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Reuse of oilfield‐produced water (OPW) for crop irrigation has the potential to make a critical difference in the water budgets of highly productive but drought‐stressed agricultural watersheds. This is the first peer‐reviewed study to evaluate how trace metals in OPW used to irrigate California crops may affect human health. We modeled and quantified risks associated with consuming foods irrigated with OPW using available concentration data. The probabilistic risk assessment simulated OPW metal concentrations, crop uptake, human exposures, and potential noncancer and carcinogenic health effects. Overall, our findings indicate that there is a low risk of ingesting toxic amounts of metals from the consumption of tree nuts, citrus, grapes, and root vegetables irrigated with low‐saline OPW. Results show increased arsenic cancer risk (at 10−6) for adult vegetarians, assuming higher consumption of multiple foods irrigated with OPW that contain high arsenic concentrations. All other cancer risks are below levels of concern and all noncancer hazards are far below levels of concern. Arsenic risk concerns could be mitigated by practices such as blending high‐arsenic OPW. Future risk assessment research should model the risks of organic compounds in OPW, as our study focused on inorganic compounds. Nevertheless, our findings indicate that low‐saline OPW may provide a safe and sustainable alternative irrigation water source if water quality is adequately monitored and blended as needed prior to irrigation.

While oilfield produced water (PW) is one of the largest, unclaimed wastewater streams of the oil industry, it could potentially be used as a cultivation medium for microalgae. Microalgae could help with the remediation of this water while also delivering biomass that can be transformed into valuable byproducts such as biofuels. The coupling of these two purposes is expected to cut production costs of biofuels while aiding environmental protection. In this study, we compared the cultivation capacity of the marine model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum in media at varying salinities and in media composed of PW from two oilfields in the Central Valley of California that differed drastically in the concentration of inorganic and organic constituents. Specifically, we measured the carrying capacity of these media, the maximum growth rates of P. tricornutum, its cellular lipid accumulation capacity, and its capacity to remediate the most polluted PW source. Our study shows that P. tricornutum can successfully adjust to the tested cultivation media through processes of short-term acclimation and long-term adaptation. Furthermore, the cultivation of P. tricornutum in the most heavily polluted PW source led to significant increases in cell yield and improved photosynthetic capacity during the stationary phase, which could be attributed chiefly to the higher levels of nitrate present in this PW source. Chemical water analyses also demonstrated the capability of P. tricornutum to remediate major nutrient content and potentially harmful elements like fluorine and copper. Because P. tricornutum is amenable to advanced genetic engineering, which could be taken advantage of to improve its cultivation resilience and productivity in an economic setting, we propose this study as a step towards essential follow-up studies that will identify the genetic regulation behind its growth in oilfield PW media and its remediation of the PW constituents.

The consecutive occurrence of drought and reduction in natural water availability over the past several decades requires searching for alternative water sources for the agriculture sector in California. One alternative source to supplement natural waters is oilfield produced water (OPW) generated from oilfields adjacent to agricultural areas. For over 25 years, OPW has been blended with surface water and used for irrigation in the Cawelo Water District of Kern County, as permitted by California Water Board policy. This study aims to evaluate the potential environmental impact, soil quality, and crop health risks of this policy. We examined a large spectrum of salts, metals, radionuclides (226Ra and 228Ra), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in OPW, blended OPW used for irrigation, groundwater, and soils irrigated by the three different water sources. We found that all studied water quality parameters in the blended OPW were below current California irrigation quality guidelines. Yet, soils irrigated by blended OPW showed higher salts and boron relative to soils irrigated by groundwater, implying long-term salts and boron accumulation. We did not, however, find systematic differences in 226Ra and 228Ra activities and DOC in soils irrigated by blended or unblended OPW relative to groundwater-irrigated soils. Based on a comparison of measured parameters, we conclude that the blended low-saline OPW used in the Cawelo Water District of California is of comparable quality to the local groundwater in the region. Nonetheless, the salt and boron soil accumulation can pose long-term risks to soil sodification, groundwater salinization, and plant health; as such, the use of low-saline OPW for irrigation use in California will require continual blending with fresh water and planting of boron-tolerant crops to avoid boron toxicity.

Introduction: children with cerebral palsy (CP) have multiple risk factors for low bone mineral density or osteoporosis. Objective: to explore the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical and hormonal indicators of bone metabolism in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: a cross-sectional analytical study included 59 participants from six to 18 years of age with quadriplegic CP. Serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, 25OHD metabolite, parathyroid hormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase, and thyroid hormones were determined using standardized methods. The BMD measurement was obtained from the lumbar spine expressed in g/cm2 and Z-score. Unpaired Student's t-test, Chi-square test, odds ratio and Pearson's correlation were performed. Results: participants with CP and malnutrition had lower serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase. Those who had low BMD showed lower serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase. Most participants with low and normal BMD had vitamin D deficiency (27.1% and 10%) and insufficiency (35.4% and 30%), respectively. There was a significant correlation between BMD and serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, vitamin D and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). There were no differences in the biochemical and hormonal indicators by level of gross motor function, use of anticonvulsants and oral versus enteral feeding method. Conclusion: malnutrition and alteration of vitamin D nutritional status were associated with low BMD and alterations of biochemical indicators of bone metabolism in pediatric patients with quadriplegic CP. The relationship between BMD and biochemical indicators of bone metabolism in children with quadriplegic CP was also demonstrated.Introducción: los niños con parálisis cerebral (PC) presentan múltiples factores de riesgo de densidad mineral ósea baja u osteoporosis. Objetivo: explorar la asociación entre la baja densidad mineral ósea (DMO) e indicadores bioquímicos y hormonales del metabolismo óseo en niños con PC cuadripléjica. Métodos: un estudio transversal analítico incluyó a 59 participantes de entre seis y 18 años de edad con PC cuadripléjica. Las concentraciones séricas de calcio, fósforo, metabolito 25OHD, hormona paratiroidea (PTH), fosfatasa alcalina y hormonas tiroideas se determinaron utilizando métodos estandarizados. La medición de DMO se obtuvo de la columna lumbar expresada en g/cm2 y puntaje Z. Se realizaron pruebas t de Student no pareada, Chi-cuadrado, razón de momios y correlación de Pearson. Resultados: los participantes con PC y desnutrición tenían concentraciones séricas más bajas de calcio, fósforo y fosfatasa alcalina. Los participantes con DMO baja tuvieron menor concentración sérica de calcio, fósforo y fosfatasa alcalina. Los participantes con DMO baja y normal tenían deficiencia de vitamina D (27.1% y 10%) e insuficiencia (35.4% y 30%), respectivamente. Hubo una correlación significativa entre DMO y las concentraciones séricas de calcio, fósforo, fosfatasa alcalina, vitamina D y hormona estimulante de la tiroides. Conclusión: la desnutrición y la alteración del estado nutricio de la vitamina D se asociaron con DMO baja y alteraciones de los indicadores bioquímicos del metabolismo óseo. Se demostró una asociación entre DMO e indicadores bioquímicos y hormonales del metabolismo óseo en niños con PC cuadripléjica.

espanolIntroduccion: los ninos con paralisis cerebral (PC) presentan multiples factores de riesgo de densidad mineral osea baja u osteoporosis. Objetivo: explorar la asociacion entre la baja densidad mineral osea (DMO) e indicadores bioquimicos y hormonales del metabolismo oseo en ninos con PC cuadriplejica. Metodos: un estudio transversal analitico incluyo a 59 participantes de entre seis y 18 anos de edad con PC cuadriplejica. Las concentraciones sericas de calcio, fosforo, metabolito 25OHD, hormona paratiroidea (PTH), fosfatasa alcalina y hormonas tiroideas se determinaron utilizando metodos estandarizados. La medicion de DMO se obtuvo de la columna lumbar expresada en g/cm2 y puntaje Z. Se realizaron pruebas t de Student no pareada, Chi-cuadrado, razon de momios y correlacion de Pearson. Resultados: los participantes con PC y desnutricion tenian concentraciones sericas mas bajas de calcio, fosforo y fosfatasa alcalina. Los participantes con DMO baja tuvieron menor concentracion serica de calcio, fosforo y fosfatasa alcalina. Los participantes con DMO baja y normal tenian deficiencia de vitamina D (27.1% y 10%) e insuficiencia (35.4% y 30%), respectivamente. Hubo una correlacion significativa entre DMO y las concentraciones sericas de calcio, fosforo, fosfatasa alcalina, vitamina D y hormona estimulante de la tiroides. Conclusion: la desnutricion y la alteracion del estado nutricio de la vitamina D se asociaron con DMO baja y alteraciones de los indicadores bioquimicos del metabolismo oseo. Se demostro una asociacion entre DMO e indicadores bioquimicos y hormonales del metabolismo oseo en ninos con PC cuadriplejica. EnglishIntroduction: children with cerebral palsy (CP) have multiple risk factors for low bone mineral density or osteoporosis. Objective: to explore the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical and hormonal indicators of bone metabolism in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: a cross-sectional analytical study included 59 participants from six to 18 years of age with quadriplegic CP. Serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, 25OHD metabolite, parathyroid hormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase, and thyroid hormones were determined using standardized methods. The BMD measurement was obtained from the lumbar spine expressed in g/cm2 and Z-score. Unpaired Student’s t-test, Chi-square test, odds ratio and Pearson’s correlation were performed. Results: participants with CP and malnutrition had lower serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase. Those who had low BMD showed lower serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase. Most participants with low and normal BMD had vitamin D deficiency (27.1% and 10%) and insufficiency (35.4% and 30%), respectively. There was a significant correlation between BMD and serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, vitamin D and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). There were no differences in the biochemical and hormonal indicators by level of gross motor function, use of anticonvulsants and oral versus enteral feeding method. Conclusion: malnutrition and alteration of vitamin D nutritional status were associated with low BMD and alterations of biochemical indicators of bone metabolism in pediatric patients with quadriplegic CP. The relationship between BMD and biochemical indicators of bone metabolism in children with quadriplegic CP was also demonstrated.

Fourier Transform Infrared microscopy (FTIR) has become an essential analytical tool available to scientists to study various materials. Specifically FTIR has been increasingly used to study cell wall developments in plants, investigate the efficiency of the surface modification of polymers, identifying contaminants, and predicting the physical properties of certain polymers and biopolymers, etc. This chapter reviews some selected application of the FTIR to study cellulose development in cotton fibers and to predict cotton fiber physical properties. Cotton fiber maturity is a major yield component and an important fiber quality trait that is directly linked to the quantity of cellulose deposited during the secondary cell wall (SCW) biogenesis. Cotton fiber development consists of five major overlapping stages: differentiation, initiation, polar elongation, secondary cell wall development, and maturation. The transition period between 16 and 21 dpa (days post anthesis) is regarded to represent a major developmental stage between the primary cell wall and the SCW. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the structural changes that occur during the different developmental stages. The IR spectra of fibers harvested at different stages of development (10, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 27, 30, 36, 46, and 56 dpa) show the presence of vibrations located at 1,733 cm-1 (C=O stretching originating from esters or amides) and 1,534 cm-1 (NH2 deformation corresponding to proteins or amino acids). The results converge towards the conclusion that the transition phase between the primary cell wall and the secondary cell wall occurs between 17 and 18 dpa in fibers from TX19 cultivar, while this transition occurs between 21 and 24 dpa in fibers from TX55 cultivar. The Universal Attenuated Total Reflectance FTIR (UATR-FTIR) was used to evaluate the cotton fiber properties. One hundred and four cotton samples were selected. Thirty FTIR spectra were acquired from each sample and analyzed. Partial Least Square (PLS) analysis of the FTIR spectra was performed and the results showed that micronaire and surface area (calculated from the AFIS data) could be predicted from the FTIR measurements with very high coefficients of determination. However, the prediction of fiber maturity is probably not possible with the UATR-FTIR. It was concluded that, to be able to predict the fiber maturity with the FTIR, it would be necessary to perform the measurements in the transmission mode rather than in the reflectance mode.