cambodia. Thiamine fortification of salt has been proposed; however, the salt intake of lactating women, the target population, is currently unknown. We estimated salt intakes among lactating women (, Thiamine deficiency is a public health issue in Cambodia. Thiamine fortification of salt has been proposed; however, the salt intake of lactating women is currently unknown. We estimated salt intakes among lactating women using three methods. Based on these data, a thiamine salt fortification scenario was modeled, which allowed the calculation of a suitable fortification dose of thiamine to add to salt.

Microplastics, nanoplastics and related products have been recently found in marine ecosystems worldwide, calling for new analytical methods for rapid detection and risk assessment. Fluorescence is a sensitive technique that when used with polarity probes can potentially detect low-polarity plastic particles in environments. Here, we evaluated the fuorescence technique to sense polystyrene microparticles directly on salt, silica and sand surfaces, using Nile Red and pyrene as polarity probes. Results show that all probes displayed fuorescence on silica and sand, whereas strong fuorescence quenching was observed on NaCl. Polystyrene particles increase the fuorescence intensity due to probe migration into their nonpolar microenvironment. In the presence of polystyrene, the spectra of Nile Red are shifted to shorter wavelengths, while the ratio of vibronic bands I1/I3 of fuorescence of pyrene decreases to about 1. Pyrene showed similar sensitivity toward surface-modifed carboxyl polystyrene particles. On NaCl, the emission of pyrene increases linearly with polystyrene content for concentrations from 0.5 to 20 µg/g. The detection limit of polystyrene microparticles on natural sea salt using pyrene as probe is about 0.2 µg/g, while on sand, the sensitivity is about one order of magnitude lower. Overall, although being of relatively low selectivity, the fuorescence technique can be used to determine a maximum content of plastic particles of few micrometers size with little sample preparation. Fluorescence, when used in conjunction with pyrene probe, allows for detection and quantifcation of microplastic particles in the sub-ppm range. UIDB/04326/2020, ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121, ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121 info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Crystallized salt can be extracted by boiling brine in pottery over fire. This technique was implemented in many ancient civilizations throughout the world and is used even today. We identified the raw materials and technological aspects of potteries used in salt workshops from the Early Classic period (AD 250–550) of Nueva Esperanza (Pacific coast of El Salvador) by subjecting 19 samples to a petrographic analysis and wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Previous research suggests salt pots were local, but decorated pots were transported from inland communities through markets. However, all 19 samples were made from similar main raw materials, indicating that a variety of techniques and processes were used to manufacture different types of potteries in the associated salt workshops. In sum, this study’s approach should enhance understanding of ancient salt workshops, particularly regarding related pottery production systems and the nature of trade.

To understand stress response mechanisms, a multiple stress-responsive gene OsPM1 with a disordered region containing about 30 amino acid residues was screened by microarray. Promoter region analysis using PlantCARE showed this gene contains multiple cis-regulatory elements responding to abiotic stresses. Quantitative real-time PCR and promoter-GUS transgenic plant analysis verified that OsPM1 was induced by multiple abiotic stresses. OsPM1-GFP fusion protein expression showed that OsPM1 was localized at the cell membrane. The rice plants overexpressing OsPM1 exhibited hypersensitivity to salt stress but enhanced drought tolerance compared to the wild-type plants; the rice plants expressing antisense of OsPM1 were hyposensitive to salt stress but with weak drought tolerance compared to the wild-type plants. These results showed OsPM1 is a positive regulator of rice tolerance to drought, but it’s also a negative regulator of rice tolerance to salt.

Among the next-generation energy storage technologies, lithium-sulfur batteries are considered one of the most appealing solutions owing to their remarkable theoretical capacity. However, to become commercially competitive, there is a strong need to address some issues still characterizing this technology. One of the explored strategies is the optimization of the electrolyte formulation. To this aim, we compared 1,3-dioxolane/1,2-dimethoxyethane-based electrolytes containing two lithium halides, i.e., lithium bromide (LiBr) and lithium iodide (LiI), with lithium bis (trifluoromethane)sulfonylimide (LiTFSI) as a reference electrolyte. The obtained results show how the donicity of the lithium-salt anions might affect the solid electrolyte interphase stability and the lithium sulfide deposition morphology, therefore influencing the electrochemical performance of the cells. Among the tested electrolytes, the sulfur cell containing LiBr salt exhibited the best electrochemical performance maintaining a specific capacity of 900 mAh g−1 at C/4 and a stable trend along cycling at 1C with a specific capacity of about 770 mAh g−1 for 200 cycles.

Hydraulic fracture morphology and propagation mode are difficult to predict in layers of the various lithological strata, which seriously affects exploitation efficiency. This paper studies the fundamental mechanical and microscopic properties of the two main interfaces in inter-salt shale reservoirs. On this basis, cement-salt combination samples with composite interfaces are prepared, and hydraulic fracturing tests are carried out under different fluid velocities, viscosity, and stress conditions. The result shows that the shale bedding and salt-shale interface are the main geological interfaces of the inter-salt shale reservoir. The former is filled with salt, and the average tensile strength is 0.42 MPa, c = 1.473 MPa, and φ = 19.00°. The latter is well cemented, and the interface strength is greater than that of shale bedding, with c = 2.373MPa and φ = 26.15°. There are three basic fracture modes for the samples with compound interfaces. Low-viscosity fracturing fluid and high-viscosity fracturing fluid tend to open the internal bedding interface and produce a single longitudinal crack, respectively, so properly selecting the viscosity and displacement is necessary. Excessive geostress differences will aggravate the strain incompatibility of the interface between different rock properties, which makes the interfaces open easily. The pump pressure curves’ morphological characters are different with different failure modes.

Background: There has been tremendous progress over the past 25 years to control iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) through universal salt iodization (USI). In 2019, using the median urinary iodine concentration (MUIC), only 19 countries in the world are classified as iodine deficient; in contrast in 1993, using the total goiter rate (TGR), 113 countries were classified as iodine deficient. However, few analyses have tried to quantify the global health and economic benefits of USI programs, and the shift from TGR to MUIC as the main indicator of IDDs complicates assessment of progress. Methods: We used a novel approach to estimate the impact of USI on IDDs, applying a regression model derived from observational data on the relationship between the TGR and the MUIC from 24 countries. The model was used to generate hypothetical national TGR values for 2019 based on current MUIC data. TGR in 1993 and modeled TGR in 2019 were then compared for 139 countries, and using consequence modeling, the potential health and economic benefits realized between 1993 and 2019 were estimated. Results: Based on this approach, the global prevalence of clinical IDDs (as assessed by the TGR) fell from 13.1% to 3.2%, and 720 million cases of clinical IDDs have been prevented by USI (a reduction of 75.9%). USI has significantly reduced the number of newborns affected by IDDs, with 20.5 million cases prevented annually. The resulting improvement in cognitive development and future earnings suggest a potential global economic benefit of nearly $33 billion. However, 4.8 million newborns will be affected by IDDs in 2019, who will experience life-long productivity losses totaling a net present value of $12.5 billion. Conclusions: The global improvements in iodine status over the past 25 years have resulted in major health and economic benefits, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. Efforts should now focus on sustaining this achievement and expanding USI to reach the continuing large number of infants who remain unprotected from IDDs.

Acute dietary salt intake may cause an elevation in blood pressure (BP). The study aimed to assess the acute effect of saline loading on BP in subjects with different levels of salt intake. This study is based on the baseline survey of systemic epidemiology of salt sensitivity study. The sodium excretion in the 24‐hour urine was calculated for estimating the level of salt intake. Subjects were performed an acute oral saline loading test (1 L), and data of 2019 participants were included for analyses. Multivariate linear regression and stratified analyses were performed to identify associations between 24‐hour urinary sodium (24hUNa) with BP changes. Due to saline loading, systolic BP (SBP), pulse pressure, and urinary sodium concentration were significantly increased, while diastolic BP, heart rate, and urinary potassium concentration were significantly decreased. The SBP increments were more significant in subjects with lower salt intake, normotensives, elders, males, smokers, and drinkers. There was a significant linear negative dose‐response association between SBP increment with 24hUNa (β = −0.901, 95% CI: −1.253, −0.548), especially in lower salt intake individuals (β = −1.297, 95% CI: −2.338, −0.205) and hypertensive patients (β = −1.502, 95% CI: −2.037, −0.967). After excluding patients who received antidiabetic or antihypertensive medicines, the effects of negative associations weakened but remained significantly. In conclusion, acute salt loading leads to an increment in SBP, and the increased SBP was negatively related with 24hUNa. This study indicated avoiding acute salt loading was important for escaping acute BP changes, especially in lower salt intake populations.

BackgroundThe relationships of sodium intake to kidney function within the population have been poorly investigated and are the objective of the study.MethodsThis observational, population-based, cross-sectional and longitudinal study targeted 4595 adult participants of the Gubbio study with complete data at baseline exam. Of these participants, 3016 participated in the 15-year follow-up (mortality-corrected response rate 78.4%). Baseline measures included sodium:creatinine ratio in timed overnight urine collection, used as an index of sodium intake, together with serum creatinine, sex, age and other variables. Follow-up measures included serum creatinine and other variables. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, mL/min/1.73 m2) was calculated using serum creatinine, sex and age and was taken as an index of kidney function.ResultsThe study cohort was stratified in sex- and age-controlled quintiles of baseline urine sodium:creatinine ratio. A higher quintile associated with higher baseline eGFR (P ConclusionsWithin the general population, an index of higher sodium intake associated cross-sectionally with higher kidney function but longitudinally with greater kidney function decline.

In primary aldosteronism (PA), the occurrence of K+ loss and hypertension suggest alterations in renal tubular transport, but the molecular basis of these alterations in humans is unclear. In this study, urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) isolated from patients undergoing fludrocortisone suppression testing (FST, as a means of confirming or excluding PA) were analyzed using mass spectrometry-based proteomics to determine the combined effects of an aldosterone analogue, NaCl and KCl supplementation on renal tubular protein abundance. Of quantified proteins, the Cl−/HCO3− exchanger pendrin decreased by a median 37% [−15, 57] (P < 0.01) and the potassium channel ROMK increased by a median 31% [−10, 85] (P < 0.01) during FST among 10 PA subjects. The trends remained, but to a lesser degree, in two subjects cured of PA by unilateral adrenalectomy. In PA subjects, plasma K+ increased from median 3.6 to 4.2 mM (P < 0.01) and 24 h urine K+ from 101 to 202 mmol (P < 0.01), while 24 h urine Na+/K+ decreased from 2.3 to 0.8 (P < 0.01). At baseline, pendrin negatively correlated with plasma K+ (P < 0.05) and positively correlated with plasma aldosterone (P < 0.01). There were no clear correlations between Δ pendrin (Δ = D4–D0) and changes in blood or urine variables, and no correlations between ROMK in any of the blood or urine variables either at baseline or during FST. We conclude that oral co-administration of mineralocorticoid and KCl in PA patients is associated with reduced pendrin and enhanced ROMK in uEVs. Pendrin reduction during FST suggests that the suppressive effects of oral KCl may outweigh pendrin upregulation by mineralocorticoids.

Pamekasan regency is an area in Madura Island that has the potential to increase the quality and quantity of salt by recommending the use of geomembrane technology. This research will give recommendation of factor is the highest priority of salt farmer’s behavior decisions on the use of geomembrane technology. The method developed in this research are combination of AHP and Fuzzy AHP method. AHP is used to determine the consistency of judgments made by each respondent and Fuzzy AHP is used to determine the criteria weight and subcriteria to determine the highest priority criteria and subcriteria decisions. Priority results using FAHP obtained that highest priority factor the behavior decisions of salt farmers towards the use of geomembrane technology at the level of farmers and agencies to technical aspects is production result subcriteria, to economic aspects is profit of salt farmers subcriteria, to socio cultural aspect is geomembrane technology is corresponding government advice and to environment aspects is quality of salt

Purpose The World Health Organization recommends reduction of salt intake to Methods The study population was made of 1270 children and adolescents. Estimates of salt consumption and iodine intake were obtained by measuring 24 h urinary sodium and iodine excretion. Results The iodine intake increased gradually across quartiles of salt consumption independently of sex, age and body weight (p 10.2 g/day). We estimated that approximately 65–73% of the total iodine intake was derived from food and 27–35% from iodized salt and that iodized salt made actually only 20% of the total salt intake. Conclusion In this pediatric population, in face of an elevated average salt consumption, the use of iodized salt was still insufficient to ensure an adequate iodine intake, in particular among teenagers. In the perspective of a progressive reduction of total salt intake, the health institutions should continue to support iodoprophylaxis, in the context of the national strategies for salt reduction. In order for these policies to be successful, in addition to educational campaigns, it is needed that the prescriptions contained in the current legislation on iodoprophylaxis are made compelling through specific enforcement measures for all the involved stakeholders.

Potassium bromide is a frequently used antiseizure medication with a half-life time of over 25 days. Oral intake of sodium chloride as well as renal function influence this half-life time and may have an influence on the needed dose to get proper serum levels. The hypothesis is that dogs living close to coastal areas require a greater potassium bromide dose than dogs living more inland. The main study objective was to determine the relationship between bromide dose, serum bromide concentration, treatment duration, type of food, concurrent therapies and the proximity of the dog's residency to a coastal area. A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed. A total of 658 bromide serum measurements were retrieved from the veterinary faculty's laboratory archive, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Information on the bromide dose, renal function, treatment period, type of food, concurrent therapies and residence was obtained retrospectively from owners of all dogs using a postal survey. A dataset of 220 unique study units was created. The dogs were grouped based on their residence (proximity to the coast > or ResultsAlthough not statistically significant there is a trend that dogs living in close proximity to the sea may require a higher dose of potassium bromide to maintain therapeutic concentrations compared to dogs living more inlands. Additional studies are needed to further explore this observation.