Iron Content Research Articles

Genetic variability for protein, zinc, and iron content in a chickpea collection under no-tillage system conditions

Genetic variability for protein, zinc, and iron content in a chickpea collection under no-tillage system conditions

Preparation of Nickel–Iron Concentrate from Low-Grade Laterite Nickel Ore by Solid-State Metalized Reduction and Magnetic Separation

Preparation of Nickel–Iron Concentrate from Low-Grade Laterite Nickel Ore by Solid-State Metalized Reduction and Magnetic Separation

Chemical and Physical Characterization of Three Oxidic Lithological Materials for Water Treatment

Water treatment necessitates the sustainable use of natural resources. This paper focuses on the characterization of three oxidic lithological materials (OLMs) with the aim of utilizing them to prepare calcined adsorbent substrates for ionic adsorption. The three materials have pH levels of 7.66, 4.63, and 6.57, respectively, and organic matter contents less than 0.5%. All of the materials are sandy loam or loamy sand. Their electric conductivities (0.18, 0.07, and 0.23 dS/m) show low levels of salinity and solubility. Their CEC (13.40, 13.77, and 6.76 cmol(+)kg) values are low, similar to those of amphoteric oxides and kaolin clays. Their aluminum contents range from 7% up to 12%, their iron contents range from 3% up to 7%, their titanium contents range from 0.3% to 0.63%, and their manganese contents range from 0.007% up to 0.033%. The amphoteric oxides of these metals are responsible for their ionic adsorption reactions due to their variable charge surfaces. Their zirconium concentrations range from 100 to 600 mg/g, giving these materials the refractory properties necessary for the preparation of calcined adsorbent substrates. Our XRD analysis shows they share a common mineralogical composition, with quartz as the principal component, as well as albite, which leads to their thermal properties and mechanical resistance against abrasion. The TDA and IR spectra show the presence of kaolinite, which is lost during thermal treatments. The results show that the OLMs might have potential as raw materials to prepare calcined adsorbent substrates for further applications and as granular media in the sustainable treatment of both natural water and wastewater.

Impacts of climate change on spatial wheat yield and nutritional values using hybrid machine learning

Abstract Wheat’s nutritional value is critical for human nutrition and food security. However, more attention is needed, particularly regarding the content and concentration of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), especially in the context of climate change (CC) impacts. To address this, various controlled field experiments were conducted, involving the cultivation of three wheat cultivars over three growing seasons at multiple locations with different soil and climate conditions under varying Fe and Zn treatments. The yield and yield attributes, including nutritional values such as nitrogen (N), Fe and Zn, from these experiments were integrated with national yield statistics from other locations to train and test different machine learning (ML) algorithms. Automated ML leveraging a large number of models, outperformed traditional ML models, enabling the training and testing of numerous models, and achieving robust predictions of grain yield (GY) (R 2 > 0.78), N (R 2 > 0.75), Fe (R 2 > 0.71) and Zn (R 2 > 0.71) through a stacked ensemble of all models. The ensemble model predicted GY, N, Fe, and Zn at spatial explicit in the mid-century (2020–2050) using three Global Circulation Models (GCMs): GFDL-ESM4, HadGEM3-GC31-MM, and MRI-ESM2-0 under two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) specifically SSP2-45 and SSP5-85, from the downscaled NEX-GDDP-CMIP6. Averaged across different GCMs and SSPs, CC is projected to increase wheat yield by 4.5%, and protein concentration by 0.8% with high variability. However, it is expected to decrease Fe concentration by 5.5%, and Zn concentration by 4.5% in the mid-century (2020–2050) relative to the historical period (1980–2010). Positive impacts of CC on wheat yield encountered by negative impacts on nutritional concentrations, further exacerbating challenges related to food security and nutrition.

Biofortification of Cucumbers with Iron Using Bio-Chelates Derived from Spent Coffee Grounds: A Greenhouse Trial

The transformation of spent coffee grounds (SCGs) into hydrochars has been extensively studied in recent years to explore their potential in biofortifying foods and mitigating the plant toxicity associated with SCGs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding activated (ASCG and AH160) and functionalized SCGs, as well as SCG-derived hydrochars (ASCG-Fe and AH160-Fe), on cucumber production and plant iron content. To achieve this, SCGs and SCG-derived hydrochars activated and functionalized with Fe were incorporated into cucumber crops grown in a greenhouse over multiple harvests. Among the treatments, SCG-Fe proved to be the most promising for cucumber production, yielding an average of 25 kg of cumulative production per treatment across three harvests. Regarding iron content, the average results across all harvests showed that SCGs and functionalized SCG-hydrochars matched the performance of the commercial chelate (0.108 vs. 0.11 mg Fe/100 g fresh weight). However, in subsequent harvests, iron appeared to leach out, with the activated bio-products (ASCG and AH160) leaving the highest iron reserves in the soil. Additionally, the hydrochar activated at 160 °C demonstrated the highest utilization efficiency. In conclusion, the incorporation of SCG residues and second-generation residues (hydrochars) shows promise as agents for biofortifying cucumbers.

Ovarian Insufficiency in Adolescent Females with Transfusion Dependent -thalassemia; Pituitary Versus Ovarian Iron Overload.

Females with transfusion-dependent -thalassemia (TDT) display menstrual irregularities and subfertility at certain points in their lives, even if well chelated, representing a significant physical and psychological burden. Little is known about the effects of pituitary and ovarian iron contents on ovarian reserve and function. Hence, this study aimed to assess ovarian reserve and pituitary-gonadal axis function in adolescent females with TDT and correlate them with pituitary and ovarian volume, pituitary iron load, and serum ferritin. Fifty adolescent females with TDTs were compared with 50 age-matched healthy females. Age at diagnosis of TDT, transfusion index, type of chelation therapy, age at menarche, and Tanner breast stage were assessed. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and ferritin levels were measured. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure the pituitary iron content R2* and T2*, and 3-D transabdominal ovarian ultrasound was performed. The mean age of the studied females with TDT was 14.54 ± 2.24 years. Ovarian insufficiency was found in 20 patients (40%). Compared with controls, adolescent females with TDT had a significantly delayed age of menarche, AMH, FSH, LH, antral follicle count (AFC), and ovarian volume. In a comparison of those with and without ovarian insufficiency, adolescents with TDT with ovarian insufficiency had significantly higher serum ferritin and pituitary MRI-R2* values than did those without insufficiency. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that pituitary MRI-R2* was the most significant independent variable associated with ovarian insufficiency among adolescent females with TDT. Adolescent females with TDT have decreased ovarian reserves, AFCs and gonadotropins, which are correlated with the serum ferritin level, pituitary iron load and ovarian volume. Hence, regular ovarian reserve assessment should be implemented as a part of the endocrinological follow-up of females with TDT-advising procedures to preserve fertility to those who are likely to have ovarian insufficiency.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF EFFECTIVENESS OF POLVAK 15/72 AS A COAGULANT FOR DRINKING WATER PRODUCTION

New coagulant Polvak 15/72 consisting of aluminum hydroxychloride with a pure Al2O3 content of at least 15.3 wt % was investigated as a possible highly effective agent for discoloration, clarification, and cleaning the natural freshwater to produce high-quality drinking water. Water was taken from the river of Dnipro during the winter-summer period of 2022. A 20 mg dm-3 coagulant concentration showed sufficient water cleaning effectiveness, and brought its chromaticity, turbidity, permanganate oxidizability, aluminum and iron contents within the sanitary limits. This result has been achieved using a coagulant that does not consist of Fe (for which the toxicity is higher than that of Al) and less Al than in the widely used Polvak-68. The effectiveness of removing trihalomethanes (THM, mostly chloroform) by Polvak 15/72 is insufficient, and additional non-polar adsorbent or the use of a chlorine-free water disinfection technology is required to keep the content of THM within the sanitary limits.

Bambara groundnut as a food, nutritional and income security crop in SubSaharan Africa

An over-reliance on the three major global food staples; maize, wheat, and rice, to continue feeding the world is a dangerous approach. Bambara groundnut originated in West-Africa, but was adopted in many African countries, and is produced almost exclusively by small-scale farmers. It has good levels of nutrients, particularly protein, carbohydrates and fat, as well as lysine, in such a balanced manner that it has been termed a “complete food”. The long duration of cooking (hard-to-cook) of bambara groundnut, and the low number of uses in food preparation (in contrast to groundnut) are also factors responsible for lower levels of production and utilization compared to other legumes. Bambara groundnuts have more than 20% protein and can be used as a meat supplement or replacer. It also has high levels of iron and zinc. Landraces with dark-coloured seeds such as red or black, generally contain higher levels of nutrients and minerals than the cream-white or plain-white coloured landraces. The iron content of red bambara seeds was found to be double that of cream-coloured seeds. Antinutrients such as phytic acid can reduce the bioavailability of iron and zinc, but dehulling of the seed can reduce antinutrients significantly. Bambara groundnut has significant potential as a food security crop, but concerted efforts should be made by governments to market the crop, and to develop products and new uses for the seed and the plant. Plant breeding efforts can improve yield and cooking quality. This paper presents progress on the industrial application for food and nutritional security and genetic improvement of bambara groundnut through breeding.

Enhancing Freshness: A Comparative Study of Innovative Preservation Methods for Berries and Leafy Greens

Berry and leafy greens are some of the most difficult types of food to preserve and ensure they be fresh for as long as possible. The present research assesses the impact of modern preservation procedures namely High Pressure Processing (HPP), Active Packaging, and Edible Coatings with the conventional preservation methods such as Refrigeration and Freezing on microbial load, textural properties, color, and nutrient retention of perishable produce. Purchased strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and spinach, lettuce and kale are possible candidates for preservation methods; the treatments employed in the study included a control no treatment group. Microbial load, texture firmness, colour, Vitamin C and Iron content and sensory evaluation parameters were used in this study. Those found out that HPP technology was the most efficient, cutting through microbial deposits to crops, and retaining texture, color, and nutrients in better ways than the ordinary washing techniques or even the control methods. Overall, the microorganism load was the lowest in HPP-treated produce, e. g., strawberries with 2. 5 × 10² CFU/g, while strawberries treated with HPP had the best texture firmness of 8. 5 N, and better retention of Vitamin C and Iron compared with other treatments. Both Active Packaging and Edible Coatings were also observed to be effective in a way that was superior to inactive packaging but not as effective as HPP. However, it was observed that sensory acceptability score was higher in HPP treated samples, so it enhances the quality as well as the appealing aesthetic value of fresh perishables. From this research, it becomes clear that there is a high possibility for innovative methods to extend the shelf life of the perishable crops while positive contributing to the widely useful methods and efficient preservation techniques of perishable crops.

Indole-3-Butyric Acid, a Natural Auxin, Protects against Fenton Reaction-Induced Oxidative Damage in Porcine Thyroid.

We present results on the potential protective antioxidant properties of indole-3-butyric acid. Indole-3-butyric acid is an indole derivative defined as an auxin and widely known as a plant growth regulator. It naturally occurs in Arabidopsis thaliana, which is applied as a model plant in genetic studies. Oxidative damage to membrane lipids (lipid peroxidation; LPO) in porcine thyroid homogenates was induced by Fenton reaction substrates (Fe2+ + H2O2). Iron (Fe2+) was used in very high concentrations of 1200, 600, 300, 150, 75, 37.5, 18.75, 9.375, 4.687, and 2.343 µM. Indole-3-butyric acid (10.0, 5.0, 2.5, 1.25, and 0.625 mM) was applied to check whether it prevents the above process. The LPO level, expressed as malondialdehyde + 4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA + 4-HDA) concentration, was measured spectrophotometrically. Expectedly, Fenton reaction substrates, in a Fe2+ concentration-dependent manner, increased LPO level, with the lowest effective concentration of iron being 9.375 µM. In the case of almost all concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid, this auxin has exhibited very promising antioxidant protection, with the most effective concentrations being 10.0 and 5.0 mM; however, as low concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid at 1.25 mM was still effective. Indole-3-butyric acid used alone did not change the basal level of LPO, which is a favourable effect. To summarise, indole-3-butyric acid has protective antioxidant properties against experimentally induced oxidative damage to membrane lipids in the thyroid, and this is for the first time documented in the literature. This compound can be considered a natural protective agent present in plants, which can serve as a dietary nutrient.

Hydrogeochemical analysis of processes affecting HCH removal using ZVI-based treatment technology

In the 1960s, ca. 3000–5000 tons of HCH residue were disposed of in an overburden dump at the Hájek kaolin/uranium mine site (Czech Republic). The dump leachate, which has a 136 μg/l average total content of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, discharges into a local creek and contaminates the ecosystem. A full-scale prototype for the treatment of dump leachate comprised three sequential stages: 1) permeable reactive modules filled with macro-zerovalent iron (mZVI), 2) a biosorption module and 3) an aerobic wetland module. After commissioning, HCH removal efficiency reached 95%, but decreased to 70% over the following 230 days, primarily due to the efficiency of the mZVI modules dropping from 76% to 39%. Hydrogeochemical analysis and geochemical modelling revealed that the reduction in efficiency was mainly caused by passivation of mZVI surfaces and clogging of mZVI pore spaces through precipitation of goethite, calcite and rhodochrosite, or siderite and magnetite instead of goethite where boundary conditions for O2 differed. XRD analysis of the solid phase from the mZVI modules confirmed the geochemical modelling results. The major part of the precipitated products (46–66 wt%) comprised a ferric hydroxide amorphous phase, especially in the initial mZVI module inlet, with goethite the second most abundant precipitate (10–40 wt%). Siderite and calcite also mainly precipitated in the initial module inlet. In conclusion, mZVI appears to be a suitable reductant for HCH; however, the longevity of the ZVI-based treatment system was negatively affected by precipitates in the presence of high concentrations of iron, manganese and carbonate species.

A comparative study to assess Hba1c levels in antenatal non diabetic women with anemia and without anemia

BackgroundGlycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) has a glucose residue attached to the terminal NH2 group (valine residue) of one or both HbA beta chains. HbA1c levels are not affected by blood glucose levels alone. HbA1c results are affected by several factors, such as anemia, structural hemoglobinopathies and thalassemia syndromes. HbA1c concentrations are affected by conditions that affect erythrocyte turnover. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia. The prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in India is above 50 %. Although many forms of anemia are associated with the lowering of HbA1c, iron deficiency has been shown to shift HbA1c slightly upward. Research on this topic has yielded a variety of findings. In some research, there was no association observed between anemia and HbA1c levels; in other investigations, there was a rise or fall in this number. Iron deficiency anemia and HbA1c′s relationship is therefore still unclear. Therefore, this study aims to determine the correlation between Iron deficiency anemia and HbA1c levels among non diabetic pregnant women with anemia. MethodologyThis prospective observational study was conducted among singleton pregnant women attending antenatal clinic OPD in a private tertiary hospital in Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram district. After the complete review of their obstetric record, blood was collected in 5 ml sterile syringes and transferred equally to the two separate test tubes containing ethylene-diamine-tetra acetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulant for determining RBC indices and HbA1c levels. The difference in mean between two independent samples (between Anemia and Non-anemia) was determined using an independent sample t-test, and the difference between two independent proportions was calculated using a z-test. Bivariate Pearson's correlation analysis was used to adjudicate the relationship between red blood cell indices and HbA1c level, and correlation coefficient (r)was calculated, and the p-value of <0.05* was considered statistically significant. ResultsBivariate Pearson's correlation analysis was done to determine the relationship between HbA1c levels and red blood cells in anemic pregnant women. HbA1c levels negatively correlated with Hemoglobin (r = −0.875, p < 0.01*), PCV (r = −0.732, p =<0.01*) and transferrin saturation (r = 0.224, p < 0.01*) and it was statistically significant. Other indices, such as serum iron concentration and TIBC, demonstrated no correlation with HbA1c level. ConclusionThis study shows that the reliability of Hba1c in diagnosing diabetes among pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia is misguiding and can be considered after treating the condition. Also, more studies are needed to improve our understanding of this topic.

Near-infrared spectral behavior of space-weathered olivine with varying iron content

Space weathering alters the surfaces of airless celestial bodies, thereby modifying their spectra significantly. Olivine plays a crucial role in responding to space weathering on silicate planets. However, the spectral variations that occur in olivine with varying iron content as a result of space weathering conditions remain unclear. We aim to systematically characterize the spectral variability of surface iron-rich olivine in the space weathering environments of Phobos and the Moon. We conducted nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation experiments on a set of synthetic Fe-rich olivine (Fa29, Fa50, Fa71, and Fa100). The energy levels were simulated for Phobos and the Moon. We analyzed the available near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. We find that olivine with higher Fe content undergoes stronger weathering under the same irradiation energy, shifting absorption centers around 1.08 mu m and 1.35 mu m to longer wavelengths. When comparing the high energy and low frequency, spectral changes are more pronounced at low energy and high frequency. The olivine with the same iron content exhibits a more noticeable shift around 1.08 mu m under various irradiation levels, while the band center around 1.35 mu m remains stable. When the same amount of radiation energy is received, changes in the spectrum are more noticeable at low energy and high impact frequency than at high energy and low impact frequency. The absorption position at $ $ 1.35 mu m is a good indicator of the Mg$\#$ value of space-weathered olivine.

Multi-iron subpopulations in Liller 1 from high-resolution H-band spectroscopy

We present a high-resolution chemical study of a representative sample of 21 luminous giant stars in Liller 1, a complex stellar system in the Galactic bulge, based on H-band spectra acquired with the Near-Infrared Spectrograph at KeckII. In this sample, we found fifteen stars with a subsolar iron abundance and enhanced alpha /Fe and Al/Fe likely older, having formed early and quickly from gas mainly enriched by type II supernovae, and six stars with supersolar iron and roughly solar-scaled alpha /Fe and Al/Fe likely younger, having formed at later epochs from gas also enriched by type Ia supernovae. Moreover, both subpopulations show enhanced N/Fe as in the bulge field, approximately solar-scaled V/Fe and depletion of C/Fe and 12C/13C with respect to the solar values, indicating the occurrence of significant mixing in the stellar interiors of these evolved stars. Our study also reveals that the subsolar subpopulation shows some structuring, and the presence of a third subcomponent with iron content and intermediate alpha /Fe enhancement, in between that of the metal-poor and metal-rich main subpopulations, has been statistically assessed, providing the chemical signature of both an extended star formation with multiple bursts and some self-enrichment.

Biofortification in garden peas through multi-micronutrient formulations

Soil micronutrient deficiencies lead to crops with low essential element concentrations, affecting human health through micronutrient malnutrition. Effective practices, like foliar nutrient application, improve crop quality and reduce malnutrition. The garden pea (Pisum sativum L. var. hortense) is cultivated worldwide for its nutritional value and such nutrient-rich crops, through agronomic biofortification, offer a sustainable solution to global health issues by addressing micronutrient deficiencies. Four liquid micronutrient formulations [Treatment 1 (T1), Treatment 2 (T2), Treatment 3 (T3), and Treatment 4 (T4)] were prepared using either water or vermiwash as a carrier, with variations that included the presence or absence of plant growth regulators (GA3 + NAA)] and evaluated along with commercially available formulations [Arka Vegetable Special (T5) and ProKissan (T6)]. Micronutrient formulations, particularly T3, demonstrated notable effects on various parameters, including plant height, biomass, root characteristics, pod weight, and micronutrient contents in seeds of garden pea var. Kashi Nandini. T3 significantly outperformed other formulations in promoting plant growth, resulting in higher values for plant height, biomass, branches per plant, nodule mass, root biomass, surface area, volume, and density. Yield parameters such as pod length, weight, number of pods, and seeds per pod were also positively influenced by micronutrient treatments, with T3 leading to the highest overall yield, with a 24.09 % increase per plant and a 13.39 % increase per hectare compared to the control. Additionally, foliar application of micronutrients increased the concentration of copper, zinc, iron, and manganese in seeds, positively impacting seed quality. Quality parameters, including total soluble solids, protein, total phenol, and total flavonoid contents, were significantly improved by micronutrient treatments, with T3 showing the most favorable outcomes. Texture analysis indicated that peas treated with T3 had lower firmness values, suggesting maintained tenderness and sweetness. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations between various growth parameters, yield traits, and micronutrient contents. Overall, foliar micronutrient application proved to be a valuable biofortification strategy for enhancing the performance and quality of garden peas.

Dominant role of soil iron and organic matters in arsenic transfer from soil to plant in a mine area in Hunan Province, Central China.

The transfer of arsenic (As) from soil to plant could be significantly influenced by soil parameters through regulating soil As bioavailability. To distinguish the bioavailable As provided by soil and the As uptaken by plants, herein two different soil bioavailable were defined, namely potential soil bioavailable As (evaluated through the bioavailable fraction of As) and actual soil bioavailable As (assessed through plant bioaccumulation factor, BF, and BFavailable). To identify the dominant soil parameters for the two soil bioavailable As forms, soil and plant samples were collected from a former As mine site. The results showed that the potential bioavailable As only accounted for 1.77 to 11.43% in the sampled soils, while the BF and BFavailable in the sampled vegetables ranged from 0.00 to 1.01 and 0.01 to 17.87, respectively. Despite a similar proportion of As in the residual fraction, soil with higher pH and organic matter (OM) content and lower iron (Fe) content showed a higher potential soil bioavailable As. Correlation analysis indicated a relationship between the soil pH and potential soil bioavailable As (r = 0.543, p < 0.01) and between the soil Fe and actual soil bioavailable As (r = - 0.644, p < 0.05, r = - 0.594, p < 0.05). Stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) analysis was employed to identify the dominant soil parameters and showed that soil pH and phosphorus (P) content could be used to predict the potential soil bioavailable As (R2 = 0.69, p < 0.001). On the other hand, soil Fe and OM could be used to predict the actual soil bioavailable As (R2 = 0.18-0.86, p < 0.001-0.015, in different vegetables). These results suggest that different soil parameters affect potential and actual soil bioavailable As. Hence, soil Fe and OM are the most important parameters controlling As transfer from soil to plant in the investigated area.

Preparation of Metallized Pellets for Steelmaking by Hydrogen Cooling Reduction with Different Cooling Rates.

To utilize the sensible heat of hot roasted iron ore pellets with no CO2 emission in the production of metallized pellets for direct steelmaking, the pellets were reduced in H2 during their cooling process with variable cooling rates. When the cooling rate decreased from 5.2 °C/min to 2.0 °C/min, the total iron content, reduction degree, and iron metallization degree of the pellets increased continuously from 74.0 wt%, 52%, and 31.1% to 84.9 wt%, 93.4%, and 89.2%, respectively. However, the compressive strength of the pellets increased initially from 2100 N/p to 2436 N/p and then decreased considerably to 841 N/p. As the cooling rate decreased, more Fe2O3 was reduced to Fe with diminishing FeO and Fe2SiO4. The porosity of the pellets increased from 23.9% to 54.3%, with higher distribution uniformity of pores. The morphology of metallic iron particles also transited from a layered form to a spherical form and lastly to a porous reticular form. Meanwhile, the metallic iron particles in the pellets grew evidently with more uniform distributions. When the cooling rate was 3.7 °C/min, the resulting metallized pellets had the reduction degree of 74.2%, iron metallization degree of 66.9%, and the highest compressive strength of 2436 N/p, in association with the spherical morphology and relatively large size of metallic iron particles.

Variations in Root Characteristics and Cadmium Accumulation of Different Rice Varieties under Dry Cultivation Conditions.

Variations in the cadmium (Cd) accumulation and root characteristics of different genotypes of rice during three developmental periods of dry cultivation were investigated in pot experiments in which two levels of Cd were added to the soil (0 and 10 mg kg-1). The results show that the Cd concentration in each organ of the different rice genotypes decreased in both the order of roots > shoots > grains and during the three developmental periods in the order of the maturity stage > booting stage > tillering stage. The lowest bioaccumulation factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) were found in Yunjing37 (YJ37) under Cd stress. At maturity, Cd stress inhibited the root length of Dianheyou34 (DHY34) the most and that of Dianheyou 918 (DHY918) the least, also affecting the root volume of DHY34 and Dianheyou615 (DHY615) the most and that of YJ37 and Yiyou 673 (YY673) the least; the inhibition rates were 41.80, 5.09, 40.95, and 10.51%, respectively. The exodermis showed the greatest thickening in YY673 and the lowest thickening in DHY615, while the endodermis showed the opposite result. The rates of change were 16.48, 2.45, 5.10, and 8.49%, respectively. The stele diameter of DHY615 decreased the most, and that of YY673 decreased the least, while the secondary xylem area showed the opposite result; the rates of change were -21.50, -14.29, -5.86, and -26.35%, respectively. Under Cd stress treatment at maturity, iron plaque was extracted using the dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB) method. The concentration of iron (DCB-Fe) was highest in YJ37, and the concentration of cadmium (DCB-Cd) was lowest in DHY34. YJ37 was screened as a low Cd-accumulating variety. The concentration of available Cd in the rhizosphere soil, iron plaque, root morphology, and anatomy affect Cd accumulation in rice with genotypic differences. Our screening of Cd-accumulating rice varieties provides a basis for the dry cultivation of rice in areas with high background values of Cd in order to avoid the health risks of Cd intake.

Zinc separation from brass dust by the Fenton process

AbstractBrass polishing facilities generate waste dust rich in zinc and copper, presenting both an economic opportunity for resource recovery and an environmental challenge. The Fenton process, a promising hydrometallurgical solution, offers a way to separate zinc from this waste dust. Researchers employed an experimental design method to identify optimal parameters for zinc dissolution, including pH, ferrous iron (Fe2+) content, stirring speed, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration. Kinetic modeling identified the optimal parameters for zinc dissolution: pH 1, 0.1 M Fe2+, 60 rpm stirring speed, 1.0% H2O2 concentration (flow rate 1 mL min−1), and a reaction time of 2 h. The kinetic data suggested a first‐order kinetic model, indicating a chemically controlled surface reaction mechanism. These findings demonstrate the Fenton process's effectiveness in zinc dissolution from brass dust. This paves the way for further research on zinc recovery methods, such as electrolysis for metallic zinc production or integration into chemical manufacturing processes.

Strategies for enhancing productivity, resilience, nutritional quality, and consumption of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] for food and nutritional security in India

AbstractPearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an important component of agri‐food system in areas experiencing drought and high temperature and for increasing the resilience to climatic stresses and addressing malnutrition. The purpose of this review is to examine strategies for improving productivity, stress resilience, and nutritional quality of pearl millet and to understand its consumption pattern. Genetic diversification of hybrid parental lines remains strategically important to breed diverse, disease‐resistant and drought‐tolerant hybrids. Resistance to diseases, tolerance to drought, and high temperature and greater contents of iron and zinc are targeted in improving hybrid parental lines. Lodging resistance, compact panicles, panicle exertion, and improved seed set are universal traits, whereas duration, tillering ability, seed color, and seed size have a strong regional preference. The strategy of developing high‐yielding and disease‐resistant hybrids with adaptation to challenged agro‐ecologies has led to increase in yield from 303 to 1219 kg/ha between 1960 and 2020. Yield and stress resilience are to be increased further using conventional breeding and new tools like genomic selection, speed breeding, genome editing, and precision phenotyping. Mainstreaming grain nutritional traits, viz., iron and zinc contents in genetic improvement are essential to develop high‐yielding and nutrient‐rich pearl millet. There is need to enhance the consumption of pearl millet by strengthening existing value‐chain, providing consumer a choice of diverse range of food products, creating awareness about its health benefits and promotion through government schemes.