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Direct seeded aerobic rice (DSR) is an emerging production system in Asia due to declining water availability and labor scarcity. Iron (Fe) deficiency is a severe problem in DSR as Fe2+ oxidized to Fe3+ and become unavailable to plants. Seed treatment is one of the emerging approaches to deal with Fe deficiency and content in rice crop to compensate this issue. Hence, pot experiment was planned in randomized block design to study the effect of Fe seed priming through different sources, i.e., iron sulfate (FeSO4.7H2O), Chelated iron (Fe-EDTA) and nano iron (FeONPs) and their levels on yield and Fe content in direct seeded aerobic rice (variety PR 126) under sandy loam and silt loam soils with three replications. On an average, seed priming with FeSO4.7H2O solution (1.0% Fe) showed the highest increase in grain yield (12.7%) over the control. On the other hand, increasing dose of Fe from 0.5 to 1.0% through Fe-EDTA showed adverse effects on rice yield due to higher residual effects. The plant height and chlorophyll content in rice plants varied from 26.1 to 42.2 cm and from 30.9 to 35.1 as SPAD value with maximum content in treatment having FeSO4.7H2O (0.5%Fe) in both the soils. The total and ferrous Fe content in rice plants ranged from 42.7 to 62.2 mg kg−1 and from 35.8 to 41.0 in harvested grains with the highest content in treatment having Fe-EDTA (0.5%Fe) followed by treatment FeSO4.7H2O (1.0%Fe) and treatment Fe-EDTA (0.25%Fe), respectively. Thus, seed priming of rice with 1.0%Fe solution using FeSO4.7H2O can be used for further studies to reduce Fe malnutrition in global population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron spin crossover in (Mg1‐xFex)O ferropericlase causes changes to its physical properties that are expected to affect seismic velocities in Earth's lower mantle. We present new time‐resolved pressure‐volume measurements of iron‐rich ferropericlase (xFe = 0.40, 0.59) and combine the results with literature data with xFe = 0.04–0.6 to investigate the dependence of ferropericlase elastic properties on iron content. We infer the relationship between unit‐cell volume, pressure and iron content directly from the data by training Mixture Density Networks and derive bulk modulus, density and bulk sound velocity from the outputs. This allows us to constrain the effect of the spin crossover on these properties and estimate their uncertainties for different iron contents. Our findings indicate that the spin crossover may significantly alter the physical properties of ferropericlase in iron‐enriched regions in the lowermost mantle, with implications for the interpretation of seismic heterogeneities observed near the core‐mantle boundary. Plain Language Summary: The most voluminous layer in Earth's interior is the lower mantle, the deepest layer above the core. About 18% consists of the mineral ferropericlase, an iron‐magnesium oxide. Under the extreme pressures in the lower mantle, the iron atoms of ferropericlase change at the electronic level, in a process called the spin crossover. This leads to changes in the material properties of ferropericlase that affect seismic wave speeds. Seismic waves are produced by earthquakes and can be used to investigate Earth's interior, but interpreting seismic observations requires constraints on the properties of mantle minerals. Here we investigate how the spin crossover depends on ferropericlase iron content. We conducted new high‐pressure experiments on samples containing 40% and 59% iron and combine our results with literature data for a range of ferropericlase compositions. Results from different studies show inconsistencies, caused by uncertainties inherent to experimental data. To overcome this, we use machine learning to infer the relationships between material properties, pressure and iron content. Our results show that the spin crossover would significantly alter properties of iron‐rich ferropericlase in the deepest parts of the lower mantle. This may help to explain the anomalous behavior of seismic waves in regions near the core‐mantle boundary. Key Points: New time‐resolved compression data on (Mg0.60Fe0.40)O and (Mg0.41Fe0.59)O across the spin crossover pressure rangeEffect of iron content on elastic properties of ferropericlase inferred from experimental data using machine learning techniquesSpin crossover effects in iron‐rich ferropericlase may contribute to seismic heterogeneities in the lowermost mantle [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the feasibility of using photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD CT) to simultaneously quantify fat and iron content Phantoms with pure fat, pure iron and fat-iron deposition were scanned by two tube voltages (120 and 140 kV) and two image quality (IQ) settings (80 and 145). Using an iron-specific three-material decomposition algorithm, virtual noniron (VNI) and virtual iron content (VIC) images were generated at quantum iterative reconstruction (QIR) strength levels 1–4. Significant linear correlations were observed between known fat content (FC) and VNI for pure fat phantoms (r = 0.981–0.999, p < 0.001) and between known iron content (IC) and VIC for pure iron phantoms (r = 0.897–0.975, p < 0.001). In fat–iron phantoms, the measurement for fat content of 5–30% demonstrated good linearity between FC and VNI (r = 0.919–0.990, p < 0.001), and VNI were not affected by 75, 150, and 225 µmol/g iron overload (p = 0.174–0.519). The measurement for iron demonstrated a linear range of 75–225 µmol/g between IC and VIC (r = 0.961–0.994, p < 0.001) and VIC was not confounded by the coexisting 5%, 20%, and 30% fat deposition (p = 0.943–0.999). The Bland–Altman of fat and iron measurements were not significantly different at varying tube voltages and IQ settings (all p > 0.05). No significant difference in VNI and VIC at QIR 1–4. PCD CT can accurately and simultaneously quantify fat and iron, including scan parameters with lower radiation dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sr 1- x Ce x Fe 12 O 19 and Sr 1- x Ce x Fe 12- y O 19-δ (x = 0–0.2, y = 0–2) powders were synthesized by sol-gel auto-combustion method, and the effect on the structure and magnetic properties of changes in doping concentration and iron content has been investigated. XRD results confirmed the formation of M phase and impurities of CeO 2 and Fe 2 O 3. The SEM results show that cerium doping leads to a decrease in grain size. For Sr 1- x Ce x Fe 12 O 19 , the saturation magnetization increases to 77.73 emu/g first and then decreases with the increase of cerium doping. More importantly, our study also found that as the Ce doping concentration and iron content change, the interaction between the two changes differently. This interaction will have different effects on the occupancy of iron ions at spin-up and spin-down sites, ultimately leading to a significant characteristic change in magnetic properties. For Sr 1- x Ce x Fe 12- y O 19-δ , with the iron content decreases, the magnetic properties continue to decrease at x = 0.03, increase first and then decrease at x = 0.1, and keep improving at x = 0.2. It is of reference significance to change the magnetic properties of strontium ferrites by adjusting the relationship between rare earth doping concentration and iron content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the causal relationship between abdominal multiorgan iron content and PD risk using publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) data. Methods: We conducted MR analysis to assess the effects of iron content in various abdominal organs on PD risk, followed by reverse analysis. Additionally, MVMR analysis evaluated the independent effects of organ-specific iron content on PD. We utilized genetic variation data from the UK Biobank, including liver iron content (n = 32,858), spleen iron content (n = 35,324), and pancreas iron content (n = 25,617), as well as summary-level data for Parkinson's disease from the FinnGen (n = 218,473) and two other large GWAS datasets of European populations (First dataset n = 480,018; Second dataset n = 2,829). The primary MR analysis used the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method, confirmed by MR-Egger and weighted median methods. Sensitivity analysis was performed to address potential pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Observational cohort results were validated through replication cohort analysis, followed by meta-analysis. Results: IVW analysis revealed a causal relationship between increased liver iron content and elevated risk of PD (OR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.05-1.53; p = 0.015). No significant causal relationship was observed between spleen (OR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.76-1.32; p = 0.983) and pancreatic (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.72-1.20; p = 0.573) iron content and increased risk of PD. Meta-analysis of GWAS data for PD from three different sources using the random-effects IVW method showed a statistically significant causal relationship between liver iron content and the occurrence of PD (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.35; p = 0.012). Conclusion: This study presents evidence from Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis indicating a significant causal link between increased liver iron content and a higher risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). These findings suggest that interventions targeting body iron metabolism, particularly liver iron levels, may be effective in preventing PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color changes in wheat and cooking water, which affect the quality of bulgur and wastewater, are important. Understanding the impacts of cooking water acidity, hardness, and iron content is significant for producing bright‐yellow colored bulgur and determining the possible negative effects of cooking water on the environment. Thereby, the gelatinization degree and color (L*, a*, b*, and yellowness index) of wheat cooked with waters at different pH (3, 5, 7, 9, and 11), hardness (soft, hard, and very hard), and iron content (0, 1, and 2 mg/L) were determined every 10 min of cooking. pH, Brix, conductivity, hardness, turbidity, and color of cooking waters were also determined and kinetically modeled. After cooking, it was revealed that cooking with water at pH 3 favored the color of cooked wheat, whereas pH 11 caused darkening. Nevertheless, as the wastewater pH of cooking waters with pH 3 and 11 may be harmful to the environment, it is recommended to use water in the range of pH 5–9 for bulgur production. Cooking with very hard water is also not recommended as it causes some adverse effects such as diminishing the gelatinization rate in wheat, increasing the cooking time, and negatively affecting the color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of many tumors is known to induce iron and zinc deficiency in the body. Here, we studied the tissue content of iron and zinc, as well as the specific activity of two antioxidant metalloenzymes, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), in three distant organs (thymus, liver and spleen) of mice bearing transplantable hepatoma 22a. The revealed alterations in the metal content were compared to changes in organ weights. On day 21 of tumor growth, the non-heme iron content was decreased in all three organs, while that of zinc in the thymus only, as compared to controls. CAT and SOD specific activities were increased in the thymus, while SOD activity was decreased in the liver. At the same time point, thymic involution and splenomegaly were observed to develop. In an attempt to normalize metal content, hepatoma 22a-bearing mice were supplemented with zinc sulfate (22 µg/mL in drinking water) for 3 weeks. Zinc sulfate supplementation partly compensated for zinc deficiency in the thymus, increased zinc content in the liver, and restored iron content in all three organs. It also normalized SOD activity in the liver, while having no effect on both enzymes in other organs. Zinc supplementation did not influence splenic and hepatic weights, but prevented the development of thymic involution. At the same time, the deficiency of both metals in the thymus was restored, while the activity of antioxidant enzymes remained unchanged. It was concluded that thymic involution during hepatoma 22a growth in mice was due to iron and zinc deficiency in this organ, but not to the activity of antioxidant enzymes, whereas splenomegaly was not associated with either. Thus, zinc sulphate exerts a positive effect on metabolism of two vital trace elements, zinc and iron, in mice bearing hepatoma 22a, preserving the thymus as a central immune organ and, at the same time, improving the antioxidant system of the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Iron, a crucial micronutrient, is an integral element of biotic vitality. The scarcity of iron in the soil creates agronomic challenges and has a detrimental impact on crop vigour and chlorophyll formation. Utilizing iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) via nanopriming emerges as an innovative method to enhance agricultural efficiency and crop health. The objective of this study was to synthesize biogenic IONPs from Glycyrrhiza glabra (G. glabra) plant extract using green chemistry and to evaluate their nanopriming effects on rice seed iron levels and growth. The synthesized IONPs were analyzed using UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques. The UV–Vis peak at 280 nm revealed the formation of IONPs. SEM and TEM showed that the nanoparticles were spherical and had an average diameter of 23.8 nm. Nanopriming resulted in a substantial enhancement in growth, as seen by a 9.25% and 22.8% increase in shoot lengths for the 50 ppm and 100 ppm treatments, respectively. The yield metrics showed a positive correlation with the concentrations of IONPs. The 1000-grain weight and spike length observed a maximum increase of 193.75% and 97.73%, respectively, at the highest concentration of IONPs. The study indicates that G. glabra synthesized IONPs as a nanopriming agent significantly increased rice seeds' growth and iron content. This suggests that there is a relationship between the dosage of IONPs and their potential for improving agricultural biofortification.

Abstract Background During alfalfa harvesting and preservation, it is important to minimize losses and preserve dry matter and nutrients. Soil contamination of alfalfa forage is a common issue that occurs during the ensiling process. Soil contamination can adversely influence the quality of silage, potentially altering the fermentation process, microbial composition, and iron content. Results In this study, different levels of soil (0, 1.5% or 7.5% contamination on a wet basis; silt loam soil) and two types of additives (LP, Lactobacillus plantarum inoculant alone; MLP, combination addition of molasses and Lactobacillus plantarum) were added to alfalfa and subjected to anaerobic fermentation for 45 days to evaluate the iron content as well as the alpha diversity and relative abundance of bacterial and fungal communities. Soil-contaminated alfalfa contained lower levels of LA (14.2–41.8 g kg−1 DM) and higher levels of AN (50.0–156.4 g kg−1 DM) compared to uncontaminated alfalfa. Soil contamination of alfalfa forage increased the abundance of Clostridia, Actinobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria in silage. The application of LP or MLP in soil-contaminated silage increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and inhibited the growth of Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus pentosaceus, unclassified_f_Enterobacteriaceae, and Weissella cibaria. In addition, as the level of soil contamination increased, both the total and bioaccessible iron contents in alfalfa silage increased. The dominant bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum exhibited a positive relationship with LA and bioaccessible iron contents and a negative relationship with pH, AN and BA. The dominant fungi Neocosmospora rubicola showed a positive relationship with total iron, BA, AN and pH. Conclusions Soil contamination of alfalfa increased the abundance of Clostridia, Actinobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria and it also increased the total and bioaccessible iron content in silage. The addition of LP and MLP improved the fermentation quality of soil-contaminated silage by increasing LA production and reducing the relative abundance of Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus pentosaceus, unclassified_f_Enterobacteriaceae, and Weissella cibaria. Graphical Abstract

The authors validate the use of magnetic hydrocycloning in extraction of weak magnetic-responsive slime particles from finely dispersed magnetic suspension. Efficiency of a lab-scale magnetic hydrocyclone with regular electromagnetic system of copper wires on the cone, without superconductive materials involved, in extraction of magnetite particles –20 m in size is described. The test results prove recoverability of hematite and other weakly magnetic minerals in magnetic hydrocycloning at the required flux density of 2–10 T created by a superconductive magnetic system under conditions of cooling at the liquid nitrogen temperature, which minimizes energy intake of magnetic separation. The use of the superconductive magnetic system and high-temperature materials on the hydrocyclone cone enables efficient extraction of weakly magnetic particles, for instance, red mud –10 m in size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During alfalfa harvesting and preservation, it is important to minimize losses and preserve dry matter and nutrients. Soil contamination of alfalfa forage is a common issue that occurs during the ensiling process. Soil contamination can adversely influence the quality of silage, potentially altering the fermentation process, microbial composition, and iron content. Results: In this study, different levels of soil (0, 1.5% or 7.5% contamination on a wet basis; silt loam soil) and two types of additives (LP, Lactobacillus plantarum inoculant alone; MLP, combination addition of molasses and Lactobacillus plantarum) were added to alfalfa and subjected to anaerobic fermentation for 45 days to evaluate the iron content as well as the alpha diversity and relative abundance of bacterial and fungal communities. Soil-contaminated alfalfa contained lower levels of LA (14.2–41.8 g kg−1 DM) and higher levels of AN (50.0–156.4 g kg−1 DM) compared to uncontaminated alfalfa. Soil contamination of alfalfa forage increased the abundance of Clostridia, Actinobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria in silage. The application of LP or MLP in soil-contaminated silage increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and inhibited the growth of Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus pentosaceus, unclassified_f_Enterobacteriaceae, and Weissella cibaria. In addition, as the level of soil contamination increased, both the total and bioaccessible iron contents in alfalfa silage increased. The dominant bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum exhibited a positive relationship with LA and bioaccessible iron contents and a negative relationship with pH, AN and BA. The dominant fungi Neocosmospora rubicola showed a positive relationship with total iron, BA, AN and pH. Conclusions: Soil contamination of alfalfa increased the abundance of Clostridia, Actinobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria and it also increased the total and bioaccessible iron content in silage. The addition of LP and MLP improved the fermentation quality of soil-contaminated silage by increasing LA production and reducing the relative abundance of Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus pentosaceus, unclassified_f_Enterobacteriaceae, and Weissella cibaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the effect of iron content on the pitting corrosion behavior of a Ni-Cr-Mo alloy coating in a simulated seawater environment, a Ni-Cr-Mo-xFe (x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25) alloy coating was prepared through laser cladding technology. These coatings primarily consist of a γ-Ni solid solution phase, with observable iron segregation in the interdendritic regions when the iron content reaches 25 wt%. After 42 days of salt spray corrosion, it was found that pitting began to appear on the surface when the iron content in the coating increased to 10 wt%. The results of electrochemical behavior revealed that the coatings with iron contents in a range of 10–25 wt% exhibited metastable pitting characteristics, and the impedance modulus decreased with the increase in iron content. Pitting corrosion occurs due to selective corrosion of the dendritic regions. When the iron content exceeds 10 wt%, the accumulation of iron in the outer layer of the passivation film would lead to an excess of cationic vacancies, and the stability of the passive film is then reduced. This study provides a reference for the control of the iron content in a Ni-Cr-Mo alloy coating when applied in marine environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In eastern Ethiopia, sweet potato is a vital food and nutrition security crop; moreover, orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) varieties are rich in beta-carotene content and have the potential to alleviate chronic Vitamin A malnutrition in the region. However, the unavailability of adaptable varieties and lack of information on production and post-harvest handling practices have limited its production and utilization in eastern Ethiopia. The research was conducted to identify the proper harvesting stage of OFSP varieties for optimum yield and nutritional compositions at Rare and Babile research stations of Haramaya University during the main rainy season of 2022. Three varieties (Alamura, Kabode, and Bakule) and four harvesting periods (120, 150, 180, and 210 days after planting (DAP) in factorial combinations were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected for growth, yield, and physicochemical composition-related parameters. Combined analysis of variance revealed the interaction effect of harvesting time and varieties had a significant (p

Accelerated carbonation effectively mitigates the unsoundness issue of steel slag caused by free CaO/MgO. However, the long-term impact of residual uncarbonated iron-rich phases, which may oxidize and lead to expansion and degradation during long-term curing, remains unclear. This study investigated the long-term behavior of carbonated steel slag blocks with varying residual iron content in the steel slag obtained by magnetic separation. The carbon sequestration efficiency, mechanical properties, volume stability, and microstructure were thoroughly evaluated. Results revealed that carbonated steel slag blocks with a higher residual Fe2O3 content (38.47 %) achieved only 46 % of the compressive strength and 37 % of the CO2 uptake compared to those with lower residual iron content (25.88 %). Through 180 days of accelerated degradation and natural curing tests, it was observed that the compressive strength of blocks exhibited an overall increase of 20–150 %, especially in blocks with high iron content, due to the hydration of uncarbonated steel slag. Despite the formation of rust in samples with elevated residual iron content, as verified through XRD and optical microscopy, no substantial negative impacts were observed at later stages. The excessive residual iron containing phase contributed to the formation porous microstructure and enhance the capacity of accommodating corrosion products. This study highlights that reducing residual iron content through magnetic separation not only enhances the mechanical properties and stability of carbonated steel slag blocks, but also offers a valuable recycling opportunity for steel and iron industries.

With a shift towards plant-based diets for human and planetary health, monitoring the mineral content of staple crops is important to ensure population nutrient requirements can be met. This review aimed to explore changes in the iron content of unprocessed wheat and rice in Australia over time. A comprehensive systematic search of four electronic databases and the gray literature was conducted. A total of 25 papers published between 1930 and 2023 that measured the iron content of unprocessed wheat and rice were included. Triticum aestivum was the most common wheat type studied, including 26 cultivars; iron content ranged from 40 to 50 µg/g in the 1930s and 1970s and was more variable after this time due to the introduction of modern cultivars, with most values between 25 and 45 µg/g. The iron content of rice (Oryza sativa) was more consistent at 10–15 µg/g between the 1980s and 2020s. Variations over the years may be attributed to environmental, biological, and methodological factors but these were not well documented across all studies, limiting the interpretation of findings. As the number of individuals following plant-based diets continues to rise, the ongoing monitoring of the mineral content in commonly consumed plant-based foods is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron is an impurity widely occurred in sphalerite, and its effect on sphalerite flotation is complex. In this work, the effects of iron content and spin state on electronic properties and floatability of iron-bearing sphalerite are comprehensively studied using density functional theory Hubbard U (DFT+U) calculations combined with coordination chemistry flotation. The band gap of ideal sphalerite is 3.723 eV, and thus electron transition is difficult to occur, resulting in poor floatability. The results suggest the band gap of sphalerite decreases with increasing iron content. For low iron content, the decreased band gap facilitates electron transition; at this case, Fe2+ in a high-spin state possesses one π electron pair, which can form a weak π-backbonding with xanthate, causing increasing floatability. However, for medium and high iron-bearing sphalerite, with the further decrease of band gap, Fe2+ is oxidized to Fe3+ due to electrochemical interaction, and hence π-backbonding is eliminated, leading to lower floatability of iron-bearing sphalerite, which is consistent with the flotation experimental results. This work could give a deeper understanding of how sphalerite flotation behaviors are affected by iron content.

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A new device designed for wet magnetic separation—magnetic hydrocyclone—allows separating magnetic fraction from a fast and curved flow of pulp. The advantages of the magnetic hydrocyclone are the high specific output and the design simplicity which governs reliability of the device. The pattern of calculation of the magnetic hydrocyclonage performance represents an estimation of separability of magnetic fraction depending on the device geometry, variation in the magnetic field parameters, flow velocity and the physical parameters of the particles. The processing performance from calculations is compared with the results of the magnetic hydrocyclone testing. The proposed device is recommended to be included in the processing flow chart for ferruginous quartzite and other types of ore with the pronounced magnetic properties. Inclusion a magnetic system allowing higher magnetic induction up to 5–10 T in the flow chart makes it possible to extract weakly magnetic minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aluminum content in coal wastes in the Kemerovo region of the Kuznetsk Basin is investigated. The possibility of using such waste to extract aluminum concentrate by acidic leaching using sulfuric acid and nitric acid is assessed. Complete aluminum extraction in one processing cycle is impossible, but around 96% extraction is possible by successive leaching. The content of aluminum oxide in the concentrate is 84.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a shift towards plant-based diets for human and planetary health, monitoring the mineral content of staple crops is important to ensure population nutrient requirements can be met. This review aimed to explore changes in the iron content of unprocessed wheat and rice in Australia over time. A comprehensive systematic search of four electronic databases and the gray literature was conducted. A total of 25 papers published between 1930 and 2023 that measured the iron content of unprocessed wheat and rice were included. Triticum aestivum was the most common wheat type studied, including 26 cultivars; iron content ranged from 40 to 50 µg/g in the 1930s and 1970s and was more variable after this time due to the introduction of modern cultivars, with most values between 25 and 45 µg/g. The iron content of rice (Oryza sativa) was more consistent at 10–15 µg/g between the 1980s and 2020s. Variations over the years may be attributed to environmental, biological, and methodological factors but these were not well documented across all studies, limiting the interpretation of findings. As the number of individuals following plant-based diets continues to rise, the ongoing monitoring of the mineral content in commonly consumed plant-based foods is warranted.

The contribution describes the major problem with the secondary (recycled) alloys as the presence of unwanted elements due to the remelting of Alscrap negatively affecting the quality of AlSi7Mg0.6 cast alloy. Iron is the most harmful impurity in the secondary Al-Si alloys, leading to the formation of β-Fe-rich (Al5FeSi) intermetallic phases that promotes forming of casting defects such as porosity and shrinkage by its needle-like shape. Suitable neutralizer alloying elements, such as Mn, influence the formation of Fe-needle-like phases and lead to the formation of less harmful Mncontaining α-Fe-rich phases. To optimize the morphology and properties of alloys, it is necessary to study the effects of individual alloying elements. Therefore, this study is focused on the effect of Mn addition on Fe-rich intermetallic phases and casting defects, thus the evaluation of its shape and distribution in AlSi7Mg0.6 secondary alloy.

Monoclonal antibodies are among the fastest-growing segment of drugs. The stability of the protein drugs is particularly challenging due to their high susceptibility to physico-chemical stresses that may make them unsuitable for human health applications. Aggregation is considered a main stability indicator, potentially raising safety and immunogenicity concerns. Self-aggregation pathways can be triggered by a series of protein modifications that could be due to the intrinsic characteristics of the protein itself or during the manufacturing process. Macro and micronutrient content in cellular culture media can represent a source of oxidative stress, leading to a higher self-aggregation rate. This work aimed to explore the impact of iron content variability in the manufacturing cell culture media on drug substance purity and quality, and linked the effect of iron content on antibody degradation by self-aggregation, methionine oxidation, and decreased stability under long-term conditions. This work highlights the importance of maintaining strict control of raw materials, as unexpected lot-to-lot variability could compromise the entire antibody manufacturing process and patient safety due to undesired issues in the quality of the final product. [Display omitted] • Aggregation is a major concern in protein drug manufacturing. • Culture media composition modulates the quality of monoclonal antibodies. • Paramount importance of control strategies definition for the critical raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, most mining companies conduct chemical analyses by X-ray fluorescence performed in the laboratory to evaluate the quality of Fe ore, where the focus is mainly on the Fe content and the presence of impurities. However, this type of analysis requires the investment of time and money, and the results are often available only after the ore has already been sent by the processing plant. Reflectance spectroscopy is an alternative method that can significantly contribute to this type of application as it consists of a nondestructive analysis technique that does not require sample preparation, in addition to making the analyses available in more active ways. Among the challenges of working with reflectance spectroscopy is the large volume of data produced. However, one way to optimize this type of approach is to use machine learning techniques. Thus, the main objective of this study was the calibration and evaluation of models to analyze the quality of Fe from Sinter Feed collected from deposits in the Carajás Mineral Province, Brazil. To achieve this goal, machine learning models were tested using spectral libraries and X-ray fluorescence data from Sinter Feed samples. The most efficient models for estimating Fe were the Adaboost and support vector machine and our results highlight the possibility of application in the samples without the need for preparation and optimization of the analysis time, providing results in a timely manner to contribute to decision-making in the production chain.

The current investigation was focused to develop a nano-iron-based phycofertilizer to enhance crop quality in an environment-friendly manner. Biosynthesis of nano-iron occurred when Spirulina biomass was exposed to a 0.05M FeCl 3 solution for 48h at pH 5.5 in the dark, resulting in the synthesis of spindle-shaped nano-iron both inside and outside the cells. The particles' sizes were 24.77 ± 5.264 nm as observed in transmission electron microscopy. Further characterizations were carried out using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The performance of various fertilizers, including those derived from phycosynthesized nano iron (INP), dried Spirulina biomass (SB), and nano-iron loaded Spirulina biomass i.e., nano-phycho-fertilizer (NPF) was compared against conventional NPK fertilizer. The results from field applications indicated significant improvements in rice, with NPF outshining the rest. Notably, NPF demonstrated a remarkable 37.6% increase in shoot length, a 47% boost in crop productivity, and a 15% rise in grain weight of rice compared to NPK. Both unpolished and polished grains of NPF-treated plants contained higher iron contents (44% and 28%) than the NPK-treated plants. Furthermore, the cost-effectiveness analysis underscored the superiority of NPF over conventional fertilizer, representing it as a highly effective and eco-friendly nano-iron-based phycofertilizer. • Spirulina platensis , a blue green algal member, can synthesize both in situ and ex situ iron nanoparticles spontaneously within 24–48 h. • Although algal fertilizer and iron nanoparticles separately are well-established growth stimulators, their combining effect on plants as fertilizer is a novel study. • NPF could be used as an affordable organic fertilizer to replace ordinary conventional-fertilizer since it significantly improves the growth, yield, and iron content of rice plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Deciphering the hereditary mechanism of seed iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content in soybean is important and sustainable to address the “hidden hunger” that presently affects approximately 2 billion people worldwide. Therefore, in order to detect genomic regions related to soybean seed Fe and Zn content, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population with 248 lines was assessed in four environments to detect Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) related to soybean seed Fe and Zn content. Result Wide variation was found in seed Fe and Zn content in four environments, and genotype, environment, and genotype × environment interactions had significant influences on both the seed Fe and Zn content. A positive correlation was observed between seed Fe content and seed Zn content, and broad-sense heritability (H 2 ) of seed Fe and Zn content were 0.73 and 0.75, respectively. In this study, five QTLs for seed Fe content were detected with 4.57 - 32.71% of phenotypic variation explained (PVE) and logarithm of odds (LOD) scores ranging from 3.60 to 33.79. Five QTLs controlling the seed Zn content were detected, and they individually explained 3.35 to 26.48% of the phenotypic variation, with LOD scores ranging from 3.64 to 20.4. Meanwhile, 409,541 high-quality single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and 85,102 InDels (except intergenic regions) between two bi-parental lines were identified by whole genome resequencing. A total of 12 candidate genes were reported in one major QTL for seed Fe content and two major QTLs for seed Zn content, with the help of RNA-Seq analysis, gene ontology (GO) enrichment, gene annotation, and bi-parental whole genome sequencing (WGS) data. Conclusions Limited studies were performed about microelement of soybean, so these results may play an important role in the biofortification of Fe and Zn and accelerate the development of marker-assisted selection (MAS) for breeding soybeans fortified with iron and zinc.

Iron（Fe）affects plant growth and development, and NRAMP（natural resistance-associated macrophage protein）in animals and plants is mainly responsible for the absorption and transport of metals ions such as Fe, Mn and Cd. Studying the transport mechanism of NtNRAMP3b to Fe is to provide a theoretical basis for clarifying the mechanism of NtNRAMP3b in tobacco（Nicotiana tabacum） transport iron. Taking the cDNA of tobacco cultivar K326 as a template, the tobacco’s NtNRAMP3b was cloned and its sequence characteristics were analyzed, the instantaneous expression of NtNRAMP3b was determined by RT-qPCR. Using transgenic technology to obtain NtNRAMP3b- OE（NtNRAMP3b overexpression）, and its iron concentration was determined. NtNRAMP3b was 1 530 bp long and encoded 509 amino acid sequences. NtNRAMP3b was most closely related to AtNRAMP3, with 74.85% homogeneity. RT-qPCR results showed that NtNRAMP3b was expressed the most in leaves, and the relative expression after iron deficiency treatment increased. Compared with the wild type, NtNRAMP3b- OE biomass increased, chlorophyll concentration increased, and iron content decreased after iron deficiency treatment. NtNRAMP3b is mainly involved in the transport of iron from vacuoles to organelles, improving the absorption and reuse of iron in leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reason for the formation of pinhole defects on electrophoretic coating of HC180BD+ZF plate from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) was analyzed. It was found that the higher iron content in coating on the surface of hot-dip zinc alloy coated steel sheet was, the more δ phases it had, resulting in the formation of thinner phosphating film for its lower activity in phosphating solution. Spark discharge phenomenon occurred more easily on the thin phosphating film with low surface resistance during cathodic electrophoretic coating, leading to the formation of pinhole defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Cerebral hypoperfusion caused by stenosis or occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) may be followed by impaired iron metabolism. We explored the association between iron changes of gray matter (GM) nuclei subregions and different cerebral perfusion patterns in patients with chronic unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis or occlusion using quantitative susceptibility imaging (QSM)., Methods: Sixty-one patients with unilateral MCA stenosis or occlusion were recruited and scored with Alberta-Stroke-Program-Early-CT-Score (ASPECTS) based on relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measurements to calculate the number of corresponding hypoperfusion subregions, and then divided into an extensive-hypoperfusion group (EH group), regional-hypoperfusion group (RH group), and normal-perfusion group (Control group) accordingly. The measured magnetic susceptibility of GM nuclei subregions was compared between the lesion and contralateral side for each group and among the three groups. Correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationships of magnetic susceptibility of GM nuclei with mean rCBF, National-Institutes-of-Health-stroke-scale (NIHSS) and modified-Rankin-scale (mRS) scores., Results: Magnetic susceptibility in the putamen (PU) and globus pallidus (GP) at the lesion side was higher in the EH and RH groups compared with the contralateral side (all P < 0.05). Susceptibility in the lesion side PU and GP showed negative correlations with mean rCBF and positive correlations with NIHSS and mRS scores (all P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that chronic cerebral hypoperfusion might be one cause of cerebral abnormal iron metabolism. In addition, magnetic susceptibility of PU and GP seems to be correlated with stroke scale scores, suggesting that iron deposition may play an important role in neurologic deficits after ischemic stroke., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Iron levels are closely related to animals' growth performance and anti-oxidant function. Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein, which can promote the absorption of iron and regulate immune function. This study aimed to clarify the effect of maternal LF supplementation on the iron metabolism of Dahe piglets. Sixty sows (Dahe black, parity 3-4, no significant differences in body weight) were randomly assigned to five groups: control (basal diet with no iron supplementation), supplemented 100 (LF1 group), 200 (LF2 group), or 300 (LF3 group) mg LF/kg in the basal diet, and the basal diet supplemented with 100 (Fe-Gly group) mg Fe/kg as ferrous glycine (Fe-Gly). The serum anti-oxidant parameters of the sows and neonatal piglets were determined. The iron contents, anti-oxidant gene expression levels, and Fe-acquisition genes were detected in the liver, heart, spleen, and other neonatal organs. The results indicated that (1) the LF3 group of sows had the highest serum and colostrum iron contents (P < 0.05). The maternal LF significantly promoted the iron stores in the heart, liver, spleen, and lung of piglets compared with Fe-Gly. (2) The maternal LF increased serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities of sows. Compared with other groups, the total anti-oxidant capacity (T-AOC) activity of LF2 groups increased significantly (P < 0.05). (3) LF significantly increased piglet serum GSH-Px, T-SOD, and T-AOC activities (P < 0.05). (4) Gene expression levels of GSH-Px, and SOD in the duodenum and jejunum of the LF2 group were significantly higher than in the Fe-Gly group (P < 0.05), while the expression levels in the liver and heart were lower (P < 0.05). (5) The expression levels of hepcidin and LF in the liver and duodenum of the LF2 group were significantly higher than in the Fe-Gly group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, maternal LF supplementation showed remarkable effects on iron storage in neonatal piglets, and exhibited strong antioxidant activities, it is helpful to prevent the occurrence of iron deficiency, and improves the immune function of animals.

Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is used to quantify iron deposition in non‐human primates in our study. Although QSM has many applications in detecting iron deposits in the human brain, including the distribution of iron deposits in specific brain regions, the change of iron deposition with aging, and the comparison of iron deposits between diseased groups and healthy controls, few studies have applied QSM to non‐human primates, while most animal brain experiments focus on biochemical and anatomical results instead of non‐invasive experiments. Additionally, brain imaging in children's research is difficult, but can be substituted using young rhesus monkeys, which are very similar to humans, as research animals. Therefore, understanding the relationship between iron deposition and age in rhesus macaques' brains can offer insights into both the developmental trajectory of magnetic susceptibility in the animal model and the correlated evidence in children's research. Twenty‐three healthy rhesus macaque monkeys (23 ± 7.85 years, range 2–29 years) were included in this research. Seven regions of interest (ROIs—globus pallidus, substantia nigra, dentate nucleus, caudate nucleus, putamen, thalamus, red nucleus) have been analyzed in terms of QSM and R2* (apparent relaxation rate). Susceptibility in most ROIs correlated significantly with the growth of age, similarly to the results for R2*, but showed different trends in the thalamus and red nucleus, which may be caused by the different sensitivities of myelination and iron deposition in R2* and QSM analysis. By assessing the correlation between iron content and age in healthy rhesus macaques' brains using QSM, we provide a piece of pilot information on normality for advanced animal disease models. Meanwhile, this study also could serve as the normative basis for further clinical studies using QSM for iron content quantification. Due to the comparison of the susceptibility on the same experimental objects, this research can also provide practical support for future research on characteristics for QSM and R2*. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

【Objective】 The study aimed to analyze Quantitative trait locus（ QTL） controlling iron content in rice grains to provide guiding significance for iron-rich rice breeding.【Method】Using ‘Ningnongheijing’ and ‘Gaoliangdao-1’ as parents and then self-crossing, 124 individual F6 populations were obtained. The iron content in brown rice was determined by Z-2000 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The published molecular genetic map of rice and the existing 1558 pairs of SSR markers in the laboratory were queried on the Internet to screen polymorphisms between ‘Ningnongheijing’ and ‘Gaoliangdao-1’, 130 simple sequence repeat markers were used for genetic analysis and QTL mapping for controlling iron content in rice grains.【Result】 The Fe content of parents was 46.23 and 14.32 mg/kg respectively. The difference of Fe content between parents was great, and the average Fe content of F6 group was 18.53 mg/kg, it was between the two parents and tends to the low value parent ‘Gaoliangdao-1’. The QTL controlling grain iron content was detected in 124 F6 populations, three QTLs controlling iron were detected on rice chromosomes 1, 8 and 12, respectively, and their contribution rates were 14.31%, 18.44% and 16.32%. qFe8 on chromosome 8 between RM432 and RM331 contributed the most to the phenotype, and its synergistic allele was from ‘Ningnongheijing’.【Conclusion】 The identified QTLs were stable and could be used for fine mapping and cloning of genes controlling iron content in rice grains. It provides a theoretical basis for iron rich rice breeding in the future, and lays a foundation for revealing the molecular mechanism of rice grain iron content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity aggravates ferroptosis, and vitamin D (VD) may inhibit ferroptosis. We hypothesized that weight reduction and/or calcitriol administration have benefits against the sepsis-induced liver redox imbalance and ferroptosis in obese mice. Mice were fed a high-fat diet for 11 weeks, then half of the mice continued to consume the diet, while the other half were transferred to a low-energy diet for 5 weeks. After feeding the respective diets for 16 weeks, sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Septic mice were divided into four experimental groups: OS group, obese mice injected with saline; OD group, obese mice with calcitriol; WS group, weight-reduction mice with saline; and WD group, weight-reduction mice with calcitriol. Mice in the respective groups were euthanized at 12 or 24 h after CLP. Results showed that the OS group had the highest inflammatory mediators and lipid peroxide levels in the liver. Calcitriol treatment reduced iron content, enhanced the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio, upregulated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, ferroptosis-suppressing protein 1, and solute carrier family 7 member 11 expression levels. Also, mitochondrion-associated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, and heme oxidase-1 expression levels increased in the late phase of sepsis. These results were not noted in the WS group. These findings suggest that calcitriol treatment elicits a more-balanced glutathione redox status, alleviates liver ferroptosis, and enhances mitochondrial biogenesis-associated gene expressions. Weight reduction alone had minimal influences on liver ferroptosis and mitochondrial biogenesis in obese mice with sepsis. [Display omitted] • Obesity aggravates whereas calcitriol may inhibit ferroptosis. • Weight reduction with lower liver TG attenuates inflammation and improves function. • Weight reduction has minimal influences on liver ferroptosis during sepsis. • Calcitriol elicits a more-balanced liver glutathione redox status in sepsis • Calcitriol alleviates ferroptosis and improves mitochondrial function in sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, most mining companies conduct chemical analyses by X-ray fluorescence performed in the laboratory to evaluate the quality of Fe ore, where the focus is mainly on the Fe content and the presence of impurities. However, this type of analysis requires the investment of time and money, and the results are often available only after the ore has already been sent by the processing plant. Reflectance spectroscopy is an alternative method that can significantly contribute to this type of application as it consists of a nondestructive analysis technique that does not require sample preparation, in addition to making the analyses available in more active ways. Among the challenges of working with reflectance spectroscopy is the large volume of data produced. However, one way to optimize this type of approach is to use machine learning techniques. Thus, the main objective of this study was the calibration and evaluation of models to analyze the quality of Fe from Sinter Feed collected from deposits in the Carajás Mineral Province, Brazil. To achieve this goal, machine learning models were tested using spectral libraries and X-ray fluorescence data from Sinter Feed samples. The most efficient models for estimating Fe were the Adaboost and support vector machine and our results highlight the possibility of application in the samples without the need for preparation and optimization of the analysis time, providing results in a timely manner to contribute to decision-making in the production chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical analyses of iron ore samples are crucial to identifying the characteristics of the ore being mined and processed by mining industries. Moreover, reliable ore content results are fundamental to optimizing the mining plant operation and correctly pricing the final product. An industrial laboratory usually performs hundreds of analyses per day and requires a certain amount of equipment to increase the laboratory capacity. However, the parallel chemical analyses approach demands proper equipment calibration to avoid result variability due to the use of different equipment. This paper proposes a method to help laboratory operators select the correct mill press equipment parameters during calibration. First, we apply the design of experiments (DoE) technique to determine the calibration parameter that affects the final content result. Then, a decision support system (DSS) is developed based on the fuzzy logic approach to adjust the equipment parameters. Results with real data show that the proposed system reduces the standard deviation of the concentrate grade of iron (%Fe ) by up to 65.01% and that of the silica concentrate grade (%SiO2) by up to 60.81%.

Objectives: Brain iron deposition and microstructural changes in brain tissue are associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the correlation between these factors in Parkinson's disease has been little studied. This study aimed to use quantitative susceptibility mapping combined with diffusion kurtosis imaging to investigate the effects of iron deposition on microstructural tissue alterations in the brain. Methods: Quantitative susceptibility mapping and diffusion kurtosis imaging were performed on 24 patients with early PD, 13 patients with advanced PD, and 25 healthy controls. The mean values of magnetic susceptibility and diffusion kurtosis were calculated for the bilateral substantia nigra, red nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, and caudate nucleus, and compared between the groups. Correlation analyses between the diffusion kurtosis of each nucleus and its magnetic susceptibility parameters in PD patients and healthy controls were performed. Results: The study found a significant increase in iron deposition in the substantia nigra, red nucleus, putamen and globus pallidus, bilaterally, in patients with PD. Mean kurtosis values were increased in the substantia nigra but decreased in the globus pallidus; axial kurtosis values were decreased in both the substantia nigra and red nucleus; radial kurtosis values were increased in the substantia nigra but showed an opposite trend in the globus pallidus and caudate nucleus. In the substantia nigra of patients with PD, magnetic susceptibility was positively correlated with mean and radial kurtosis values, and negatively correlated with axial kurtosis. None of these correlations were significantly different in the control group. In the putamen, magnetic susceptibility was positively correlated with mean, axial, and radial kurtosis only in patients with advanced-stage PD. Conclusion: Our study provides new evidence for brain iron content and microstructural alterations in patients with PD. Iron deposition may be a common mechanism for microstructural alterations in the substantia nigra and putamen of patients with PD. Tracking the dynamic changes in iron content and microstructure throughout the course of PD will help us to better understand the dynamics of iron metabolism and microstructural alterations in the pathogenesis of PD and to develop new approaches to monitor and treat PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deciphering the hereditary mechanism of seed iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content in soybean is important and sustainable to address the "hidden hunger" that presently affects approximately 2 billion people worldwide. Therefore, in order to detect genomic regions related to soybean seed Fe and Zn content, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population with 248 lines was assessed in four environments to detect Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) related to soybean seed Fe and Zn content. Result: Wide variation was found in seed Fe and Zn content in four environments, and genotype, environment, and genotype × environment interactions had significant influences on both the seed Fe and Zn content. A positive correlation was observed between seed Fe content and seed Zn content, and broad-sense heritability (H2) of seed Fe and Zn content were 0.73 and 0.75, respectively. In this study, five QTLs for seed Fe content were detected with 4.57 - 32.71% of phenotypic variation explained (PVE) and logarithm of odds (LOD) scores ranging from 3.60 to 33.79. Five QTLs controlling the seed Zn content were detected, and they individually explained 3.35 to 26.48% of the phenotypic variation, with LOD scores ranging from 3.64 to 20.4. Meanwhile, 409,541 high-quality single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and 85,102 InDels (except intergenic regions) between two bi-parental lines were identified by whole genome resequencing. A total of 12 candidate genes were reported in one major QTL for seed Fe content and two major QTLs for seed Zn content, with the help of RNA-Seq analysis, gene ontology (GO) enrichment, gene annotation, and bi-parental whole genome sequencing (WGS) data. Conclusions: Limited studies were performed about microelement of soybean, so these results may play an important role in the biofortification of Fe and Zn and accelerate the development of marker-assisted selection (MAS) for breeding soybeans fortified with iron and zinc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, limestone samples were investigated in terms of grinding product particle size distribution (PSD) differentiations after microwave treatment. Initially, collected limestone samples (a total of 58 sample) were crushed and prepared for microwave treatment. In order to observe the effect of microwave treatment, 58 of these samples were ground directly while the other 58 samples were objected to microwave treatment (5 min, 180 W) prior to the grinding. In this paper, size parameters (D10, D50, D90, D32, and D43) and their corresponding differentiations after microwave treatment were evaluated. As regards to the finding of this study, microwave treatment prior to grinding can be claimed to ease the grinding, and finer size distribution can be obtained especially for lower Fe2O3 content samples. It was also found out the fact that MgO and CaO content of samples have influenced the abovementioned PSD differentiation to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesBrain iron deposition and microstructural changes in brain tissue are associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the correlation between these factors in Parkinson’s disease has been little studied. This study aimed to use quantitative susceptibility mapping combined with diffusion kurtosis imaging to investigate the effects of iron deposition on microstructural tissue alterations in the brain.MethodsQuantitative susceptibility mapping and diffusion kurtosis imaging were performed on 24 patients with early PD, 13 patients with advanced PD, and 25 healthy controls. The mean values of magnetic susceptibility and diffusion kurtosis were calculated for the bilateral substantia nigra, red nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, and caudate nucleus, and compared between the groups. Correlation analyses between the diffusion kurtosis of each nucleus and its magnetic susceptibility parameters in PD patients and healthy controls were performed.ResultsThe study found a significant increase in iron deposition in the substantia nigra, red nucleus, putamen and globus pallidus, bilaterally, in patients with PD. Mean kurtosis values were increased in the substantia nigra but decreased in the globus pallidus; axial kurtosis values were decreased in both the substantia nigra and red nucleus; radial kurtosis values were increased in the substantia nigra but showed an opposite trend in the globus pallidus and caudate nucleus. In the substantia nigra of patients with PD, magnetic susceptibility was positively correlated with mean and radial kurtosis values, and negatively correlated with axial kurtosis. None of these correlations were significantly different in the control group. In the putamen, magnetic susceptibility was positively correlated with mean, axial, and radial kurtosis only in patients with advanced-stage PD.ConclusionOur study provides new evidence for brain iron content and microstructural alterations in patients with PD. Iron deposition may be a common mechanism for microstructural alterations in the substantia nigra and putamen of patients with PD. Tracking the dynamic changes in iron content and microstructure throughout the course of PD will help us to better understand the dynamics of iron metabolism and microstructural alterations in the pathogenesis of PD and to develop new approaches to monitor and treat PD.

In eastern Ethiopia, sweet potato is a vital food and nutrition security crop; moreover, orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) varieties are rich in beta-carotene content and have the potential to alleviate chronic Vitamin A malnutrition in the region. However, the unavailability of adaptable varieties and lack of information on production and post-harvest handling practices have limited its production and utilization in eastern Ethiopia. The research was conducted to identify the proper harvesting stage of OFSP varieties for optimum yield and nutritional compositions at Rare and Babile research stations of Haramaya University during the main rainy season of 2022. Three varieties ( Alamura, Kabode, and Bakule ) and four harvesting periods (120, 150, 180, and 210 days after planting (DAP) in factorial combinations were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected for growth, yield, and physicochemical composition-related parameters. Combined analysis of variance revealed the interaction effect of harvesting time and varieties had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on yield, yield-related parameters, and physicochemical components. Alamura variety produced comparable above-ground biomass (28.99 t ha -1 ) and the highest marketable root yield of 36.40 t ha -1 at 150 DAP, with dry matter content of 33.01 and 30.58 % at 150 and 120 DAP, respectively. Harvesting Alamura at 150 DAP also had the highest ꞵ-carotene, zinc, and iron contents of 11809 μg/100 g, 3.79, and 14.47 mg/100 g, respectively. It was concluded that growing the Alamura variety and harvesting at 150 DAP was better for obtaining higher root yield with good nutritional compositions in the study area., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: To evaluate the causal relationship between abdominal multi-organ iron content and PD risk using publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) data., Methods: We conducted MR analysis to assess the effects of iron content in various abdominal organs on PD risk, followed by reverse analysis. Additionally, MVMR analysis evaluated the independent effects of organ-specific iron content on PD. We utilized genetic variation data from the UK Biobank, including liver iron content ( n  = 32,858), spleen iron content ( n  = 35,324), and pancreas iron content ( n  = 25,617), as well as summary-level data for Parkinson's disease from the FinnGen ( n  = 218,473) and two other large GWAS datasets of European populations (First dataset n  = 480,018; Second dataset n  = 2,829). The primary MR analysis used the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method, confirmed by MR-Egger and weighted median methods. Sensitivity analysis was performed to address potential pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Observational cohort results were validated through replication cohort analysis, followed by meta-analysis., Results: IVW analysis revealed a causal relationship between increased liver iron content and elevated risk of PD (OR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.05-1.53; p  = 0.015). No significant causal relationship was observed between spleen (OR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.76-1.32; p  = 0.983) and pancreatic (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.72-1.20; p  = 0.573) iron content and increased risk of PD. Meta-analysis of GWAS data for PD from three different sources using the random-effects IVW method showed a statistically significant causal relationship between liver iron content and the occurrence of PD (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.35; p  = 0.012)., Conclusion: This study presents evidence from Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis indicating a significant causal link between increased liver iron content and a higher risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). These findings suggest that interventions targeting body iron metabolism, particularly liver iron levels, may be effective in preventing PD., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Yang, Tang, Peng, Luo, Chen, Kong and Peng.)

The RFCC unit of SINOPEC Hainan Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd. increases the production of propylene in LPG in the environment polluted by high content iron. The first stage is blank calibration stage, and the second stage adopts CMT catalyst system. The volume fraction of propylene in LPG increases by about 1.0% by recycling gasoline at different positions of riser. In the third stage, by changing the operating conditions and controlling the catalyst activity, the volume fraction of propylene in LPG increases by 3%~4% under the same amount of recycled gasoline, and the crude gasoline is finally refined and enters the lower nozzle of the riser. Combined with increasing the ratio of agent to oil in the device, the yield of propylene can reach more than 8%, achieving the purpose of decreasing oil and increasing chemical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is confirmed that the solid solution temperature range to obtain optimal magnetic properties is different for the magnets with different Fe contents, and the correlation between magnetic properties and microstructures influenced by solid solution temperature (Ts) has been systematically studied. The optimal solid solution temperature range is 1413–1463 K for the Sm(CobalFe0.213 Cu0.073Zr0.024)7.6 magnet, which is higher than that of the Sm(CobalFe0.262Cu0.073Zr0.024)7.6 magnet (1403–1453 K), and the optimal Ts range is about 50 K for both of the magnets. The solid solution temperature range shifting toward relatively high temperature is due to the increase in a phase transition temperature. The magnet solution-treated at proper temperature exhibits 1:7H single phase, and intact cell structure and high Cu concentration (23.12 at%) in the cell boundary are found after aging process, which makes the magnet shows high intrinsic coercivity (Hcj) and magnetic field at knee-point (Hknee). At a lower solid solution temperature, the 2:17H, 1:5H and Zr-rich precipitation phases appear, which affects the cell structure, density of lamellar phase and Cu concentration in the cell boundary, leading to the reduced magnetic properties. However, at a higher solid solution temperature, there exist obviously light gray and dark regions with different Sm, Cu and Fe contents in scanning electron microscopy observation, and the magnet shows low pinning field in the two regions and incomplete cell structure, resulting in an inferior Hcj and Hknee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]