Source Of Ca Research Articles

Mutual Effect of Gypsum and Potassium on Nutrient Productivity in the Alfalfa-Grass Sward-A Case Study.

It was assumed that the production of alfalfa in soils naturally poor in available nutrients, such as potassium (K) and calcium (Ca), depends on the use of fertilizers. This hypothesis was validated in an experiment with an alfalfa-grass mixture carried out in 2012, 2013 and 2014 on soil formed from loamy sand that had a low content of available Ca and K. The two-factor experiment consisted of two levels of applied gypsum as a source of Ca (0, 500 kg ha-1) and five levels of PK fertilizers (absolute control, P60K0, P60K30, P60K60 and P60K120). The total yield of the sward was determined by the main seasons of alfalfa-grass sward use. Gypsum application increased the yield by 1.0 t ha-1. The highest yield of 14.9 t ha-1 was obtained on the plot fertilized with P60K120. Based on the nutrient content in the sward, it was shown that the main yield predictor was the content of K in the first cut of sward use. The reliable yield predictors, based on the total accumulation of nutrients in the sward, turned out to be K, Mg and Fe. The nutritional quality of the alfalfa-grass fodder, based on the K/Ca + Mg ratio, depended mainly on the season of the sward use, which was substantially deteriorated by the K fertilizer. Gypsum did not control this process. The productivity of the nutrients taken up by the sward depended on the accumulated K. Its yield-forming effect was significantly limited by manganese deficiency. The use of gypsum positively affected the uptake of micronutrients, consequently increasing their unit productivity, especially of manganese. Optimization of the production of alfalfa-grass mixtures in soils poor in basic nutrients requires micronutrients to be taken into account. Their uptake by plants can be limited by high doses of basic fertilizers.

Evaluation of Calcium Sources for the Management of Botrytis Blight on Petunia Flowers

Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of calcium (Ca) spray applications derived from Ca chloride for reducing botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) infection severity on petunia (Petunia ×hybrida) flowers. This study examines the effects of six Ca sources for their efficacy in reducing Botrytis blight on petunia flowers and their potential to cause spray damage or phytotoxicity. In the first experiment, the six Ca sources evaluated were laboratory-grade and commercial-grade Ca chloride, Ca nitrate, Ca ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid chelate, Ca amino acid chelate, and Ca silicate. In the second experiment, petunia flowers that were 0, 1, 3, 5, or 7 days old at the time of the Ca spray applications were evaluated for spray damage severity. For both experiments, treatments were applied to flowering plants. For the evaluation of Botrytis blight efficacy, flowers were excised and inoculated with botrytis spores 24 hours after the Ca spray application, and were evaluated every 12 hours for 72 hours. Laboratory-grade and commercial-grade Ca chloride at 1250 mg⋅L–1 Ca were the most effective Ca sources evaluated for decreasing Botrytis blight severity while not causing spray damage at any flower age. Spray damage to the flowers from the Ca chloride application increased when Ca concentrations increased to 2000 mg⋅L–1, but no additional benefit was observed for reducing Botrytis blight severity compared with the 1250-mg⋅L–1 Ca application. The results demonstrate that several Ca sources reduce Botrytis blight severity significantly; however, selection of the Ca source is important for minimizing the risk of spray damage.

Increased Ca2+ signaling through CaV 1.2 induces tendon hypertrophy with increased collagen fibrillogenesis and biomechanical properties.

Tendons are tension-bearing tissues transmitting force from muscle to bone for body movement. This mechanical loading is essential for tendon development, homeostasis, and healing after injury. While Ca2+ signaling has been studied extensively for its roles in mechanotransduction, regulating muscle, bone, and cartilage development and homeostasis, knowledge about Ca2+ signaling and the source of Ca2+ signals in tendon fibroblast biology are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the function of Ca2+ signaling through CaV 1.2 voltage-gated Ca2+ channel in tendon formation. Using a reporter mouse, we found that CaV 1.2 is highly expressed in tendon during development and downregulated in adult homeostasis. To assess its function, we generated ScxCre;CaV 1.2TS mice that express a gain-of-function mutant CaV 1.2 in tendon. We found that mutant tendons were hypertrophic, with more tendon fibroblasts but decreased cell density. TEM analyses demonstrated increased collagen fibrillogenesis in the hypertrophic tendons. Biomechanical testing revealed that the hypertrophic tendons display higher peak load and stiffness, with no changes in peak stress and elastic modulus. Proteomic analysis showed no significant difference in the abundance of type I and III collagens, but mutant tendons had about two-fold increase in other ECM proteins such as tenascin C, tenomodulin, periostin, type XIV and type VIII collagens, around 11-fold increase in the growth factor myostatin, and significant elevation of matrix remodeling proteins including Mmp14, Mmp2, and cathepsin K. Taken together, these data highlight roles for increased Ca2+ signaling through CaV 1.2 on regulating expression of myostatin growth factor and ECM proteins for tendon collagen fibrillogenesis during tendon formation.

GENESIS OF AXONAL SWELLINGS IN TRAUMATIC INJURY

AbstractBackgroundAxonal swellings (AxS) are focal enlargements of axons found in a range of biological and pathological settings, including traumatic brain injury. However, the development of AxS and their early effects on axonal homeostasis are poorly understood. Here, we describe the cytoskeletal changes, transport effects and the molecular events that occur in the axon immediately after a traumatic injury.MethodWe developed an in vitro system to study in real‐time the effects of traumatic injury on the axon of mature human neurons. We also generated an algorithm which allowed us to assess the dynamics of the AxS formation in real‐time and examine the role of Ca2+ in the swellings. Through mass spectrometry analysis on isolated axons we described the axonal proteome and identified the immediate phosphorylation changes ocurring in the axon after a traumatic injury. We also used superresolution microscopy to characterize the earliest cytoskeletal changes in the axon and their impact on the movement of several axonal cargoes.ResultAs a result of the mechanical stress we observed the appereance of AxS, which were temporally correlated to Ca2+ levels increase in the axon. Interestingly, by pharmacologically blocking different sources of Ca2+ we observed that Ca2+ plays a role in sustaining the AxS and not in their formation. Proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis revealed a significant regulation in proteins related to axon development after injury. These proteins were mainly interactors or components of the cytoskeleton, while no association to axonal degeneration or impairment in normal processes was found. We also predicted a general increase in kinases activity after injury, among them ROCK, ERK, JNK, PKC and GSK. A detailed analysis of cytoskeletal arrangement revealed modifications in the actin‐spectrin periodic structure and a mesh‐like organization of microtubules and neurofilaments in the AxS. We finally observed that the structure of swellings allows cargos to cross and that axonal transport of different cargos were not interrupted during mechanical stress.ConclusionThese observations indicate that the mechanical stress to the axon generates segments of cytoskeletal reorganization that result from Ca2+ increase and correlate with regulation through phosphorylation of cytoskeletal and cytoskeletal interacting proteins.

A Lasting Impact.

Department of Surgery, University of California-San Diego, San Diego CA Sources of support: None. Conflict of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. [email protected]

Evaluating the use of Ca/Sr and 87Sr/86Sr ratios to track Ca sources in sugar maple in Ontario

Decades of acidic deposition and timber harvesting have depleted calcium (Ca) stocks in soils, especially at base-poor soils characterized by low base cation weathering rates. One approach to tracking Ca sources from soil is by using Ca/Sr ratios in vegetation, while 87Sr/86Sr ratios have also been used to estimate mineral weathering rates. To evaluate the uses of Ca/Sr ratios and Sr isotopes in identifying Ca sources in sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.) trees, three base-poor sites on the Canadian Shield and three limestone sites in southern Ontario were sampled for Ca, Sr, and 87Sr/86Sr ratios. Higher Ca/Sr ratios in soil extracts and sugar maple tissues at base-rich sites compared with base-poor sites reflect different minerology among regions, while the Ca/Sr discrimination factor between roots and foliage indicated that internal cycling exerts a major control on Ca/Sr ratios in sugar maple. At the three off-shield sites, 87Sr/86Sr ratios in soil and tree tissues were higher than precipitation but were indistinguishable for off-shield sites. Mixing models using a 1.0 mol L−1 HCl soil extract as the weathering endmember indicated that a lower proportion of weathering Ca compared with other geochemical approaches. One potential explanation is that the extraction method dissolves more recalcitrant minerals to a greater extent than under field conditions, leading to a higher weathering rate endmember value used in the mixing model.

Micro-meteoroids impact vaporization as source for Ca and CaO exosphere along Mercury's orbit

The study of the micro-meteoroid environment is relevant to planetary science and space weathering of airless bodies, as the Moon or Mercury. In fact, the meteoroids hit directly the surfaces producing impact debris and vapor, thus contributing to shape the exosphere of the planet. This work is focused on the study and modelling of the Mercury's Ca exosphere formation through the process of Micro-Meteoroids Impact Vaporization (MMIV). The MESSENGER/NASA mission provided measurements of Mercury's Ca exosphere, allowing the study of its configuration and its seasonal variations. The observed Ca exhibited very high energies, with a scale height consistent with a temperature > 50,000 K, originated mainly on the dawn-side of the planet. It was suggested that the originating process is due to MMIV, but previous estimations were not able to justify the observed intensity and energy. We investigate the possible pathways to produce the high energy observed in the Ca exosphere and discuss about the generating mechanism. The most likely origin may be a combination of different processes involving the release of atomic and molecular surface particles. We use the exospheric Monte Carlo model by Mura et al. (2007) to simulate the 3-D spatial distribution of the Ca-bearing molecule and atomic Ca exospheres generated through the MMIV process, and we show that their morphology and intensity are consistent with the available MESSENGER observations if we consider a cloud quenching temperature < 3750 K. The results presented in this paper can be useful in the exospheric studies and in the interpretation of active surface release processes, as well as in the exosphere observations planning for the ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission that will start its nominal mission phase in 2026.

Calcium Nutrition of Broilers: Current Perspectives and Challenges.

Calcium (Ca) plays an essential role in poultry nutrition as 99% of Ca is located in birds' skeletal system. However, oversupply of Ca rather than deficiency of Ca is the current concern in commercial broiler diets. Calcium is an inexpensive dietary nutrient due to the cheap and abundant availability of limestone, the major Ca source; therefore, little attention was given to the oversupply of Ca in the past. The recent shift in the use of digestible P in broiler feed formulations has necessitated a closer look at digestible Ca, as Ca and P are interrelated in their absorption and postabsorptive utilisation. In this context, data on ileal digestibility of Ca and P in ingredients has been determined. Preliminary data on the digestible Ca and digestible P requirements for the different growth stages of broilers have also recently become available. The present review focusses on these recent advances in Ca nutrition. In addition, aspects of homeostatic control mechanisms, different Ca sources and factors influencing Ca digestibility in poultry are covered.

Synthetic Calcium Silicate Biocomposite Based on Sea Urchin Skeleton for 5-Fluorouracil Cancer Delivery.

Synthetic calcium silicates and phosphates are promising compounds for targeted drug delivery for the effective treatment of cancerous tumors, and for minimizing toxic effects on the patient's entire body. This work presents an original synthesis of a composite based on crystalline wollastonite CaSiO3 and combeite Na4Ca4(Si6O18), using a sea urchin Mesocentrotus nudus skeleton by microwave heating under hydrothermal conditions. The phase and elemental composition and structure of the obtained composite were studied by XRF, REM, BET, and EDS methods, depending on the microwave heating time of 30 or 60 min, respectively, and the influence of thermo-oxidative post-treatment of samples. The role of the sea urchin skeleton in the synthesis was shown. First, it provides a raw material base (source of Ca2+) for the formation of the calcium silicate composite. Second, it is a matrix for the formation of its porous inorganic framework. The sorption capacity of the composite, with respect to 5-fluorouracil, was estimated, the value of which was 12.3 mg/L. The resulting composite is a promising carrier for the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs. The mechanism of drug release from an inorganic natural matrix was also evaluated by fitting its release profile to various mathematical models.

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) modifies endothelial Ca2+ signaling

BACKGROUND: Preventing or reversing endothelial dysfunction is essential for preserving vascular homeostasis and staving off vascular disease. Previous findings from our lab suggest that maintaining a distinct profile of calcium (Ca 2+ ) signals along the endothelial network is crucial for sustaining normal vascular function and structure, and progressive restriction of dynamic Ca 2+ signals under chronic low-flow conditions precedes impaired vasodilation and vascular remodeling. Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) plays a key role in maintaining brain plasticity and has recently been implicated in cardiovascular health, perhaps through direct action on the endothelial TrkB receptors. The goal of this study was to determine whether BDNF might exert its effects by altering the endothelial Ca 2+ signaling profile. METHODS: Using confocal imaging, we assessed endothelial Ca 2+ in Cal-520-loaded open mouse carotid arteries. RESULTS: Two concentrations of Both BDNF (2.2M x 10-9 and 2.2M x 10-6) and the selective TrkB agonist LM22A-4 (4.8 x 10-9 and 4.8 x 10-6) increased Ca 2+ dynamics beyond baseline; LM22A-4 increased frequency of events while BDNF increased the amplitude of events. TrKB receptor inhibition with the antagonist ANA-12 appeared to reduce TrkB dependent Ca 2+ changes. These findings suggest that activation of the TrkB receptor alters Ca 2+ dynamics in ex vivo carotid arteries. Future work will aim to elucidate the contribution of internal and external sources of Ca 2+ and determine the role of shear stress in BDNF release. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Effect of Calcium Nitrate and Calcium Carbonate on Plant Growth, Fruit Quality and Yield of Papaya Cv. Red Lady

A field experiment was performed to study the effects of foliar applications of CaCO3 and Ca(NO3)2 on growth, quality, yield, and shelf life of papaya (Carica papaya) Cv. Red lady. Calcium (Ca) is one of the major plant nutrients which affects significantly the formation of the cell walls and cell membranes and also enables the production of biomass with proper plant growth and function. In the current experiment, papaya seedlings were well established in the orchard, well-irrigated with standardized nutrient solutions with all required inter-culture activities. Four different pre-harvest foliar application sprays were provided with two varying sources of Ca (CaCO3 and Ca(NO3)2) at three concentrations of each with CaCO3 (2%, 1%, 0.5%) Ca(NO3)2 (2%, 3%, 4%) at different stages of growth like flowering stage, fruit set stage, pre-harvest stage. The study revealed that foliar spray of above mentioned concentrations showed a profound improvement in vegetative growth of plants in terms of their height and diameter as compared to the plants in control treatment and also affected the fruit quality of papaya fruit.

Influence of Oyster Shell Pyrolysis Temperature on Sediment Permeability and Remediation

Permeability is an important aspect of sediment remediation. It is well-known that oyster shells can be used for sediment remediation, however the influence of pyrolysis temperature on sediment permeability remains unknown. In this study, we examined sediment permeability and remediation using crushed oyster shells of less than 5 mm in size that were pyrolyzed at 350 °C (POS350) and 600 °C (POS600) for six hours. Based on the results of the variable head permeability test, POS600 has greater sediment permeability than POS350. In addition, POS600 has greater than POS350 to reduce dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN; NH3-N, NO2-N, and NO3-N) and phosphate (PO4-P) from organically enriched sediment because of its higher Ca2+ elution. In conclusion, pyrolysis of oyster shells at 600 °C is more effective than pyrolysis at 350 °C. This finding is true because the transformation of CaCO3 to CaO, which is the source of Ca2+, stimulates pore water flow. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that pyrolyzed oyster shells are beneficial for increasing sediment permeability, thereby helping in the remediation of sediments.

Enhanced reduction of smelting gypsum by H2S and in-situ DRIFTs investigated on the mechanisms of S-O bond activation

The gypsum from flue gas desulfurization or the neutralization (D/N gypsum) process of acid wastewater, is an industrial by-product in nonferrous metal smelters. The S and Ca sources of D/N gypsum have significant application prospects. However, the S(IV) reduction is difficult due to the electronic inactivity of CaSO4 and the stability of the S-O band. Our experimental results indicated that the start-up temperature of CaSO4 reduced by CH4 is 900 ℃. However, adding H2S gas with a H2S/CaSO4(S/Ca) ratio of 0.2, the start-up temperature of CaSO4 reacted with CH4 decreases to 650 ℃. With the increase of the S/Ca ratio from 0.04 to 0.2, the yield of CaS increased to 94.97%, and the selectivity toward CO2 formation increases to 71.67%. In-situ diffuse reflectance Fourier transformations spectroscopy (in-situ DRIFTs) results indicate that adding H2S generates the new sulfide groups on the surface of CaSO4, resulted from the S(-II) in H2S changing the distribution of valence electrons of O and activating O. Moreover, the density functional theory (DFT) calculation results exhibit that the activation energy for the first O dissociation decreases to 2.89 eV in the presence of H2S. Furthermore, H2S optimized the reaction path of CH4 and improved the selectivity toward CO2 formation. Comparing to 1000 ℃ without H2S, under 800 ℃ with H2S, the consumption of CH4 reduces to 45%, and the CO2 selectivity increases to 71.67%. Thus, we have developed a method of CaSO4 low-temperature reduction and provide a theoretical basis for its application in engineering.

Physical And Chemical Characteristics Of Cassava Leaf Chlorophyll As Natural Dye Powder (Manihot esculenta Cranzt) With Tween 80 And Alkaline Type Variations

Cassava leaves are a good source of minerals Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, vitamins A and B2 (riboflavin). In addition, cassava leaves contain bioactive compounds that are beneficial to the body, namely chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a natural green dye that is generally found in plants whose composition is contained in the chloroplasts. The amount of chlorophyll in cassava leaves is classified as good, namely 18.141 mg/l. This is one of the potentials to utilize cassava leaves as natural dyes. Production of cassava leaf coloring powder using foam mat drying. Foam mat drying is a method of foaming technique by adding foam. The foaming agent used is tween 80 which can produce foam or froth and speed up drying. Chlorophyll can be easily degraded due to exposure to heat (temperature), acids, light and alcohol. The use of NaHCO3 can increase the levels of chlorophyll in the leaves. In addition, the use of MgCO3 can maintain the green color of leaf chlorophyll. The purpose of this study was to determine the interaction of tween 80 variations and types of bases on the physical and chemical profiles of cassava leaf natural dye powder. The research design used a laboratory experimental method with two variations, namely tween 80 and base type. In this study there were four treatment combinations. This study used several test parameters including physical and chemical tests, namely dissolving time, color (L, a, b), total dissolved solids, pH, water content, and chlorophyll content. The results showed that the variation of tween 80, the type of base and the interaction of the two had a significant effect on the b color value and the L color value in cassava leaf natural dye powder.

Growth of Arthrospira platensis with Different Nitrogen Sources

Microalgae is a promising and innovative biological resource. Indonesia has the potential for the development of microalgae production. One of the microalgae that have high economic value is Arthrospira platensis. In the production of microalgae, the development of suitable media and environmental conditions need to be factors that must be considered. This study aimed to analyze the effect of different nitrogen sources and nitrogen doses and their interaction on the growth of microalgae Arthrospira platensis cultured in fresh water. In addition, analyzing the water quality of Arthrospira platensis culture media. This study used an experimental method of Completely Randomized Factorial Design) with two factors. The first factor is the nitrogen source (Sodium nitrate, Potassium nitrate, and Calcium nitrate). The second factor is the dose of nitrogen source (2 g/l.2.5 g/l.3 g/l). The main parameter observed was microalgae growth, while the supporting parameter was the water quality which affected the growth of Arthrospira platensis. The highest density results were found in the provision of a nitrogen source of Ca(NO3)2 3 g/l, which was 370,000 cells/ml. The results of the ANOVA test showed that the type of nitrogen source, the dose, and the interaction between the two affected the specific growth rate of Arthrospira platensis. The environmental conditions during culture ranged from 20.2°C-26.2°C, pH values ​​8.95 – 10.18, and dissolved oxygen 9.17 – 9.77 mg/L.

Optimization of Nutritional Composition, Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) Microgreen Sprinkler using Alternate Drying Techniques

Background: Fresh microgreens are nutrient dense crops with high moisture content, thus have a short life span. Application of different drying techniques enhanced its shelf life but leads to nutrient losses. There is permanent need to enhance the nutrient retention in dried microgreen. Methods: The research study of microgreens investigated during 2019-2020 at Punjab Agricultural University. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Palam Samridhi) seeds were soaked overnight and grown in outdoor setting and harvested at 10th day after germination. The harvested broccoli microgreens were dried using shade drying, tray drying and microwave drying. Dried samples were analyzed for nutritional parameters. Result: Microgreens contain significantly higher nutrients (Ca, Fe, Zn, Mg, K, ascorbic acid and b carotene), bioactive compounds (chlorophyll, total flavanoids and total phenols) and antioxidant activity as compared to their sprouts and mature counterparts. These are excellent sources of Fe, Ca, Zn, Mg, Vitamin C and beta carotene (pro-vitamin A), meeting per cent estimated average requirements (EAR) of 536%, 373%, 264%, 228%, 38%, 20% for Indian adult. To address the problem of perishability, there is a need to prolong their shelf life while retaining the nutritional quality. The present research has identified the optimum drying technique, on basis of nutrient retention, from a set of alternate techniques. Significant higher content of ascorbic acid (16.80 mg/100 g), chlorophyll (3.63 g/100 g), antioxidant activity (67.55%), Zn (35.23 mg/100 g), Fe (57.66 mg/100 g), Ca (2857 mg/100 g), K (334.23 mg/100 g) and Mg (706.43 mg/100 g) were observed in microwave dried microgreens. Incorporation of dried microgreen powder in food sprinkler resulted in a significant increase in vitamins, minerals, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity as compared to the control.

Technosols in coal mining areas: Viability of combined use of agro-industry waste and synthetic gypsum in the restoration of areas degraded

This study assessed the viability of the combined use of coal processing waste (CPW), rice processing waste (RPW), poultry agro-industry sludge (PAS), synthetic gypsum (SG), topsoil (TS), and B horizon soil (BH) to reclaim areas degraded by coal mining. A Classification, Potentiality, Quantity/viability, and Application (CPQvA) systematic was employed to assess the feasibility of using these waste and materials to construct technosols. An experiment consisting of five technosols (T-1–T-5) was replicated four times in a completely randomized block design. Technosols fertility was analyzed 12 months after the establishment of the experiment. The mean fertility parameters, presented as mean ± 1 SD, were subjected to one-way analysis of variance, and the differences were tested using Tukey's test (P < 0.05). The results confirmed that RPW was the main source of Mg (1584 mg kg−1), K (1955 mg kg−1), Mn (708 mg kg−1), and Fe (1511 mg kg−1); PAS was the main source of Organic Matter (OM) (465 g k−1), N (42 g k−1), Al (2880 mg kg−1), and Zn (394 mg kg−1); while SG was the main source of Ca (30,494 mg kg−1). The T-4 and T-5 technosols, composed of equal amounts of SG + RPW + PAS and TS + SG + RPW + PAS, respectively, presented the best fertility results, with the higher mean values of K (96.3 ± 19.6 mg dm−3), Ca (1044 ± 165 mmolc dm−3), OM (62 ± 14 g kg−1) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) (1066 ± 168 mmolc dm−3) observed in T-4, and P (40.4 ± 12.6 mg dm−3) in T-5. Notably, T-4 did not include TS in its composition, which is important because it does not require commissioning of natural areas to reclaim degraded areas. Each hectare of 0.2 m of T-4 would cost USD 23,291.64, considering just the waste transporting costs. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the combined use of waste tested in this study to reclaim degraded areas by coal mining.

Do Feed Plants Provide Sufficient Sodium, Calcium and Magnesium to Sika Deer in Japan? An Analysis Using Global Plant Trait Data

Deficient minerals in overabundant populations could act as an attractant to cull sika deer (Cervus nippon). Because selective culling of female deer is reported to be effective in reducing sika deer populations, it is particularly important to clarify the differences in mineral requirements between males and females. Here, using global plant trait data and a published list of sika deer feed plants in Japan, we estimated whether feed plants provide sika deer sufficient sodium (Na), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), and compared the results between males and females. An analysis of 191 feed plant species suggested that feed plants can provide sufficient Mg, whereas sufficient Na and Ca is not always provided, especially when the intake is small or the deer large. Na deficiency was more intense for lactating females than males, suggesting that Na can be an effective attractant for selectively culling female deer. In summary, this study demonstrated that sika deer in Japan might require extra Na and Ca sources in addition to feed plants, and therefore these minerals could be useful for developing effective culling methods.

Recovery of phosphorus from public toilet press filtrate using Ca-rich fly ash through the formation of hydroxyapatite (HAP)

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) precipitation is considered to be one of the most promising approaches for phosphorus recovery, though it often requires sophisticated control of local pH, the concentration of Ca2+ and PO43− to minimize the side effects. In many cases, additional Ca sources are needed to adjust the pH and Ca concentration of the solution, that makes the cost of HAP precipitation process relatively high. Herein, we studied the possibility of using Ca-rich fly ash (CFA) as Ca sources and pH adjuster to provide suitable environment for HAP precipitation from the toilet press filtrate. The main factors that affect the HAP formation were identified and the performance of CFA on P recovery from real toilet press filtrate was examined and the mechanism was proposed. Rsults indicated that the strong buffering property of CFA rendered it workable in a wide pH range from 5 to 12. Products characterization and Visual MINTEQ simulative analysis illustrated that the removal of PO43− by CFA was mainly through the formation of HAP. Moreover, the results of PO43− removal by CFA in toilet press filtrate proved that when the concentration of CFA was 4 g/L, the removal rate of PO4-P reached 87.0%.

Impact of the Yellow River capture on the paleoenvironmental changes of Hongze Lake, China

The Yellow River (YR) capture of the Huai River had a profound effect on the landscape evolution, ecology, and social development in China, disrupting the evolution of some vital shallow floodplain lakes. Because of the absence of lacustrine sediment provenance analysis, previous studies were inadequate in distinguishing the influence of YR capture on paleoenvironmental changes in these lakes, especially on landscape evolution, redox conditions, lake level changes, and organic productivity. The current study aims to use X-ray fluorescence-core scanning (XRF-CS) and multivariate statistics on a 9.8 m sediment core from Hongze Lake (HZL), China, to analyze the impact of the YR capture on the lake's paleoenvironmental changes and the sediment provenance simultaneously. High-resolution images, magnetic susceptibility, and XRF-based multi-element data were obtained using a GEOTEK Multi-Sensor Core Logger. The calcium (Ca) content indicates the presence of YR sediment in HZL, given the high Ca content in YR sediment and the identification of mainly exogenous sources of Ca in HZL. The high values of Ca indicate that 48.7% of the sediment in the center of HZL is related to the YR's incursion. Periods of higher Ca content coincide with periods of higher oxygenation levels of the lake (as indicated by the ratio of manganese to titanium) and lower organic content in the lake sediment (as indicated by the ratio of incoherent to coherent scatter). These analyses reveal that the YR's capture of HZL significantly increased the lake's oxygen level. Furthermore, the decrease in the organic content of sediment tends to be the result of the accelerated deposition caused by the YR. The decrease in Ca content coincides with an increase in lake levels (as indicated by magnetic susceptibility). Thus, it can be inferred that the embankment on the eastern side of HZL, built to increase lake storage, has reduced the incursion frequency of the YR.