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Context: Collecting, cooling, and cryopreserving semen is essential for accessing genetically superior stallions. However, preserving stallion sperm presents unique challenges compared with other species. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effect of zinc (Zn) supplementation on the quality of equine sperm during cold storage. Methods: Various factors contributing to sperm quality were assessed at 24 and 48 h after cooling, and after subjecting the sperm samples to a heat-resistance test. In Experiment 1, four experimental groups were examined, each with different concentrations of Zn sulfate, as follows: 0, 1, 2, and 3 mM. Subsequently, Experiment 2 involved testing a wider range of concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mM), including evaluation of samples after incubation for 240 min at 37°C (heat-resistance test). Key results: The addition of different concentrations of Zn to the extender INRA96 did not yield substantial improvements in sperm-quality parameters for cooling stallion semen after 24 or 48 h. Moreover, no protective benefits were observed when samples underwent a heat-resistance test. Concentrations of Zn surpassing 3 mM had an adverse effect on sperm-quality parameters. Conclusions and implications: These findings have contributed to the understanding of Zn supplementation as a strategy for improving semen preservation in stallions. This study explores the impact of zinc supplementation to improve the quality of cooled equine semen, addressing a crucial aspect of genetic preservation in horses. The findings showed that adding various concentrations of zinc to the sperm does not significantly enhance sperm quality during cold storage and concentrations exceeding 3 mM had detrimental effects. These findings challenge the common belief of the protective role of zinc in sperm preservation, contributing valuable insights for the equine breeding industry. This article belongs to the Collection Equine Science Part II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron toxicity significantly hinders the growth and development of cotton plants, therefore affecting the yield and quality of this important cash crop worldwide. Limited studies have explored the efficacy of ZnSO4 (zinc sulfate) and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) in alleviating boron toxicity. Nanoparticles have emerged as a novel strategy to reduce abiotic stress directly. The precise mechanism underlying the alleviation of boron toxicity by ZnO NPs in cotton remains unclear. In this study, ZnO NPs demonstrated superior potential for alleviating boron toxicity compared to ZnSO4 in hydroponically cultivated cotton seedlings. Under boron stress, plants supplemented with ZnO NPs exhibited significant increases in total fresh weight (75.97%), root fresh weight (39.64%), and leaf fresh weight (69.91%). ZnO NPs positively affected photosynthetic parameters and SPAD values. ZnO NPs substantially reduced H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) by 27.87% and 32.26%, MDA (malondialdehyde) by 27.01% and 34.26%, and O2− (superoxide anion) by 41.64% and 48.70% after 24 and 72 h, respectively. The application of ZnO NPs increased the antioxidant activities of SOD (superoxide dismutase) by 82.09% and 76.52%, CAT (catalase) by 16.79% and 16.33%, and POD (peroxidase) by 23.77% and 21.66% after 24 and 72 h, respectively. ZnO NP and ZnSO4 application demonstrated remarkable efficiency in improving plant biomass, mineral nutrient content, and reducing boron levels in cotton seedlings under boron toxicity. A transcriptome analysis and corresponding verification revealed a significant up-regulation of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes, photosynthesis pathway, and ABC transporter genes with the application of ZnO NPs. These findings provide valuable insights for the mechanism of boron stress tolerance in cotton and provide a theoretical basis for applying ZnO NPs and ZnSO4 to reduce boron toxicity in cotton production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of nylon 6 and nylon 66 can be performed, starting with the selective hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexene, which is deemed to be environmentally friendly and cost-saving and to have higher atom efficiency. Nano-Ru catalyst was synthesized via a precipitation method. The prepared catalyst was evaluated in the selective hydrogenation of benzene toward cyclohexene generation in the presence of ZnSO4 in a liquid batch reactor. The promotion effect of the addition of amines, i.e., ethylenediamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine, was investigated. The fresh and spent catalysts were thoroughly characterized by XRD, TEM, AES, N2-sorption, FT-IR, and TPR. It was found that the addition of amines could significantly improve the catalytic selectivity toward cyclohexene formation in the presence of ZnSO4. This was attributed to the formation of (Zn(OH)2)5(ZnSO4)(H2O)x (x = 0.5, 3 or 4) through the reaction between ZnSO4 and the amines, which could be chemisorbed on the Ru surface. This led to retarding the formation of cyclohexane from the complete hydrogenation of benzene and, thus, increased the catalytic selectivity toward cyclohexene synthesis. Therefore, with the presence of ZnSO4, the amount of chemisorbed (Zn(OH)2)5(ZnSO4)(H2O)x increased with increasing amounts of added amines, leading to a decline in the catalytic activity toward benzene conversion and selectivity toward cyclohexene generation. When 7.6 mmol of diethanolamine and 10 g of ZrO2 were applied, the highest cyclohexene yields of 61.6% and 77.0% of benzene conversion were achieved over the Ru catalyst. Promising stability was demonstrated after six runs of catalytic experiments without regeneration. These achievements are not only promising for industrial application but also beneficial for designing other catalytic systems for selective hydrogenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micronutrients play a crucial role in enabling crops and vegetables to achieve optimum productivity, improve storage quality, and overcome physiological disorders. The present study focuses on evaluating the effects of the foliar application of Zinc, Borax, and their combined application in enhancing onion yield and shelf life of Allium cepa L. (cultivars Red coral and Liberty). An experimental study was conducted for two years at Agriculture Research Unit, DIHAR Leh (34.1383˚N, 77.5725˚E) to assess the impact of different doses of ZnSO4, Borax, and their combination on onion yield and shelf-life improvement. Four treatments of ZnSO4 and Borax (T1: 0.5% ZnSO4; T2: 0.25% Borax; T3: 0.5% ZnSO4 + 0.25% Borax and T4: control) were applied twice, once at 30 DAT and again after 45 DAT. Among four treatments, T3 showed a significant impact on growth parameters, yield, and onion shelf-life followed by T1 and T2 compared to the control T4 treatment. Foliar sprays of ZnSO4 and Borax, rather than only ZnSO4 or Borax application, significantly improved plant height, leaves number, leaf area index, chlorophyll content, and onion yield. The storage examination revealed an important correlation between the concurrent application of ZnSO4 and Borax on onion, demonstrating a significant reduction in weight loss, an increase in Total Soluble Solids (T.S.S), and an extension of the onions' shelf life. These findings hold the potential for significant implications in elucidating the optimal utilization of micronutrients for improving onion cultivation and preservation practices in cold desert regions of Ladakh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation reports the thermodynamic efficiency analysis of a hybrid ZnSO 4 /ZnO water-splitting cycle. The data required for efficiency calculations are gathered from HSC Chemistry Software. The prime goal is to examine the effects of the thermal energy needed for heating inert sweep gas and separating the gaseous components in the cycle on the solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency. Complete dissociation of ZnSO 4 into ZnO, SO 2 , and O 2 is considered. Besides, a comprehensive re-oxidation of ZnO in the presence of SO 2 and H 2 O is assumed. A thermodynamic process model, which includes reduction and oxidation reactors, two separators, multiple gas-to-gas heat exchangers, two heaters, and one ideal H 2 /O 2 fuel cell, is developed and used to analyze the efficiency. The energy required for the separation of inert/O 2 /SO 2 gas mixture is observed to be one of the significant contributors to the energy needed to drive the ZnSO 4 /ZnO WS cycle. The solar power required (989.9 kW) is recorded to be the lowest for the inert gas molar flow rate equal to 10 mol/s. Because of the low solar energy requirement, the maximum solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency (28.4 %) is attained at the thermal reduction temperature of 1445 K. • Thermodynamic efficiency analysis of the ZnSO 4 /ZnO water splitting cycles is conducted. • The molar flow rate of inert gas is responsible for the variation in most process parameters. • Solar energy required is significantly affected by the rise in the energy penalty allied with the separators. • The maximum solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency (28.4 %) is achieved at a molar flow rate of inert gas equal to 10 mol/s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron toxicity significantly hinders the growth and development of cotton plants, therefore affecting the yield and quality of this important cash crop worldwide. Limited studies have explored the efficacy of ZnSO4 (zinc sulfate) and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) in alleviating boron toxicity. Nanoparticles have emerged as a novel strategy to reduce abiotic stress directly. The precise mechanism underlying the alleviation of boron toxicity by ZnO NPs in cotton remains unclear. In this study, ZnO NPs demonstrated superior potential for alleviating boron toxicity compared to ZnSO4 in hydroponically cultivated cotton seedlings. Under boron stress, plants supplemented with ZnO NPs exhibited significant increases in total fresh weight (75.97%), root fresh weight (39.64%), and leaf fresh weight (69.91%). ZnO NPs positively affected photosynthetic parameters and SPAD values. ZnO NPs substantially reduced H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) by 27.87% and 32.26%, MDA (malondialdehyde) by 27.01% and 34.26%, and O2− (superoxide anion) by 41.64% and 48.70% after 24 and 72 h, respectively. The application of ZnO NPs increased the antioxidant activities of SOD (superoxide dismutase) by 82.09% and 76.52%, CAT (catalase) by 16.79% and 16.33%, and POD (peroxidase) by 23.77% and 21.66% after 24 and 72 h, respectively. ZnO NP and ZnSO4 application demonstrated remarkable efficiency in improving plant biomass, mineral nutrient content, and reducing boron levels in cotton seedlings under boron toxicity. A transcriptome analysis and corresponding verification revealed a significant up-regulation of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes, photosynthesis pathway, and ABC transporter genes with the application of ZnO NPs. These findings provide valuable insights for the mechanism of boron stress tolerance in cotton and provide a theoretical basis for applying ZnO NPs and ZnSO4 to reduce boron toxicity in cotton production.

The synthesis of nylon 6 and nylon 66 can be performed, starting with the selective hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexene, which is deemed to be environmentally friendly and cost-saving and to have higher atom efficiency. Nano-Ru catalyst was synthesized via a precipitation method. The prepared catalyst was evaluated in the selective hydrogenation of benzene toward cyclohexene generation in the presence of ZnSO4 in a liquid batch reactor. The promotion effect of the addition of amines, i.e., ethylenediamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine, was investigated. The fresh and spent catalysts were thoroughly characterized by XRD, TEM, AES, N2-sorption, FT-IR, and TPR. It was found that the addition of amines could significantly improve the catalytic selectivity toward cyclohexene formation in the presence of ZnSO4. This was attributed to the formation of (Zn(OH)2)5(ZnSO4)(H2O)x (x = 0.5, 3 or 4) through the reaction between ZnSO4 and the amines, which could be chemisorbed on the Ru surface. This led to retarding the formation of cyclohexane from the complete hydrogenation of benzene and, thus, increased the catalytic selectivity toward cyclohexene synthesis. Therefore, with the presence of ZnSO4, the amount of chemisorbed (Zn(OH)2)5(ZnSO4)(H2O)x increased with increasing amounts of added amines, leading to a decline in the catalytic activity toward benzene conversion and selectivity toward cyclohexene generation. When 7.6 mmol of diethanolamine and 10 g of ZrO2 were applied, the highest cyclohexene yields of 61.6% and 77.0% of benzene conversion were achieved over the Ru catalyst. Promising stability was demonstrated after six runs of catalytic experiments without regeneration. These achievements are not only promising for industrial application but also beneficial for designing other catalytic systems for selective hydrogenation.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant challenge in digestive system diseases, and emerging evidence underscores the critical role of zinc metabolism in its progression. This study aimed to investigate the clinical implications of genes at the intersection of zinc metabolism and CRC., Methods: We downloaded CRC prognosis-related genes and zinc metabolism-related genes from public databases. Then, the overlapping genes were screened out, and bioinformatics analysis was performed to obtain the hub gene associated with CRC prognosis. Subsequently, in vitro assays were carried out to investigate the expression of this hub gene and its exact mechanism between zinc metabolism and CRC., Results: HAMP was identified as the hub CRC prognostic gene from overlapping zinc metabolism-related and CRC prognostic genes. In vitro analysis showed HAMP was over-expressed in CRC, and its knockdown inhibited RKO and HCT-116 cell invasion and migration significantly. ZnSO 4 induced HAMP up-regulation to promote cell proliferation, while TPEN decreased HAMP expression to inhibit cell proliferation. Importantly, we further found that ZnSO 4 enhanced SMAD4 expression to augment HAMP promoter activity and promote cell proliferation in CRC., Conclusions: HAMP stands out as an independent prognostic factor in CRC, representing a potential therapeutic target. Its intricate regulation by zinc, particularly through the modulation of SMAD4, unveils a novel avenue for understanding CRC biology. This study provides valuable insights into the interplay between zinc metabolism, HAMP, and CRC, offering promising clinical indicators for CRC patients. The findings present a compelling case for further exploration and development of targeted therapeutic strategies in CRC management., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://tcr.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/tcr-23-1292/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Translational Cancer Research. All rights reserved.)

Cadmium (Cd) contamination is a serious challenge in agricultural soils worldwide, resulting in Cd entering the food chain mainly through plant-based food and threatening human health. Minimizing Cd bioaccumulation in wheat is an important way to prevent Cd hazards to humans. Hydroponic and pot experiments were conducted to comprehensively evaluate the effects of zinc sulfate (ZnSO 4) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) on Cd uptake, translocation, subcellular distribution, cellular ultrastructure, and gene expression in two wheat genotypes that differ in grain Zn accumulation. Results showed that high-dose nZnO significantly reduced root Cd concentration (52.44%∼56.85%) in two wheats, in contrast to ZnSO 4. The S216 exhibited higher tolerance to Cd compared to Z797. Importantly, Zn supplementation enhanced Cd sequestration into vacuoles and binding to cell walls, which conferred stability to ultracellular structures and photosynthetic apparatus. Down-regulation of influx transporter (TaHMA2 and TaLCT1) and up-regulation of efflux transporters (TaTM20 and TaHMA3) in Z797 might contribute to Zn-dependent alleviation of Cd toxicity and enhance its Cd tolerance. Down-regulation of ZIP transporters (TaZIP3 , -5 , and -7) might contribute to an increase in root Zn concentration and inhibit Cd absorption. Additionally, soil Zn provided an effective strategy for the reduction of grain Cd concentrations in both wheats, with a reduction of 26%∼32% (high ZnSO 4) and 11%∼67% (high nZnO), respectively. Collectively, these findings provide new insights and perspectives on the mechanisms of Cd mitigation in wheats with different Zn fertilizers and demonstrate that the effect of nZnO in mitigating Cd stress is greater than that of ZnSO 4 fertilizers. [Display omitted] • High Zn reduced Cd concentration in wheat roots, while low Zn increased it in shoots. • High-dose ZnO NPs was more effective than ZnSO 4 in alleviating Cd-induced toxicity. • Zn enhances Cd sequestration into vacuoles and chelation onto cell walls. • Zn downregulated TaLCT1 and TaHMA2 expression, while upregulating TaTM20 and TaHMA3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]