Search

Copper is an essential trace element but becomes toxic in overexposed animals. Sheep are the domestic species most prone to chronic copper poisoning, as a slight increase in the dietary concentration can lead to liver accumulation and the development of clinical signs in this species. Common sources of copper in the diet are feed additives and mineral supplements, which are commonly used in pigs and poultry. Recently, new copper supplements were registered for animal nutrition, including copper bilysinate. This study describes an episode of presumed chronic copper poisoning in Five Texel sheep, which were exposed to a compound feed containing copper bilysinate. Four weeks after the introduction of the compound feed into the diet, the first animal started to show typical clinical signs of chronic copper poisoning and died, followed by another animal a week later. Despite removing the compound feed from the diet, a third sheep died 3 weeks later. Two animals survived and fully recovered. Necropsy and histology showed characteristic gross and microscopical lesions typical of copper poisoning. The case report highlights the potential toxic effect of copper bilysinate in sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the nutritive composition and mineral content of the leaves of eight species of Acacia trees were evaluated to assess their potential for different purposes, such as food resources for ruminants and mineral sources in soils. Caco-2 cells were employed to assess cytotoxicity, revealing that the extracts exhibited no cytotoxic effects after cellular incubation, suggesting their suitability as an alternative animal feed. The leaves proved to be a promising source of protein and fiber, offering an alternative to meet the needs of ruminants. The protein content differed among species, ranging from 18.96% in A. cyclops to 14.04% in A. melanoxylon. Similarly, fiber content varied from 35.52% in A. melanoxylon to 16.43% in A. cyclops. The species displayed moderate to high levels of minerals, particularly concentrations of Ca, P, and K. These values varied among species, ranging from 8452.90 to 28,465.31 mg/kg DM for Ca, 309.61 to 1293.82 mg/kg DM for P, and 5557.24 to 11,475.85 mg/kg DM for K, respectively. Each species displayed a distinct profile regarding the analyzed parameters, suggesting varied potential for their respective use. Additionally, vibrational spectroscopy analysis proved to be a highly valuable and dependable method for distinguishing between species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coffee pulp, a significant by-product of coffee processing, is often discarded but has potential for recycling and high-value uses. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of two coffee pulp ingredients, a flour (CPF) and an aqueous extract (CPE), and conducted acute and sub-chronic toxicity assays to determine their safety. The proximate composition revealed the high fiber content of both ingredients; the CPF mainly contained insoluble fiber, while CPE consisted exclusively of soluble pectic polysaccharides. The CPF had higher concentrations of amino acids and a better balance of essential/non-essential amino acids, whereas the CPE exhibited higher concentrations of free amino acids, ensuring higher bioavailability. Both ingredients showed elevated mineral content, while heavy-metal concentrations remained within acceptable limits. This study established the bioactive potential of the CPF and the CPE, demonstrating the high content of caffeine and gallic, protocatechuic, and 4-caffeoylquinic acids. The toxicity studies revealed that the CPF and the CPE exhibited safety when orally administered to mice. Administered doses were non-toxic, as they did not induce lethality or adverse effects in the mice or produce significant histopathological or biochemical adverse changes. This study represents a first step in valorizing the CPF and the CPE as safe novel food ingredients with health benefits for functional and nutritional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMineral oils, untreated or mildly treated, have been classified in group 1 as a potential source of cancer by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Although numerous studies have implicated metalworking fluids (MWFs) as human carcinogens, toxicology data regarding the mechanism of carcinogenicity are limited. This study is intended to examine the systemic effects of machining workers’ exposure to MWFs. The potential toxicity of mineral oils was investigated in 65 lathe workers compared to controls (66 men). The occupational exposure was measured by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 5026. The DNA damage has been examined by the comet assay method. According to the field assessments, the time-weighted average (TWA) exposure to mineral oil mist was 7.67 ± 3.21 mg/m3. A comet assay of peripheral blood cells showed that tail length (TL) and olive moment (OM) were significantly higher in the exposed group (p < 0.05). A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that, within subjects with over 10 years of exposure, the odds ratio of worker with high TL, percent of DNA in tail, OM, and tail moment (TM) were 1.68, 1.41, 1.71, and 2.71, respectively. DNA strand break in exposed workers was associated with higher exposure time in years. Mineral oil toxicity could be altered in the presence of by-products and impurities. For a better understanding of genotoxicity, further studies are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industrial Water Treatment is the property of CNOOC Tianjin Chemical Research & Design Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A high concentration of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) released from pig farming is one of the major environmental problems affecting surrounding communities. In modern pig farms, the bioscrubber is used to eliminate H2S, which is found to be driven mainly by the sulfuroxidizing bacteria (SOB) community. Therefore, in this study, molecular biology techniques such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) and DNA microarray are proposed to study the linkage between enzyme activity and the abundance of the SOB community. The starting sludge (SFP1) and recirculating sludge (SFP2) samples were collected from the bioscrubber reactor in the pig farm. The abundance of microbial populations between the two sampling sites was considered together with the gene expression results of both soxABXYZ and fccAB. Based on the NGS analysis, the members of phylum Proteobacteria such as Halothiobacillus, Acidithiobacillus, Thiothrix, Novosphingobium, Sulfuricurvum, Sulfurovum, Sulfurimonas, Acinetobacter, Thiobacillus, Magnetospirillum, Arcobacter, and Paracoccus were predominantly found in SFP2. The presence of Cyanobacteria in SFP pig farms is associated with increased biogas yields. The microarray results showed that the expression of soxAXBYZ and fccAB genes involved in the oxidation of sulfide to sulfate was increased in Halothiobacillus, Paracoccus, Acidithiobacillus, Magnetospirillum, Sphingobium, Thiobacillus, Sulfuricurvum, Sulfuricurvum, Arcobacter, and Thiothrix. Both NGS and DNA microarray data supported the functional roles of SOB in odor elimination and the oxidation of H2S through the function of soxABXYZ and fccAB. The results also identified the key microbes for H2S odor treatment, which can be utilized to monitor the stability of biological treatment systems and the toxicity of sulfide minerals by oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses the importance of cotton as a global industrial crop and the need for selective breeding to develop high-quality cotton varieties with increased yield and stress resistance. The use of modern biotechnology, such as gene-editing tools and sequencing technology, has revolutionized the field of cotton genomics and breeding. The document highlights several studies on different aspects of cotton genomics, genetics, and breeding, including research on plant height and branch number, fiber development, gene functions, fiber initiation mechanisms, and ion toxicity. These studies provide valuable insights and genetic resources for cotton breeding and offer potential solutions for improving resistance, yield, and quality in cotton. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: Environmental sustainability in medicine is a growing concern. Determining the carbon footprint of medical procedures may aid in selecting a less impactful technique moving forward. The purpose of this study was to understand the environmental impact of different anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction techniques, for which there is no consensus in terms of optimal graft. Methods: A life cycle analysis of different anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction techniques was performed. These included quadrupled semitendinosus graft, bone‐patellar tendon‐bone graft, iliotibial band augmented with gracilis graft, doubled semitendinosus and doubled gracilis graft, and quadriceps tendon graft. All procedures were systematically paired with a lateral extra‐articular procedure. The study was conducted in a specialised centre using surgeon preference cards, with the help of a dedicated organisation for calculation according to the ISO 14044 standard. The primary outcome measure was the carbon footprint of each of the five techniques. Secondary outcomes included other environmental impact indicators, including human carcinogenic toxicity and mineral resource scarcity, among others, based on the ReCiPe 2016 midpoint guideline. The analysis had three scopes, each encompassing varying numbers of processes: graft implantation, full procedure, and entire environmental impact, from medical prescription to patient discharge. Results were reported as percentage increases compared to the graft technique with the lowest environmental impact. Results: It was demonstrated that the surgical procedure itself accounted for <40% of the life cycle, with arthroscopy being 88% of surgery's GHG emissions, and scrubbing and draping contributing 39% to the carbon footprint. The iliotibial band augmented with gracilis tendon technique had the lowest carbon footprint (0.199 Kg Co2 eq), and the least impact in most categories at all scopes of the life cycle analysis. Using this technique as a reference, in terms of graft implantation, it was determined that extensor mechanism grafts had the highest carbon footprint (300% higher than the reference). Greater scopes showed a similar trend, with percentage differences decreasing significantly, reaching 1–3% when considering the entire environmental impact for most categories. Nevertheless, among the aforementioned factors of the ReCiPe 2016 guidelines, the semitendinosus graft paried with a lateral extra‐articular procedure displayed greater difference in human carcinogenic toxicity and mineral resource scarcity (6% and 10% respectively) compared to the reference. The individual processes with the highest impact were also highlighted. Conclusions: In the institution where the study was conducted, the studied iliotibial band graft option was found to have the lowest environmental impact. Such analyses of standardised procedures can be replicated in individual institutions in order to determine their environmental impact. Identification of procedures with comparable results and differing environmental consequences may influence the future decision‐making process. Level of Evidence: Level II, prospective cohort study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: According to Barros (2017), Bentonite is a mixture of clays, generally impure, very fine grained, formed mainly by 60 to 80% of montmorillonite and also Kaolinite, Calcite and Pyrite. At the operational base of Petromoc Maputo Company, there is a set of tanks for fuel storage, that from a complex of tanks with coupled pipelines for the entry and withdrawal of fuels and effluent disposal. Objective: To evaluate the use of bentonite in the removal of toxic cations from the effluents generated at Petromoc Company. Materials and Methods: Bentonite samples were collected at the Industrial Minerals company. The effluent and influent samples were collected in the separator box of the operational base. The physicochemical experiments were carried out at the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory of the Eduardo Mondlane University. For the physical characterization of the bentonite, the pycnometric density, porosity (P) and specific surface area were determined. The mineralogical characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The chemical characterization of the effluent and influent was performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy. Results and Discussion: Mineralogical characterization showed the presence of bentonite minerals. The pH of the effluent before interacting with the bentonite was 3.22, after interaction the pH is between 5.8 and 9. High concentrations of Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Titanium (Ti) and Zinc (Zn) were determined in the effluent before the interaction with the bentonite. After the interaction, a removal of toxic elements is verified. Conclusions: The bentonite showed high efficiency in the removal of toxic cations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress is a mechanism that might raise the toxicity of mineral dust aerosols. We evaluated the oxidative potential (OP) of four reference materials (RMs) of mineral dusts using dithiothreitol assay. The OP of the water‐soluble fraction of the dust RMs accounts for 40%–70% of the OP of the total fraction. The values of total and water‐soluble OP normalized by the surface area of insoluble particles showed agreement among the different dust RMs. The surface area of insoluble dust particles was therefore inferred as an important factor affecting the OP of mineral dust. Using the relation between total OP and the surface area of insoluble particles of the dust RMs, we estimated the total OPs of fine and coarse atmospheric mineral dust aerosols assuming a typical particle size distribution of Asian dust aerosols observed in Japan. Mass‐normalized total OPs were estimated at 44 and 23 pmol min−1 μg−1 for fine and coarse atmospheric mineral dust particles. They closely approximate the values observed for urban aerosols in Japan, which suggests that mineral dust plume advection can lead to a marked increase in human exposure to redox‐active aerosols, even far downwind from mineral dust source regions. Plain Language Summary: Mineral dust aerosols in the atmosphere are mostly soil particles swept up from arid and semi‐arid land surfaces. They can be transported long distances in the atmosphere and can affect air quality throughout large areas, even far downwind from source regions. Inhalation and exposure to mineral dust aerosols adversely affect human health. Although the mechanisms of mineral dust aerosol toxicity remain unknown, oxidative stress has been implicated as a mechanism leading eventually to adverse health effects. The oxidative potential (OP) of aerosol particles is defined as the capability of aerosol particles to induce oxidative stress. To investigate the OP of mineral dust aerosols, we evaluated the OPs of reference materials of mineral dusts using a cell‐free assay called dithiothreitol assay. Then we estimated the OPs of mineral dust aerosols in the atmosphere. The intrinsic OP estimated for a long‐range transported mineral dust aerosol in the atmosphere was very similar to that of urban aerosols. This finding suggests that mineral dust plume advection can engender a marked increase in human exposure to toxic aerosols, consequently inducing oxidative stress even in areas far downwind from mineral dust source regions. Key Points: The oxidative potential (OP) of mineral dust reference materials is characterized using dithiothreitol assayThe surface area of insoluble particles strongly affects the OP of mineral dustThe intrinsic OP of atmospheric mineral dust aerosols is comparable to that of urban aerosols [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excess of minerals in the industrial substrates is detrimental for Saccharomyces cerevisiae ethanol fermentation performance. In this work, we sought to understand the effect of some of those minerals on the physiology of Dekkera bruxellensis. Three groups of minerals were classified on the basis of the aerobic growth profiles on glucose neutrals (K+, Mg2+, P5+, and Zn2+), inducers (Mn2+ and Ca2+), and inhibitors (Al3+, Cu2+, and Fe2+). Cu2+ showed the highest mineral toxicity, and its effect was dependent on the level of medium aeration. On the other hand, copper stimulated respiration by increasing growth on respiratory carbon sources. Most growth inhibitors also hampered glucose fermentation, with changes in carbon distribution to metabolic routes dedicated to anabolic reactions and for alternative reduced cofactors oxidations to maintain cellular homeostasis. The negative effect of Cu2+ on yeast fermentation was partially alleviated by Mg2+ and Mn2+, similar to magnesium antagonism observed for S. cerevisiae. All these results might contribute to understand the action of these minerals in sugarcane substrates on the physiology of D. bruxellensis cells. Therefore, it represents one more step for the consolidation of the industrial use of this yeast in the production of fuel ethanol as well as other biotechnological goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial activities increase Apostichopus japonicus exposure to toxic heavy metals. This study evaluates the efficacy of three dietary silicate minerals (montmorillonite, zeolite, and kaolin) in relieving cadmium and lead toxicity in A. japonicus. Over four weeks, juvenile A. japonicus (7 − 9 g) were fed diets incorporating montmorillonite, zeolite, or kaolin, replacing sea mud at a 1:1 ratio. Experimental groups were: SM (control with sea mud), M (montmorillonite), Z (zeolite), and K (kaolin). Each group was exposed to cadmium (50 mg kg−1) or lead (100 mg kg−1) at the minimal toxic dose (MTD). Groups M and K demonstrated excellent growth performance, marked by improvements in weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and survival rate (SR). Their coelomic fluid revealed higher enzymatic activities, such as acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Additionally, groups M and K showed a reduced accumulation of cadmium and lead in their tissues; group K notably excelled in mitigating intestinal tissue damage. In contrast, Group Z exhibited significantly poorer performance. In other aspects, the trends among the three experimental groups were generally similar: the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes declined, intestinal microbiota diversity decreased, and the stability of community composition increased. In summary, the supplementation of montmorillonite and kaolin effectively reduces cadmium and lead toxicity, diminishes oxidative damage, and promotes intestinal health in A. japonicus. These findings provide valuable insights for enhancing safety in A. japonicus aquaculture. [Display omitted] • This study introduces the novel approach of using dietary silicate minerals to address the issue of heavy metal accumulation in sea cucumbers. • A new feed formula incorporating silicate minerals is proposed as a replacement for sea mud in standard feed. • Montmorillonite and kaolin effectively reduced heavy metal toxicity in sea cucumbers under both cadmium and lead stress conditions, while zeolite's adsorption effect was primarily observed under lead stress. • After replacing sea mud with silicate minerals, evaluations of intestinal health indicated that all changes were within an acceptable range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Acid soil syndrome" is a worldwide phenomenon characterized by low pH (pH < 5.5), scarce nutrient availability (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, P), and mineral toxicity such as those caused by soluble aluminium (Al) forms. Regardless of the mineral toxicity, the low pH by itself is detrimental to crop development causing striking sensitivity responses such as root growth arrest. However, low pH-induced responses are still poorly understood and underrated. Here, we review and discuss the core evidence about the action of low pH upon specific root zones, distinct cell types, and possible cellular targets (cell wall, plasma membrane, and alternative oxidase). The role of different players in signaling processes leading to low pH-induced responses, such as the STOP transcription factors, the reactive oxygen species (ROS), auxin, ethylene, and components of the antioxidant system, is also addressed. Information at the molecular level is still lacking to link the low pH targets and the subsequent actors that trigger the observed sensitivity responses. Future studies will have to combine genetic tools to identify the signaling processes triggered by low pH, unraveling not only the mechanisms by which low pH affects root cells but also finding new ways to engineer the tolerance of domesticated plants to acidic stress. • The acidic pH by itself can cause rhizotoxicity regardless of the prominent factors within the " acid soil syndrome ". • The cell wall and plasma membrane seem to be targets of acidic stress but the pattern of acidic pH-induced responses is confined within root-specific zones. • The central players (e.g. ethylene, reactive oxygen species, transcription factors) control the cellular responses in accord with the acidic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the humid regions of Ethiopia, soil productivity and fertility are significantly affected by soil acidity, which is connected to infertility and mineral toxicity. The study aimed to assess the status of soil acidity under different land use types and soil depths in Hojje watershed of Gomibora district, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia, in November 1, 2020. Soil samples (24 nos.) were collected using X-design format from four different land use typeshome garden, cultivated land, grazing land, and Eucalyptus plantation at two soil depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm). The soil samples were prepared, their physiochemical characteristics were examined, and statistical analysis was performed. The results indicated that the soil under cultivated land and Eucalyptus plantation were strongly acidic (pH 5.15 and 5.32) with mean values of exchangeable acidity (4.6, 4.59 cmol(+) kg−1) and acid saturation percentage (47.85, 46.96%), respectively. The grazing land was moderately acidic (pH 5.63) and home garden soil was slightly acidic (pH 6.67). The home garden soils had statistically significant (p < 0.01) lower exchangeable acidity (0.64 cmol(+) kg−1) and acid saturation percentage (2.61%). Although, soil pH (H2O and KCl), exchangeable acidity, acid saturation percentage, exchangeable base, CEC, and base saturation are significantly (p < 0.01) affected by both the main effect and interaction effects of the two factors. As a result, it is advised to apply lime to the cultivated land to reduce the acidity of the soil for profitable crop production as the amount of acidity is above the tolerance limit for the area's locally produced crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most damaging issues to cultivatable land is soil salinity. While salt stress influences plant growth and yields at low to moderate levels, severe salt stress is harmful to plant growth. Mineral shortages and toxicities frequently exacerbate the problem of salinity. The growth of many plants is quantitatively reduced by various levels of salt stress depending on the stage of development and duration of stress. Plants have developed various mechanisms to withstand salt stress. One of the key strategies is the utilization of microRNAs (miRNAs) that can influence gene regulation at the post-transcriptional stage under different environmental conditions, including salinity. Here, we have reviewed the miRNA-mediated adaptations of various plant species to salt stress and other abiotic variables. Moreover, salt responsive (SR)-miRNAs, their targets, and corresponding pathways have also been discussed. The review article concludes by suggesting that the utilization of miRNAs may be a vital strategy to generate salt tolerant crops ensuring food security in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Trace elements are required in small quantities for all species, and their role in many biological functions is essential. Additionally, their deficiency or excess can have important consequences for metabolism and health. Although camels live in ecosystems dominated by minerals, they are also subject to such imbalances. To investigate the trace element status of camels, as for other animals, blood sampling is preferred. The present paper gives a large overview of the values observed in camel blood samples under different physiological and health conditions, as well as some data regarding the symptoms in deficiency or excess situations. The main trace elements involved are copper, zinc, iron, selenium, manganese, cobalt, iodine, fluorine and molybdenum. In addition, some data regarding bromide and nickel, due to their specific mention in the literature, are included. Although the status of sulfur is regarded as intermediary between the main and trace elements, it is added due to its role in polluted areas. Finally, some specificities of camel trace elements are discussed. Trace minerals play an important role in animal health and productivity. They are involved also in many physiological activities, and their deficiency causes a variety of pathological problems and metabolic defects, reducing consequently the animal productivity. The demand for animal products in semi-arid areas is rapidly increasing, and the supply is still below the required level, partially due to low animal productivity. Camels (Camelus dromedarius and Camelus bactrianus) are considered one of the main sources of healthy, high-quality meat and milk for human consumption within most of the countries in the semi-arid regions. Despite their efficient adaptation to their environment, camels can suffer from the growth retardation of newborns, low feed efficiency, anemia, poor fertility, poor reproduction and many other metabolic disorders. It is well known that trace mineral deficiencies and trace mineral toxicities can influence camels' production and reproductive efficiency, as well as many aspects of their growth and metabolism. Evaluating the trace minerals status of camels and their variability is an obvious step toward improving camels' productivity and health. Thus, the present article reviews the data regarding the status of trace minerals (copper, zinc, iron, selenium, manganese, cobalt, iodine, fluorine, molybdenum, sulfur, bromide and nickel) in camel blood and their physiological variability, with a focus on their deficiency and toxicity effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Respirable mineral particles represent a potential health hazard in occupational settings and ambient air. Previous studies show that mineral particles may induce cytotoxicity and inflammatory reactions in vitro and in vivo and that the potency varies between samples of different composition. However, the reason for these differences is largely unknown and the impact of mineralogical composition on the biological effects of mineral dust remains to be determined. Methods: We have assessed the cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects of ten mineral particle samples of different composition in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC3-KT) and THP-1-derived macrophages, as well as their membranolytic properties in erythrocytes. Moreover, the results were compiled with the results of recently published experiments on the effects of stone particle exposure and analysed using linear regression models to elucidate which mineral components contribute most to the toxicity of mineral dust. Results: While all mineral particle samples were more cytotoxic to HBEC3-KT cells than THP-1 macrophages, biotite and quartz were among the most cytotoxic in both cell models. In HBEC3-KT cells, biotite and quartz also appeared to be the most potent inducers of pro-inflammatory cytokines, while the quartz, Ca-feldspar, Na-feldspar and biotite samples were the most potent in THP-1 macrophages. All particle samples except quartz induced low levels of membranolysis. The regression analyses revealed associations between particle bioactivity and the content of quartz, muscovite, plagioclase, biotite, anorthite, albite, microcline, calcite, chlorite, orthopyroxene, actinolite and epidote, depending on the cell model and endpoint. However, muscovite was the only mineral consistently associated with increased cytotoxicity and cytokine release in both cell models. Conclusions: The present study provides further evidence that mineral particles may induce cytotoxicity and inflammation in cells of the human airways and that particle samples of different mineralogical composition differ in potency. The results show that quartz, while being among the most potent samples, does not fully predict the toxicity of mineral dust, highlighting the importance of other particle constituents. Moreover, the results indicate that the phyllosilicates muscovite and biotite may be more potent than other minerals assessed in the study, suggesting that this group of sheet-like minerals may warrant further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Interactive effects of different temperatures (15 °C and 40 °C) different boric acid concentrations (10 and 25 mM) were investigated in this study. • Phenological parameters, MDA level, SOD, CAT, APX activities and gene expressions were determined. • Boric acid application increased the negative effect of high temperature stress on all parameters examined. • It has been determined that boron supplementation in the plant is an important factor in tolerating low temperature stress. Plants have to cope with more than one abiotic stress at the same time in nature. Heat stress and mineral toxicity are at the forefront of these abiotic stresses. The purpose of this study is to investigate the interactive effects of high and low-temperature stress and boric acid application on the sunflower and reveal the potential protection mechanisms against the combined effect of two types of stress. Two different boric acid concentrations (10 and 25 mM) were applied to sunflowers grown separately at low (15 °C), optimum (25 °C) and high (40 °C) temperature. Then, root length and stem height, root and stem fresh-dry weight, root and stem biomass, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzyme activities and changes in the gene expression levels of these enzymes were determined. It was determined that there were reductions in the phenological properties of the roots and stems of the samples grown at 40 °C based on the increasing boric acid concentration, while the samples grown at 15 °C were positively affected. The antioxidant enzyme activities and mRNA levels of the root and leaf samples at 40 °C were observed to increase. For the samples at 15 °C, the antioxidant enzyme activities and mRNA levels increased in the roots and decreased in the leaves. Considering phenological parameters, it was revealed that high boric acid application at low temperatures promoted plant growth, and considering the antioxidant enzyme activities and mRNA expression levels, it was highly effective in the plant's toleration of low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperation in areas of science & technology is a crucial element in the India-Australia strategic partnership. Both countries have promoted research & innovation in the areas of biotechnology through research grants, exchange of scholars, visits of Indian scholars to Australian institutions, etc. Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund for Collaborative Research Projects was established under the Indo-Australia innovations partnership. Research relating to Biotechnology in the fields of agriculture, food security, biomedical devices and implants, and marine sciences has been of prime focus in the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF). Research promotion in biological systems is one of the crucial areas in recent initiatives taken by both countries in advancing critical and emerging technologies. Today Indian agriculture & allied sectors face numerous challenges from climate change, drought, declining water levels, and substantial losses to crop pests, including insects, rodents, nematodes, fungal pathogens, bacteria, viruses, etc. Abiotic stresses like drought, extreme temperatures, salinity, and mineral toxicity negatively impact the growth of crops. New challenges, therefore, require energizing science diplomacy for greater collaboration with nations, which have developed scientific cultures and advanced systems of facilitating and nurturing innovations in the field of biotechnology and agriculture sciences. In the broader policy framework of science diplomacy, science & technology cooperation, including new technology for the agriculture sector, has been a crucial element of Prime Minister Modi's foreign policy. In addition to bilateral initiatives, the scope for India-Australia science & technology cooperation through multilateral formats such as G20 and Quad should be explored. In this context, the article analyses the India-Australia cooperation in biotechnology and how it can be further expanded in addressing new areas. The paper also analyses India-Australia cooperation and offers an overview of Indo-Australian Career Boosting Gold Fellowships from the Department of Biotechnology and first-hand research experience of La Trobe University, Melbourne, under the programme. IACBGF has been instrumental in widening the exposure and capacity building of independent young researchers working in the domain of biotechnology in Indian academic institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element, but excess Cu is toxic to plants, animals and humans. Tomatoes are widely cultivated vegetables worldwide. Due to the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers, Cu toxicity often occurs during tomato cultivation. However, the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying Cu toxicity responses in tomato plants have not been fully elucidated. In this study, using physiological and transcriptomic analyses, we investigated the effects of excess Cu on tomato plant growth. The results showed that Cu toxicity inhibits photosynthesis and induces oxidative damage in tomato plants. Excess Cu decreases the concentrations of cytokinin and indoleacetic acid and interferes with cytokinin and auxin signaling pathways, thus slowing plant growth. Furthermore, increased abscisic acid concentrations are beneficial for improving the tolerance of tomato plants to Cu toxicity. Excess Cu disrupts mineral element accumulation in tomato plants. Cu toxicity also reprograms carbon/nitrogen metabolism pathways and represses lignin catabolic processes in roots, thus altering the material flow and energy flow in plants and disrupting the cell wall structure, ultimately inhibiting the growth and development of tomato plants. In addition, molecular regulatory network analysis identified 17 transcription factors as hub genes in the roots of excess Cu-treated tomato plants. These findings provide insights into the adaptation of tomato plants to Cu toxicity, contributing to the development of tomato varieties with high tolerance to Cu toxicity. • Cu toxicity inhibits photosynthesis and induces oxidative damage in tomato. • Cu toxicity disrupts phytohormone signaling pathways in tomato. • Cu toxicity disrupts mineral element accumulation in tomato. • Cu toxicity reprograms carbon/nitrogen metabolism pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans will set foot on the Moon again soon. The lunar dust (LD) is potentially reactive and could pose an inhalation hazard to lunar explorers. We elucidated LD toxicity and investigated the toxicological impact of particle surface reactivity (SR) using three LDs, quartz, and TiO2. We first isolated the respirable-size-fraction of an Apollo-14 regolith and ground two coarser samples to produce fine LDs with increased SR. SR measurements of these five respirable-sized dusts, determined by their in-vitro ability to generate hydroxyl radicals (•OH), showed that ground LDs > unground LD ≥ TiO2 ≥ quartz. Rats were each intratracheally instilled with 0, 1, 2.5, or 7.5 mg of a test dust. Toxicity biomarkers and histopathology were assessed up to 13 weeks after the bolus instillation. All dusts caused dose-dependent-increases in pulmonary lesions and toxicity biomarkers. The three LDs, which possessed mineral compositions/properties similar to Arizona volcanic ash, were moderately toxic. Despite a 14-fold •OH difference among these three LDs, their toxicities were indistinguishable. Quartz produced the lowest •OH amount but showed the greatest toxicity. Our results showed no correlation between the toxicity of mineral dusts and their ability to generate free radicals. We also showed that the amounts of oxidants per neutrophil increased with doses, time and the cytotoxicity of the dusts in the lung, which supports our postulation that dust-elicited neutrophilia is the major persistent source of oxidative stress. These results and the discussion of the crucial roles of the short-lived, continuously replenished neutrophils in dust-induced pathogenesis are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a member of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons known for high persistency and toxicity. Technologies of BaP sorption through solid matrixes have received relatively more attention. The present study was devoted to the phytotesting investigations of two different groups of sorbents, such as carbonaceous, including biochar and granulated activated carbon (GAC), and mineral, including tripoli and diatomite. Evaluation of the BaP removing efficiency was carried out using the phytotesting method with spring barley in Haplic Chernozem contaminated with different levels of contamination (200 and 400 μg kg−1 BaP). The sorbents' efficiency for BaP remediation was estimated in the sorbents doses from 0.5 to 2.5% per kg of soil. It was shown that biochar and GAC decreased the soil toxicity class to a greater extent than mineral sorbents ones. The effect intensified with an increase in applying sorbents doses. The optimal dose of carbonaceous sorbents into the soil contaminated with 200 µg kg−1 was 1%, decreasing the BaP content up 57–59% in the soil. Simultaneously, the optimal dose of the mineral sorbents was found to be 1.5%, which decreased the BaP content in the soil up 41–48%. Increasing the BaP contamination level up to 400 µg kg−1 showed the necessity of a sorbent dose increasing. In these conditions, among all applied sorbents, only 2% GAC could reduce the soil toxicity class to the normal level up to 0.91–1.10. It was shown that BaP tended to migrate from the soil to the roots and further into the vegetative part of barley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Located in Ecuador's southern Amazonia, the Condor Mountain Range is the home of the Shuar people, who have been living for the last three decades amid increasing colonization and expanding mineral extraction. In these mined lands, gold is constantly brought into being through chemical manipulations. After state authorities declared the valleys a zone of environmental destruction, these chemical compounds in soils, waters and bodies have been widely documented. The Shuar villagers are concerned with the evident destructive effects of cyanide on aquatic life. However, the invisible hazardous effects of mercury and manganese, the evidence of which can be sensed neither in fish's flesh nor on their bodies, remain unsettled. This article explores how toxic chemicals are made perceptible or imperceptible. Toxicological and biomedical knowledge practices produce (im)perceptibility through chains of associations and disassociations. Such practice intertwines with colonization projects that ignore the importance of fish and fishing to the Shuar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intense concern in recent years for quantitative and toxicological identification and evaluation, especially for heavy metals from animal origin products represent a side that needs to be studied continuously, especially for game meat, nutritional toxicity of those mineral elements (mainly Pb and Cd) being directly influenced by their variations in habitat water, air and soil. The goal of the study is motivated by the inexistence of information regarding appreciation of contamination degree with heavy metals of game meat, having in view the limited checkout of feeding of game animals exploited in their natural environment, as well as the polluting environmental factors. The analytical results regarding the quantitative evaluation of the Cd concentration of the muscle samples indicate that the average values found in male carcasses are higher than those in female carcasses, except the Trapezius cervicalis muscle. The average concentration of Cd residues ranged from 0.020 ± 0.0028 to 0.040 ± 0.017 mg/kg DM, both limits being attributed to the Triceps brachii muscles. The range of averages corresponding to the other muscle groups are described by an amplitude of the variation of 0.018 mg/kg DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia is a maritime country with abundant seawater mineral content. One of the regions with the highest salt production is Pamekasan Madura. Minerals are known to have many roles and benefits for our bodies, such as regulating fluid balance and metabolism. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the physicochemical and microbial properties of concentrated minerals obtained through solvent evaporation and salt deposition for ± 60 days. Acute oral toxicity examination was performed as a first step in determining the safety of concentrated minerals to be used as a raw material for drugs. Based on the test results, the concentrated mineral has a clear yellow color, salty taste, and a bit bitter, odorless, with a pH of 6.6 ± 0.21. Concentrated minerals have high mineral content with levels of potassium, sodium, magnesium, boron, and calcium being 44734.1598 ± 12950.4633, 33192.1198 ± 2699.3419, 8738.1388 ± 100.4894, 2092.5715 ± 60.3224, and 276.9704 ± 13.1133 mg/Kg, respectively. The results of microbiological analysis of untreated concentrated minerals (without antimicrobials or sterilization) showed that the total plate count was within limits, including coliform and Salmonella. However, the total mold and yeast levels exceed the threshold. Based on the results of acute oral toxicity testing, the concentrated mineral is practically nontoxic. With high mineral content and low toxicity, it can be concluded that the concentrated minerals from Pamekasan Madura seawater is potential to be used as a raw medicinal material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic inflammation induced in vivo by mineral fibres, such as asbestos, is sustained by the cyclic formation of cytotoxic/genotoxic oxidant species that are catalysed by iron. High catalytic activity is observed when iron atoms are isolated in the crystal lattice (nuclearity=1), whereas the catalytic activity is expected to be reduced or null when iron forms clusters of higher nuclearity. This study presents a novel approach for systematically measuring iron nuclearity across a large range of iron-containing standards and mineral fibres of social and economic importance, and for quantitatively assessing the relation between nuclearity and toxicity. The multivariate curve resolution (MCR) empirical approach and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were applied to the analysis of UV-Vis spectra to obtain information on the nature of iron and nuclearity. This approach led to the determination of the nuclearity of selected mineral fibres which was subsequently used to calculate a toxicity-related index. High nuclearity-related toxicity was estimated for chrysotile samples, fibrous glaucophane, asbestos tremolite, and fibrous wollastonite. Intermediate values of toxicity, corresponding to a mean nuclearity of 2, were assigned to actinolite asbestos, amosite, and crocidolite. Finally, a low nuclearity-related toxicity parameter, corresponding to an iron-cluster with a lower catalytic power to produce oxidants, was assigned to asbestos anthophyllite. [Display omitted] • Iron nuclearity of mineral fibres has been assessed from the analysis of UV-Vis spectra. • Mineral fibres display very different iron nuclearity depending on their structure model. • A model explaining the catalytic activity of iron is proposed. • Fibres containing isolated Fe2+ have higher capacity for producing toxic free radicals. • Iron nuclearity supports the FPTI quantitative model for predicting the toxicity of mineral fibres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trace minerals play an important role in animal health and productivity. They are involved also in many physiological activities, and their deficiency causes a variety of pathological problems and metabolic defects, reducing consequently the animal productivity. The demand for animal products in semi-arid areas is rapidly increasing, and the supply is still below the required level, partially due to low animal productivity. Camels (Camelus dromedarius and Camelus bactrianus) are considered one of the main sources of healthy, high-quality meat and milk for human consumption within most of the countries in the semi-arid regions. Despite their efficient adaptation to their environment, camels can suffer from the growth retardation of newborns, low feed efficiency, anemia, poor fertility, poor reproduction and many other metabolic disorders. It is well known that trace mineral deficiencies and trace mineral toxicities can influence camels’ production and reproductive efficiency, as well as many aspects of their growth and metabolism. Evaluating the trace minerals status of camels and their variability is an obvious step toward improving camels’ productivity and health. Thus, the present article reviews the data regarding the status of trace minerals (copper, zinc, iron, selenium, manganese, cobalt, iodine, fluorine, molybdenum, sulfur, bromide and nickel) in camel blood and their physiological variability, with a focus on their deficiency and toxicity effects.

• Long term instillation to natural chrysotile may induce lung injury. • Chrysotile may activate p53 and P16; inhibited C-JUN and C-FOS in vivo. • Chrysotile from different mining areas has different oncogenic potential. Chrysotile is the only type of asbestos still widely exploited, and all kinds of asbestos including chrysotile was classified as a group I carcinogen by the IARC. There is a wealth of evidence that chrysotile can cause a range of cancers, including cancer of the lung, larynx, ovary, and mesothelioma. As the second largest chrysotile producer, China is at great risk of occupational exposure. Moreover, our previous experiment and some other studies have shown that the toxicity of mineral fibre from various mining areas may be different. To explore the oncogenic potential of chrysotile from different mining areas of China, Wistar rats were administered 0.5 mL chrysotile asbestos suspension of 2.0 mg/mL (from Akesai, Gansu; Mangnai, Qinghai; XinKang, Sichuan; and Shannan, Shaanxi) dissolved in saline by intratracheal instillation once-monthly and were sacrificed at 1 mo, 6 mo, and 12 mo. Our results found that chrysotile caused lung inflammation and lung tissue damage. Moreover, prolonged exposure of chrysotile can induce inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene P53 and P16 and activation of the protooncogene C-JUN and C-FOS both in the messenger RNA and protein level. In addition, chrysotile from Shannan and XinKang has a stronger effect which may link to cancer than that from Akesai and Mangnai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wastewater discharged from the automobile industry is characterized by complicated components, a high concentration of mineral oil and toxicity. This study processes and recycles wastewater from a coking plant in the automotive industry through the upgrade of the original wastewater treatment system, as well as the combination of bio-augmentation and ordinary treatment technology. The results show the wastewater treatment capacity of the new system reaches 40 m³/h, and the treated water meets the national first-class discharge standard (GB8978-1996). Its depth treatment capacity is 10 m³/h, and the quality of the recycled water conforms to the standard for reclaimed water quality (CJ25.1-89). After the introduction of bio-augmentation, one ton of wastewater treatment costs as low as RMB 5.90 Yuan, which is worth the promotion and application in automotive industries (such as coking enterprises). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Condensed phosphates are deliberately added to the fishery and processed marine food products on purpose to increase the weight of products. However, excessive intake overwhelming bodily homoeostasis can result in phosphate toxicity such as mineral and bone disorders, associated with chronic kidney diseases, and cardiovascular events. Rapid analysis for condensed phosphates is required to detect the illegal adulteration of processed marine products. We optimised an analytical method using ion chromatography for the rapid and selective detection of condensed phosphates in various kinds of fishery and processed marine products. We compared the performance of three columns (IonPac AS11, AS11-HC, and AS16) for the detection of condensed phosphates with respect to time of analysis and sensitivity. The IonPac AS11 column exhibited the shortest retention time for the major condensed phosphates (pyro-, tri-, and trimetaphosphate), the highest sensitivity for trimetaphosphate, and good repeatability and precision. Microwave and boiling processing were examined as methods to prevent hydrolysis of condensed phosphates into orthophosphate, which is critical in distinguishing intentionally added condensed phosphates from naturally occurring orthophosphate. Microwave treatment was determined to be the more effective method to suppress hydrolysis of condensed phosphates to orthophosphate. Furthermore, microwave processing could be used for thawing the frozen samples, saving extra effort and time. We confirmed that the method exhibits good recovery (80% or more) and precision (%RSD < 10%) for samples with various matrices. With the method, 14 kinds of fishery and processed marine food products were successfully analysed for condensed phosphates. Especially, we identified that phosphate levels in the processed shrimp and dried shredded squid samples exceeded the maximum allowable levels specified in the CODEX standard. We believe that our method would be useful for the rapid analysis of condensed phosphates in various types of fishery and processed marine food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Abiotic stress significantly impaired growth of vegetable crops. • Nickel toxicity hindered mineral nutrient accumulation in pepper crop. • Melatonin regulated nickel stress tolerance in pepper. • Melatonin reduced nickel accumulation in shoot. The excessive accumulation of nickel (Ni) poses a significant threat to global agricultural productivity. In recent years, it has become clear that melatonin (ME) may play a significant role in protecting plants against heavy metal toxicity. This current study investigates the influence of exogenous ME on mitigating the adverse effects of Ni toxicity in pepper plants. The present results revealed that Ni toxicity significantly hindered pepper seedling growth, damaged the leaf photosynthetic system, impaired pigment concentration, and increased phenolic content. In contrast, ME supplementation efficiently restored seedling growth, protected the photosynthetic system, and further increased the phenolic concentration in pepper leaves. In addition, Ni toxicity considerably increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) production and increased antioxidant enzymes [SOD (superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalase), POD (peroxidase), GR (glutathione reductase), APX (ascorbate peroxidase), and GST (glutathione S-transferase)] activity in pepper leaves and roots. Conversely, ME inhibited MDA and H 2 O 2 accumulation and further increased the antioxidant enzyme activity in pepper leaves and roots. Furthermore, ME application restricted Ni accumulation from root to shoot. Collectively, the ME has shown the ability to mitigate the adverse effects of Ni toxicity in pepper plants. The findings of this study will contribute to the understanding and mitigation of the adverse impacts of Ni-induced stress on the growth and development of plants. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Abiotic stress significantly impaired growth of vegetable crops. • Heavy metals toxicity hindered mineral nutrient accumulation in vegetable crops. • Melatonin regulated abiotic stress tolerance in plants. • Melatonin reduced heavy metals accumulation in shoot. Vegetable crops are very important to the agriculture sector since they are the primary source of many of the vitamins and minerals that are required for a balanced diet. In contrast, vegetable production is frequently vulnerable to abiotic stresses such as heavy metals, salinity, cold, heat, and drought stress, which can have a negative impact on yield and quality. Recently, melatonin (MEL) has been identified as a universal plant growth regulator. MEL is a multifunctional, nontoxic, and universal bioactive molecule with low molecular weight. MEL regulate plant growth, protected photosynthetic system, delayed in leaf senescence, promoting root system architecture, maintain ion homeostasis, upregulated antioxidant enzyme pool, increased osmolytes accumulation, and balanced redox homeostasis. MEL also plays an important role in the alleviation of abiotic stress in vegetable crops. Furthermore, MEL restricted heavy metals accumulation and increased mineral nutrient accumulation in many vegetables crops. This study aims to provide a concise overview of the possible impact of MEL on enhancing the resilience of vegetable crop to abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tropical Grasslands / Forrajes Tropicales is the property of International Centre for Tropical Agriculture - CIAT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Can culture conditions influence the sensitivity of a Mouse Embryo Assay and its potential to detect peroxide-related toxicity in mineral oil samples? Protein type and concentration, embryo density and culture dish design were selected as the variables in the culture system with the potential to influence the assay's sensitivity. Fresh 1-cell mouse embryos were cultured under mineral oil samples with known peroxide concentrations. Protein type (human serum albumin [HSA] + α/β-Globulins versus HSA versus bovine serum albumin [BSA]), concentration (5 mg/ml versus 0.5 mg/ml), embryo density (25 versus 3 µl/embryo) and culture dish (Petri versus micro-well dish) were adjusted to define the culture conditions with the highest sensitivity. High concentrations of peroxides can be easily detected by current quality control standards. However, for oil samples with a lower concentration of peroxides, supplementing the culture medium with 5 mg/ml of HSA + alpha/beta-globulins or with HSA resulted in an increased detection of embryo toxicity compared with when BSA was used as the protein supplement. The sensitivity of the assay was greatly reduced when embryos were cultured in groups and when certain micro-well dishes were used. Current quality control protocols may not be sensitive enough to identify low concentrations of peroxides, which, if undetected, can increase over time and become potentially harmful during gamete and embryo culture. The different parameters established in this study allow the sensitivity of the Mouse Embryo Assays to be optimized to specifically detect peroxides in mineral oil samples prior to their release into the market and their broad use in human IVF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 28 PCB congeners were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) in 46 surface soils collected from the Yellow River Delta Natural Reserve (YRDNR) and its adjacent area, China. The total concentrations of PCBs in the YRDNR ranged from 0.149 to 4.32 ng/g, with a mean concentration of 0.802 ng/g. Light PCB congeners predominated in the present research area, which may be attributed to the atmospheric transportation and were also associated with the recent contamination of unintentionally produced PCBs from industrial processes. In addition, PCB 126 and PCB 169 were found to be the major toxicity contributors of dioxin-like PCBs in the YRDNR, which should require special focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The potency of various mineral fiber types to produce mesothelioma was previously evaluated for numerous cohorts, but the differences in potencies for distinct fiber types have yet to be explained. Objective: To develop an empirical model that would reconstruct mesothelioma potency factors for various types of fiber based on their chemical composition and dimensionality. Methods: Typical chemical composition and dimensionality metrics (aspect ratios) were obtained and combined with mesothelioma potency factors estimated by Hodgson and Darnton method for Quebec chrysotile, South Africa amosite, South Africa and Australian crocidolite, Russian anthophyllite, Libby amphiboles, and Turkey erionite. The forward stepwise log–log regression method was utilized to determine the best combination of input parameters. Results: Mesothelioma potency factors (RM) for selected cohorts were effectively reconstructed utilizing the median aspect ratio of fibers and equivalent fractions of SiO2, total Fe oxides or total equivalent Fe3+ as Fe2O3, and MgO. Modeled potency factors increase as the aspect ratio, SiO2, and total Fe oxide (or Fe2O3) content grow, and as the MgO content diminishes. Correlation coefficients up to 0.999, p < 0.01, were achieved. The models also yield reasonable estimates of mesothelioma potencies for other fiber types, including Bolivian crocidolite, Russian chrysotile, fluoro-edenite, and others. Conclusion: In spite of the empirical approach, the proposed models provide a starting point for targeted studies of mesothelioma mechanisms by elucidating significant contributing physicochemical factors. The models have an exploratory and preliminary character but can potentially be useful to introduce quantitative structure–activity relationship approaches for the toxicology of fibrous minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Golden Eagles are a long-lived, wide-ranging bird of conservation concern in North America. To create a comprehensive conservation strategy, managers and researchers need to know the primary causes of mortality and must have reliable survival estimates. We monitored nesting Golden Eagles in a 2700 km2 area of south-central Montana from 2010–2017. As part of our effort, we fitted 16 adult and 13 nestlings with platform terminal transmitters for satellite telemetry. We determined causes of mortality from recovered Golden Eagles and, using multi-state models in program MARK, we estimated monthly and annual survival probabilities. We confirmed five total mortalities, including two cases of lead toxicity, one occurrence of intraspecific aggression, and two mortalities with unknown cause. The monthly survival estimate of adult Golden Eagles in our study area was 0.994 and the annual adult survival probability was 0.930. The monthly survival probability estimate from birds transmittered as nestlings was 0.991 and the annual survival estimate was 0.897. Lead toxicity and intraspecific aggression are known causes of Golden Eagle mortality, but the birds we tracked died from lead toxicity at a higher rate than would be expected based on results from other studies. The survival probability estimates from the Golden Eagles we monitored were higher than reported estimates from other locations. Further, the information we provide can assist with the development of population matrices and increase our knowledge on causes of Golden Eagle mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Remediation of Azure A Dye from Aqueous Solution by Using Surface-Modified Coal Fly Ash Extracted Ferrospheres by Mineral Acids and Toxicity Assessment," has been retracted by Hindawi due to evidence of systematic manipulation of the publication process. The investigation revealed discrepancies in scope, description of the research, availability of data, inappropriate citations, and incoherent or irrelevant content. Hindawi cannot vouch for the reliability of the article's content and regrets that these issues were not identified before publication. The corresponding author has been given the opportunity to respond to the retraction. [Extracted from the article]

Mineral nanoparticles (M-NPs) are ubiquitous in aquatic environments, but their potential harms to primary producers and impacts on the toxicity of coexisting pollutants are largely unknown. Herein, the toxicity mechanisms of various M-NPs (i.e., SiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , Al 2 O 3 , and TiO 2 NPs) to Synechocystis sp. in absence and presence of ciprofloxacin (CIP) were comprehensively investigated. The heteroaggregation of cells and M-NPs can hinder substrate transfer or light acquisition. The attraction between Synechocystis sp. and M-NPs increased in the order of SiO 2 < Fe 2 O 3 < Al 2 O 3 ≈ TiO 2 NPs. Therefore, SiO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 NPs exerted slight effects on physiology and proteome of Synechocystis sp.. Al 2 O 3 NPs with the rod-like shape caused physical damage to cells. Differently, TiO 2 NPs with photocatalytic activities provided photogenerated electrons for Synechocystis sp., promoting photosynthesis and the Calvin cycle for CO 2 fixation. SiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , and Al 2 O 3 NPs alleviated the toxicity of CIP in an adsorption-depended manner. Conversely, the combination of CIP and TiO 2 NPs exerted more pronounced toxic effects compared to their individuals, and CIP disturbed the extracellular electron transfer from TiO 2 NPs to cells. The findings highlight the different effects of TiO 2 NPs from other M-NPs on cyanobacteria, either alone or in combination with CIP, and improve the understanding of toxic mechanisms of M-NPs. [Display omitted] • Al 2 O 3 NPs with rod-like shape is more toxic than SiO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 NPs. • TiO 2 NPs affect cyanobacteria by providing photogenerated electrons. • M-NPs other than TiO 2 NPs alleviate CIP toxicity in an adsorption-dependent manner. • TiO 2 NPs combined with CIP cause more severe toxic effects on Synechocystis sp.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Inhalation exposure to some types of fibers (e.g., asbestos) is well known to be associated with respiratory diseases and conditions such as pleural plaques, fibrosis, asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. In recent years, attention has expanded to other types of elongate mineral particles (EMPs) that may share similar geometry with asbestos fibers but which may differ in mineralogy. Inhalability, dimensions and orientation, and density are major determinants of the aerodynamic behavior for fibers and other EMPs; and the resultant internal dose is recognized as being the critical link between exposure and pathogenesis. Insufficient data are available to fully understand the role of specific physicochemical properties on the potential toxicity across various types of fiber materials. While additional information is required to assess the potential health hazards of EMPs, dosimetry models are currently available to estimate the initially deposited internal dose, which is an essential step in linking airborne exposures to potential health risks. Based on dosimetry model simulations, the inhalability and internal dose of EMPs were found to be greater than that of spherical particles having the same mass or volume. However, the complexity of the dependence of internal dose on EMPs dimensions prevented a straightforward formulation of the deposition-dimension (length or diameter) relationship. Because health outcome is generally related to internal dose, consideration of the factors that influence internal dose is important in assessing the potential health hazards of airborne EMPs. Highlights • Inhalability of EMPs increased with length and was smaller than that of spherical particles. • A simple relationship between EMPs dimensions and deposition fraction could not be established. • Deposition of EMPs in the lower respiratory tract was lower than that of spherical particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effect on cucumber growth of seven different imidazolium-based ionic liquids, namely 1-(2-oxybutyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [C2OC2mIm][Cl]; 1-(2-oxypropyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [C1OC2mIm][Cl]; 1-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3-ethylimidazolium chloride, [OHC3eIm][Cl]; 1-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [OHC3mIm][Cl]; 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [OHC2mIm][Cl], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [bmim][Cl] and imidazolium chloride, [Im][Cl], were examined. The influence of polarity of the alkyl side chain of the imidazolium cation on the reduction of the ionic liquid's toxicity is investigated. For all investigated seedlings, significant reduction of biomass was noted, with the incoherent influence of the ionic liquid (IL) concentration. The total inhibition of germination was shown at the highest used concentration for some of the used ionic liquids. Although investigated ILs affected root and shoot growth of cucumber, the effect on stress marker (MDA) as well as biosynthesis of chlorophyll and carotenoids was negligible. The data collected in this research suggest that tuning of the lipophilicity of imidazolium cations by the introduction of polar groups in the side alkyl chain does not have pronounced effect on cucumber, as it was shown for other plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The aim of the present survey was to determine differences in the serum and urinary concentrations of several toxic trace elements (As, Be, Cd, Cs and Pb) between long distance runners and non-sportsmen living in the same area of Extremadura (Spain) in basal conditions as well as after the performance of a maximal effort test until exhaustion. 21 Spanish national long-distance runners were recruited before the start of their training season and 26 untrained students. All of them had similar ages. The effort test consisted in running on a treadmill incrementally in stages, until exhaustion. Serum and urine analysis of trace metals was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In the statistics the urine and blood basal concentrations was analyzed first using Student t test. Then the differences between the pre and post-test values were analyzed using Wilcoxon test. The serum concentrations of Be (p < 0.001), Cd (p < 0.01), Cs (p < 0.001) and Pb (p < 0.001) were higher in the athletes than the control groups in basal conditions. In relation to the exercise, the results showed that there were lower serum concentrations of Be, Cd and Pb after the test, but without statistically significance, in both groups. Cs (p < 0.001) concentrations were statistically lower after the exercise tests in both groups, but if the parameters were corrected in relation to hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations the differences were significant only among the athletes. In urine, the concentrations of Be (p < 0.001) and Cd (p < 0.01) were higher among athletes than among controls, being the opposite case for urinary Pb values. In relation to the exercise-induced effect of the test, the results showed that among controls only Cd values were modified, but if creatinine corrections are applied this difference does not reach statistical significance. However, sportsmen suffered a diminution in Be values, that can be observed only if urine values are corrected. Also, an increase in Cd, both in corrected and normal values, was observed, fact that occurred also in the case of Cs, but only if urinary values are corrected. It can be concluded that an incremental exercise to exhaustion among elite athletes of long distance modalities can produce changes in serum and urinary concentrations of toxic trace elements which may reflect an adaptive mechanism to prevent toxicity, and which could be an interesting outcome for physicians in the treatment and prevention of toxic situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recent studies show that Janus Fe3O4‐TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) have potential applications as a multifunctional agent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the diagnosis and therapy of cancer. However, little work has been done on their biological effects. To evaluate the toxicity and underlying molecular mechanisms of Janus Fe3O4‐TiO2 nanoparticles, an in vitro study using a human liver cell line HL‐7702 cells was conducted. For comparison, the Janus Fe3O4‐TiO2 NPs parent material TiO2 NPs was also evaluated. Results showed that both Fe3O4‐TiO2 NPs and TiO2 NPs decreased cell viability and ATP levels when applied in treatment, but increased malonaldehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Mitochondria JC‐1 staining assay showed that mitochondrial membrane permeability injury occurred in both NPs treated cells. Cell viability analysis showed that TiO2 NPs induced slightly higher cytotoxicity than Fe3O4‐TiO2 NPs in HL7702 cells. Western blotting indicated that both TiO2 NPs and Fe3O4‐TiO2 NPs could induce apoptosis, inflammation, and carcinogenesis related signal protein alterations. Comparatively, Fe3O4‐TiO2 NPs induced higher signal protein expressions than TiO2 NPs under a high treatment dose. However, under a low dose (6.25 μg/cm2), neither NPs had any significant toxicity on HL7702 cells. In addition, our results suggest both Fe3O4‐TiO2 NPs and TiO2 NPs could induce oxidative stress and have a potential carcinogenetic effect in vitro. Further studies are needed to elaborate the detailed mechanisms of toxicity induced by a high dose of Fe3O4‐TiO2 NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The effects of increasing concentrations of salt (NaCl) and cadmium (Cd) on shoot weight and shoot mineral content was investigated in Vuralia turcica , which is endemic to Turkey. In the present study, tolerance mechanisms to salt and Cd stress of V. turcica were examined. Plants were grown in calcareous soil, which has low organic content (1.03%) and high pH (8.4), and treated with increasing NaCl (0, 1000, and 2000 ppm) and Cd (0, 5, 25, and 50 ppm) with four replicates for a month under greenhouse conditions. The shoots of each plant were harvested and analyzed for mineral element content as well as the activities of antioxidative enzymes. Cd and Na concentrations of V. turcica were increased by enhanced NaCl and Cd supply. Increasing NaCl supply reduced the dry weight of shoots of V. turcica. Supplying a low concentration (5 ppm) of Cd increased dry weight, whereas 25 and 50 ppm Cd decreased dry weight. No visual symptoms were observed on leaves exposed to both salt and Cd stress. The activities of antioxidative defense enzymes were similar in both stress conditions when compared to non-stressed control groups. Highlights • The effects of NaCl and Cd on shoot weight and shoot mineral content was investigated in Vuralia turcica. • Vuralia turcica could be a heavy metal tolerant plant species. • Vuralia turcica can also be regarded as relatively salt tolerant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Chapingo Serie Ciencias Forestales is the property of Universidad Autonoma Chapingo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copper nanoparticle Cu (d = 55 ± 15 nm) and CuO nanoparticles (d = 90 ± 10 nm) were used in the studies (OOO Platina, Russia). Using the method of pure cultures, we extracted Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Enterobacterium from the intestines of broilers. Additionally, strains of Bacillus subtilis 10641 and Bifidobacterium were involved in probiotic strains. The data obtained in the course of the study testify to the insignificant biotoxicity of copper nanoparticles with respect to representatives of the genera Lactobacillus (30 to 15 μg/ml) and Bifidobacterium (30 μg/ml), with the most sensitive bacteria being the genus Lactobacillus, for which a concentration of 7.5 μg/ml was subinhibitory. The second stage was the study using method of agar wells. In the course of the experiment, we obtained results confirming the data of the research by the serial dilution method. In this case, as in the first case, the data indicate the insignificant biotoxicity of copper nanoparticles in relation to representatives of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. We have studied the bioaccumulating ability of microorganisms of the studied metals. In all the studies carried out, as in the first series of experiments, representatives of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium with the lowest bioaccumulative ability were the most sensitive to copper nanoparticles and were 3.1 and 8.2%, respectively. The use of nanoparticles as a component of the fodder additive in small concentrations does not adversely affect not only the probiotic strains, but also the main representatives of the normoflora (Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Enterobacterium) of the poultry, the positive effect of the copper nanoparticles being directly related to low level of dissociation of nanoparticles, since biologically active ions will be released much more slowly, thereby creating a prolonged effect of exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]