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The surface binding site characteristics and Ni sorptive capacities of synthesized hydrous Mn oxyhydroxides experimentally conditioned to represent three hydrological conditions—MnOXW, freshly precipitated; MnOXD, dried at 37°C for 8 d; and MnOXC, cyclically hydrated and dehydrated (at 37°C) over a 24-h cycle for 7 d—were examined through particle size analysis, surface acid-base titrations and subsequent modelling of the pKa spectrum, and batch Ni sorption experiments at two pH values (2 and 5). Mineralogical bulk analyses by XRD indicate that all three treatments resulted in amorphous Mn oxyhydroxides; i.e., no substantial bulk crystalline phases were produced through drying. However, drying and repeated wetting and drying resulted in a non-reversible decrease in particle size. In contrast, total proton binding capacities determined by acid-base titrations were reversibly altered with drying and cyclically re-wetting and drying from 82 ± 5 μmol/m2 for the MnOXW to 21 ± 1 μmol/m2 for the MnOXD and 37 ± 5 μmol/m2 for the MnOXC. Total proton binding sites measured decreased by ≈75% with drying from the MnOXW and then increased to ≈50% of the MnOXW value in the MnOXC. Thus, despite a trend of higher surface area for the MnOXD, a lower total number of sites was observed, suggesting a coordinational change in the hydroxyl sites. Surface site characterization identified that changes also occurred in the types and densities of surface sites for each hydrologically conditioned Mn oxyhydroxide treatment (pH titration range of 2–10). Drying decreased the total number of sites as well as shifted the remaining sites to more acidic pKa values. Experimentally determined apparent pHzpc values decreased with drying, from 6.82 ± 0.06 for the MnOXW to 3.2 ± 0.3 for the MnOXD and increased again with rewetting to 5.05 ± 0.05 for the MnOXC. Higher Ni sorption was observed at pH 5 for all three Mn oxyhydroxide treatments compared to pH 2. However, changes in relative sorptive capacities among the three treatments were observed for pH 2 that are not explainable simply as a function of total binding site density or apparent pHzpc values. These results are the first to our knowledge, to quantitatively link the changes induced by hydrologic variability for surface acid base characteristics and metal sorption patterns. Further, these results likely extend to other amorphous minerals, such as Fe oxyhydroxides, which are commonly important geochemical solids for metal scavenging in natural environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A modified regularized least squares pKa spectrum approach is applied to determine disassociation constants and proton binding site concentrations on bacteria, hydrous ferric oxide (HFO), and bacteria/HFO composite surfaces. This involves fitting experimental acid–base titration data to a continuous binding site model for a chemically heterogeneous surface with a variety of reactive groups yielding a pKa spectrum. The modified parameter fitting method optimizes simultaneously for both smoothness of the pKa spectrum and goodness of fit, whereas other methods optimize for goodness of fit given a fixed smoothness factor. Uncertainty estimates in pKa spectra were made by taking the mean and standard deviation of the spectra from replicate titration data. Titration of Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN32, a facultative iron-reducing bacterial species, demonstrate five types of binding sites consistent with known cell surface groups on bacteria, with mean pKa values of 3.62, 4.97, 6.92, 8.22, and 9.97. Composite surfaces formed by precipitation of HFO onto bacteria surfaces were also titrated. These surfaces no longer yielded low pKa sites in pKa spectra, indicating that ferric iron interacts with the bacteria via carboxylic (low pKa) sites during precipitation. In addition, mechanically mixed HFO bacterial samples also showed removal of carboxylic binding sites, suggesting that solid phase HFO interacts directly with carboxylic sites on bacterial cells. Moreover, the pKa spectra for HFO bacterial composites were not dependent on how the composite was formed; the mechanically mixed or surface-precipitated samples exhibited very similar binding site distributions. The determined pKa spectra imply that the overall binding mechanism for bacteria interactions with HFO involve carboxylic groups on the bacteria binding to the most basic sites on the HFO surface in approximately 1:1 stoichiometry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The proper application of biotic ligand models to predict metal toxicity depends on accurate prediction of metal binding to sites on natural organic matter (NOM) which compete with the ‘biotic’ ligand for available metal. A hard and soft metal classification along with associated ligand groups (carboxyl, phenolic, amino, sulfidic) are used as a basis to predict metal speciation in the presence of aqueous organic matter. Compilation of conditional metal formation constants (log K′) are made for each ligand type using model ligands. Model ligands were chosen to reflect those found in NOM and bio-organic media. Total ligand concentration (LT) estimates for different natural settings and log K′ values are then used to generate a LT–log K′ distributions for a specific metal. A plot for Cu(II) gives a similar trend as a compilation of measured data for natural environments. A log K′–LT plot for Ag(I) shows a much more discrete binding pattern than for Cu(II). Estimation of speciation of a specific metal in a specific environmental setting and to design speciation and toxicological experiments requires accurate knowledge of the functional groups in NOM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Intrinsic acidity constants (pKaint) for Bacillus subtilis (Gram+) and Escherichia coli (Gram−) cells were calculated from potentiometric titration data at different salt concentrations. Master curves were generated by replotting charge excess data as a function of pHS (pH at the location of surface reactive sites) where pHS was determined as a function of Donnan potential, ΨDON. This potential decreased in magnitude with increasing ionic strength, from −48.5±0.2 to −3.5±0.0 mV for B. subtilis and −47.9±0.3 to −3.5±0.0 mV for E. coli at 0.01 and 0.5 M K+, respectively, indicating an efficient surface charge neutralization by counterions. A fully optimized continuous (FOCUS) pKa distribution method revealed four binding sites on B. subtilis and E. coli surfaces from the master curves with pKaint values of 3.59±0.38, 4.33±0.57, 5.94±0.66, and 8.64±0.57 for B. subtilis and 3.73±0.44, 4.85±0.71, 6.56±0.64, and 8.79±0.62 for E. coli. These were assigned to functional groups according to reported pKa ranges of 2.0–6.0 (carboxylic acid), 3.2–3.5 (phosphodiesters), 5.6–7.2 (phosphoric acid), and 9.0–11.0 (amine groups). Average points of zero salt effect (pHpzse) for B. subtilis experiments were 6.63±0.21 and 6.42±0.08 as a function of pHbulk and pHS, respectively. Under the same criteria, E. coli calculations yielded 5.73±0.23 and 5.45±0.05. An understanding of metal and proton reactivity on bacterial cell surfaces can be addressed quantitatively through the use of electrostatic and chemical equilibrium modeling techniques proposed in this study. The results are consistent with those of electrical force microscopy studies used to document the intrinsic electrochemical heterogeneity of bacterial cell surfaces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines case reports of Mycobacterium terrae infection. Most common debilitating disease resulting from M. terrae infection; Importance of trauma in the infection; Inadequacy of antibiotic regimens reflected by the morbidity and mortality associated with M. terrae infections.

Chemically mediated recovery of phosphorous (P) as vivianite from the sludges generated by chemical phosphorus removal (CPR) is a potential means of enhancing sustainability of wastewater treatment. This study marks an initial attempt to explore direct P release and recovery from lab synthetic Fe-P sludge via reductive dissolution using ascorbic acid (AA) under acidic conditions. The effects of AA/Fe molar ratio, age of Fe-P sludge and pH were examined to find the optimum conditions for Fe-P reductive solubilization and vivianite precipitation. The performance of the reductive, chelating, and acidic effects of AA toward Fe-P sludge were evaluated by comparison with hydroxylamine (reducing agent), oxalic acid (chelating agent), and inorganic acids (pH effect) including HNO 3 , HCl, and H 2 SO 4 . Full solubilization of Fe-P sludge and reduction of Fe 3+ were observed at pH values 3 and 4 for two Fe/AA molar ratios of 1:2 and 1:4. Sludge age (up to 11 days) did not affect the reductive solubilization of Fe-P with AA addition. The reductive dissolution of Fe-P sludge with hydroxylamine was negligible, while both P (95 ± 2%) and Fe 3+ (90 ± 1%) were solubilized through non-reductive dissolution by oxalic acid treatment at an Fe/oxalic acid molar ratio 1:2 and a pH 3. With sludge treatment with inorganic acids at pH 3, P and Fe release was very low (<10%) compared to AA and oxalic acid treatment. After full solubilization of Fe-P sludge by AA treatment at pH 3 it was possible to recover the phosphorus and iron as vivianite by simple pH adjustment to pH 7; P and Fe recoveries of 88 ± 2% and 90 ± 1% respectively were achieved in this manner. XRD analysis, Fe/P molar ratio measurements, and magnetic attraction confirmed vivianite formation. PHREEQC modeling showed a reasonable agreement with the measured release of P and Fe from Fe-P sludge and vivianite formation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Crown Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Soil organic matter (SOM) has a critical role in regulating soil phosphorus (P) dynamics and producing phytoavailable P. However, soil P dynamics are often explained mainly by the effects of soil pH, clay contents, and elemental compositions, such as calcium, iron, and aluminum. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms of how SOM influences phytoavailable P in soils is required for establishing effective agricultural management for soil health and enhancement of soil fertility, especially P-use efficiency. In this review, the following abiotic and biotic mechanisms are discussed; (1) competitive sorption between SOM with P for positively charged adsorption sites of clays and metal oxides (abiotic reaction), (2) competitive complexations between SOM with P for cations (abiotic reaction), (3) competitive complexations between incorporation of P by binary complexations of SOM and bridging cations with the formation of stable P minerals (abiotic reaction), (4) enhanced activities of enzymes, which affects soil P dynamics (biotic reaction), (5) mineralization/immobilization of P during the decay of SOM (biotic reaction), and (6) solubilization of inorganic P mediated by organic acids released by microbes (biotic reaction)., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is known to ameliorate the toxicity of the trace metal nickel (Ni) to aquatic animals. In theory, this effect is mediated by the capacity of DOC to bind Ni, rendering it less bioavailable, with the resulting reduction in accumulation limiting toxicological effects. However, there is a lack of experimental data examining Ni accumulation in marine settings with natural sources of DOC. In the current study, radiolabelled Ni was used to examine the time- and concentration-dependence of Ni accumulation, using naturally sourced DOC, on developing larvae of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Contrary to prediction, the two tested natural DOC samples (collected from the eastern United States, DOC 2 (Seaview park, Rhode Island (SVP)) and DOC 7 (Aubudon Coastal Center, Connecticut)) which had previously been shown to protect against Ni toxicity, did not limit accumulation. The control (artificial seawater with no added DOC), and the DOC 2 sample could mostly be described as having saturable Ni uptake, whereas Ni uptake in the presence of DOC 7 was mostly linear. These data provide evidence that DOC modifies the bioavailability of Ni, through either indirect effects (e.g. membrane permeability) or by the absorption of DOC-Ni complexes. There was some evidence for regulation of Ni accumulation in later-stage embryos (96-h) where the bioconcentration factor for Ni declined with increasing Ni exposure concentration. These data have implications for predictive modelling approaches that rely on known relationships between Ni speciation, bioavailability and bioreactivity, by suggesting that these relationships may not hold for natural marine DOC samples in the developing sea urchin model system., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

For the purposes of vaccination, persons with asymptomatic HIV infection and CD4+ cell counts of 200/μL to 500/μL are considered to have limited immune deficits and are generally candidates for immunization. HIVinfected persons with CD4+ cell counts less than 200/μL or history of an AIDS-defining illness should not receive live-attenuated viral or bacterial vaccines because of the risk of serious systemic disease and suboptimal response to vaccination. Available data indicate that immunization during antiretroviral therapy restores vaccine immunogenicity, improves the rate and persistence of immune responses, and reduces risk of vaccine-related adverse events, although vaccine responses often are suboptimal. Major issues for travelers to the developing world are vaccine-preventable illnesses (hepatitis A virus, yellow fever, and typhoid fever), traveler's diarrhea, and malaria. This article summarizes a presentation by D. Scott Smith, MD, at the IAS-USA continuing medical education program held in San Francisco in April 2012.

Various quality predictors of seven different natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) and humic substances were evaluated for their influence on protection of Daphnia magna neonates against copper (Cu) toxicity. Protection was examined at 3 and 6 mg l(-1) of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of each DOM isolate added to moderately hard, dechlorinated water. Other water chemistry parameters (pH, concentrations of DOC, calcium, magnesium and sodium) were kept relatively constant. Predictors included absorbance ratios Abs(254/365) (index of molecular weight) and Abs-octanol(254)/Abs-water(254) (index of lipophilicity), specific absorption coefficient (SAC(340); index of aromaticity), and fluorescence index (FI; index of source). In addition, the fluorescent components (humic-like, fulvic-like, tryptophan-like, and tyrosine-like) of the isolates were quantified by parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). Up to 4-fold source-dependent differences in protection were observed amongst the different DOMs. Significant correlations in toxicity amelioration were found with Abs(254/365), Abs-octanol(254)/Abs-water(254), SAC(340), and with the humic-like fluorescent component. The relationships with FI were not significant and there were no relationships with the tryptophan-like or tyrosine-like fluorescent components at 3 mg C l(-1), whereas a negative correlation was seen with the fulvic-like component. In general, the results indicate that larger, optically dark, more lipophilic, more aromatic DOMs of terrigenous origin, with higher humic-like content, are more protective against Cu toxicity. A method for incorporating SAC(340) as a DOM quality indicator into the Biotic Ligand Model is presented; this may increase the accuracy for predicting Cu toxicity in natural waters.

Copper-induced toxicity in aqueous systems depends on its speciation and bioavailability. Natural organic matter (NOM) and reduced sulphur species can complex copper, influencing speciation and decreasing bioavailability. NOM composition in estuaries can vary, depending on inputs of terrigenous, autochthonous, or wastewater source material. At a molecular level, variability in NOM quality potentially results in different extents of copper binding. The aims of this study were to measure acute copper EC(50) values in coastal marine and estuarine waters, and identify the relationships between total dissolved copper EC(50) values and measured water chemistry parameters proportional to NOM and reduced sulphur composition. This has implications on the development of marine-specific toxicity prediction models. NOM was characterised using dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and fluorescence measurements, combined with spectral resolution techniques, to quantify humic-, fulvic-, tryptophan-, and tyrosine-like fractions. Reduced sulphur was measured by the chromium-reducible sulphide (CRS) technique. Acute copper toxicity tests were performed on samples expressing extreme DOC, fluorescent terrigenous, autochthonous, and CRS concentrations. The results show significant differences in NOM quality, independent of DOC concentration. CRS is variable among the samples; concentrations ranging from 4 to 40 nM. The toxicity results suggest DOC as a very good predictive measure of copper EC(50) in estuaries (r(2)=0.87) independent of NOM quality. Furthermore, for filtered samples, CRS exists at concentrations that would be saturated with copper at measured EC(50), suggesting that while CRS might bind Cu and decrease bioavailability, it does not control copper speciation at toxicologically relevant concentrations and therefore is not a good predictive measure of copper toxicity in filtered samples., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A modified regularized least squares pK(a) spectrum approach is applied to determine disassociation constants and proton binding site concentrations on bacteria, hydrous ferric oxide (HFO), and bacteria/HFO composite surfaces. This involves fitting experimental acid-base titration data to a continuous binding site model for a chemically heterogeneous surface with a variety of reactive groups yielding a pK(a) spectrum. The modified parameter fitting method optimizes simultaneously for both smoothness of the pK(a) spectrum and goodness of fit, whereas other methods optimize for goodness of fit given a fixed smoothness factor. Uncertainty estimates in pK(a) spectra were made by taking the mean and standard deviation of the spectra from replicate titration data. Titration of Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN32, a facultative iron-reducing bacterial species, demonstrate five types of binding sites consistent with known cell surface groups on bacteria, with mean pK(a) values of 3.62, 4.97, 6.92, 8.22, and 9.97. Composite surfaces formed by precipitation of HFO onto bacteria surfaces were also titrated. These surfaces no longer yielded low pK(a) sites in pK(a) spectra, indicating that ferric iron interacts with the bacteria via carboxylic (low pK(a)) sites during precipitation. In addition, mechanically mixed HFO bacterial samples also showed removal of carboxylic binding sites, suggesting that solid phase HFO interacts directly with carboxylic sites on bacterial cells. Moreover, the pK(a) spectra for HFO bacterial composites were not dependent on how the composite was formed; the mechanically mixed or surface-precipitated samples exhibited very similar binding site distributions. The determined pK(a) spectra imply that the overall binding mechanism for bacteria interactions with HFO involve carboxylic groups on the bacteria binding to the most basic sites on the HFO surface in approximately 1:1 stoichiometry.

Chronic gastroparesis and CIP are debilitating disorders that are difficult to treat with currently available therapies. Failure of proper migration and differentiation of enteric neurons or ICC can result from specific genetic mutations and lead to phenotypes of CIP with or without concomitant gastroparesis. Intestinal dysfunction in diabetes may reflect a depletion of NO production (and perhaps other neurotransmitters or modulators), which is manifest as a syndrome of gastroparesis, diarrhea, or constipation in individual patients. As the key molecular changes underlying these disorders are defined, clinicians will begin to understand their precise etiology and rational medical therapy may become possible. In the future, testable hypotheses regarding the etiology of other functional bowel disorders (e.g., functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and so forth) may be developed.