DTPA Research Articles

Co-adsorption and competitive adsorption of sulfamethoxazole by carboxyl-rich functionalized corn stalk cellulose in the presence of heavy metals

Diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) functionalized modified corn stalk cellulose (DCS) was successfully prepared and applied to the adsorption of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) wastewater in the presence of copper (Cu). Compared with the raw corn stalk cellulose (RCS), DCS has the characteristics of more hydrophilic groups, larger contact space and lower steric hindrance. The adsorption amount for Cu and SMZ in binary system were 4.41 mg/g and 29.7 mg/g, respectively. Additionally, DCS has good pH buffering capability, resistance to potentially interfering ions (NaCl and HA) and great regeneration performance after 5 cycles. More importantly, the experimental results demonstrated competitive adsorption and complexation synergy occurred between Cu, SMZ and DCS. Cu inhibited the adsorption of SMZ while SMZ promoted the adsorption of Cu, which was attributed to the fact that SMZ provided additional adsorption sites or complexation reduced the surface charge of Cu. Based on this situation, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out for the further explanation of adsorption mechanism. The molecular electrostatic potential maps showed that DCS possessed more SMZ adsorption sites than Cu, and the adsorbed Cu or SMZ on DCS would provide additional adsorption sites. The equilibrium configurations and binding energy indicated that the competitive adsorption, bridge effect adsorption and co-adsorption would occur simultaneously. The total electron density and differential charge confirmed that SMZ was more likely to overlap electron clouds and transfer electrons with DCS, while the adsorption process of Cu was conformed the complexation adsorption dynamic equilibrium. This paper provided a new perspective on the co-adsorption and competitive adsorption processes by multisystem experiments and abundant DFT calculations and indicated the good adsorption performance of DCS on SMZ in the presence of Cu.

NMR-Relaxometric Investigation of Mn(II)-Doped Polyoxometalates in Aqueous Solutions.

Solution behavior of K;5[(Mn(H2O))PW11O39]·7H2O (1), Na3.66(NH4)4.74H3.1[(MnII(H2O))2.75(WO(H2O))0.25(α-B-SbW9O33)2]·27H2O (2), and Na4.6H3.4[(MnII(H2O)3)2(WO2)2(β-B-TeW9O33)2]·19H2O (3) was studied with NMR-relaxometry and HPLC-ICP-AES (High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy). According to the data, the [(Mn(H2O))PW11O39]5- Keggin-type anion is the most stable in water among the tested complexes, even in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). Aqueous solutions of 2 and 3 anions are less stable and contain other species resulting from dissociation of Mn2+. Quantum chemical calculations show the change in Mn2+ electronic state between [Mn(H2O)6]2+ and [(Mn(H2O))PW11O39]5-.

Clinical association between intraoperative ICG fluorescence imaging pattern, preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI findings and histological differentiation in hepatocellular carcinoma.

We aimed to evaluate the association between the intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging (FI) pattern, preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings using gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA), preoperative diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of MRI and histological differentiation of HCC. We retrospectively reviewed the data for 80 tumors of 64 patients. ICG FI patterns were classified into cancerous or rim-positive type. We evaluated the signal intensity ratio of the tumor and the surrounding liver tissue in the portal phase (SIRPP) and intensity in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the DWI of MRI and clinicopathological factors. In rim-positive group, the rate of poorly differentiated HCC and hypointensity type in HBP were significantly higher, and SIRPP and ADC were significantly lower than rim-negative group. In cancerous group, the rate of well or moderately differentiated HCC and hyperintensity type in HBP, SIRPP and ADC were significantly higher than non-cancerous group. Multivariate analysis identified low SIRPP, low ADC, and hypointensity type in HBP as the significant predictive factors for rim-positive HCC and high SIRPP, high ADC and hyperintensity type in HBP as the significant predictive factors for cancerous HCC. The positive rate of PD-L1 and VETC status of the rim-positive HCC and the HCC with low SIRPP were significantly higher than the control group. The intraoperative ICG FI pattern of HCC closely correlated with histological differentiation, preoperative SIRPP and intensity type in the Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI and preoperative ADC in the DWI of MRI. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Chelation therapy with 3,4,3-Li(1,2-HOPO) after pulmonary exposure to plutonium in rats

Internal exposure to plutonium can occur through inhalation for the nuclear worker, but also for the public if the radionuclide was released into the atmosphere in the context of a nuclear accident or terrorist attack. DieThylenetriaminePentaAcetic acid (DTPA) is currently still the only authorized chelator that can be used to decorporate internalized plutonium. The Linear HydrOxyPyridinOne-based ligand named 3,4,3-Li(1,2-HOPO) remains the most promising drug candidate to replace it in the hopes of improving chelating treatment.This study aimed to assess the efficacy of 3,4,3-Li(1,2-HOPO) in removing plutonium from rats exposed to the lungs, depending on the timing and route of treatment, and almost always compared to DTPA at a ten-fold higher dose used as a reference chelator.First, early intravenous injection or inhalation of 3,4,3-Li(1,2-HOPO) demonstrated superior efficacy over DTPA in preventing plutonium accumulation in liver and bone in rats exposed by injection or lung intubation. However, this superiority of 3,4,3-Li(1,2-HOPO) was much less pronounced with delayed treatment.In rats given plutonium in the lungs, the experiments also showed that 3,4,3-Li-HOPO reduced pulmonary retention of plutonium more effectively than DTPA only when the chelators were injected early but not at delayed times, while it was always the better of the two chelators when they were inhaled.Under our experimental conditions, the rapid oral administration of 3,4,3-Li(1,2-HOPO) was successful in preventing systemic accumulation of plutonium, but not in decreasing lung retention.Thus, after exposure to plutonium by inhalation, the best emergency treatment would be the rapid inhalation of a 3,4,3-Li(1,2-HOPO) aerosol to limit pulmonary retention of plutonium and prevent extrapulmonary deposition of plutonium in target systemic tissues.

Bioaccessibility and reliable human health risk assessment of heavy metals in typical abandoned industrial sites of southeastern China

Heavy metal pollution caused by a large number of abandoned industrial sites cannot be underestimated, but its human health risks have not been accurately assessed. This study investigated the pollution of heavy metals in soils of the typical abandoned industrial sites in southeastern China. Based on the bioaccessibility of different heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr) in the industrial soils, the human health risks were accurately evaluated, and the controlling factors were quantitatively assessed. The results showed that the heavy metals in each typical abandoned industrial sites had a high degree of spatial heterogeneity. Among them, Cd was the most susceptible to relevant discrete input from external factors such as human activities, followed by Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni and Cu. The bioaccessible concentration of heavy metals by the physiological-based extraction test (PBET) had a good correlation (R2 = 0.58 ∼ 0.86) with its bioavailable concentration by diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extraction. The regression model based on soil parameters had great potential to predict the bioaccessibility of heavy metals in abandoned industrial sites (R2 = 0.49 ∼ 0.95). The total concentration of heavy metals, Fe, soil texture and pH were the controlling factors of the metal bioaccessibility. Compared with the total concentration, the hazard index (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR) values calculated based on gastrointestinal bioaccessibility were decreased by 39.0∼77.9% and 68.2∼79.9% in adults, and 45.3∼88.0% and 73.9∼83.5% in children, respectively. This work provides a feasible theoretical basis for reliable assessment of the human health risks of heavy metals in the abandoned industrial sites in the future.

Exploring the potential of Fe(III)-EGTA and Fe(III)-DTPA as the catalysts to enhance UV/persulfate in the degradation of aqueous sulfamethazine.

The combination of UV and water-soluble Fe(III) complexes is an effective method for generating Fe(II) in situ for activating advanced oxidation processes. This study explored the potential of Fe(III)-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Fe(III)-DTPA) and Fe(III)-ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (Fe(III)-EGTA) in activating the UV/persulfate (UV/PS) for sulfamethazine removal. The initial screening showed that Fe(III)-EGTA and Fe(III)-DTPA could significantly improve the rate of sulfamethazine removal. The optimum molar ratios of persulfate to Fe(III)-DTPA and Fe(III)-EGTA were 100:1 and 100:2.5. The predicted percentage of sulfamethazine removal under the optimized conditions, obtained using response surface methodology, was ~99% for both catalysts. The pH range of 6 to 8 did not significantly affect the performance of UV/PS in the removal of sulfamethazine. The percentage sulfamethazine removal in the selected water samples was ranged from 93.6% to 99.6%, agreeing with the predicted value. The performance of both catalysts in activating UV/PS is comparable with that of the frequently used Fe(III)-EDDS. PRACTITIONERS POINTS: The potential of Fe(III)-DTPA and Fe(III)-EGTA in activating UV/persulfate (UV/PS) was explored. Fe(III)-DTPA and Fe(III)-EGTA improved the performance of UV/PS in sulfamethazine removal. Fe(III)-DTPA and Fe(III)-EGTA are effective in catalyzing UV/PS under pH 6 to 8. The performance of Fe(III)-DTPA and Fe(III)-EGTA is comparable with well-studied Fe(III)-EDDS.

Incidence of Myocarditis Associated with Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis Vaccine: A Rare Case Series

AbstractMyocarditis induced by diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis (DTP) vaccination is extremely rare, accounting for only two cases thus far. Hence, to supplement knowledge regarding its pathogenesis and treatment, we reported two cases of myocarditis associated with DTP vaccination in adults.Two patients (a 40-year-old female and a 43-year-old male) presented with mild symptoms and were hemodynamically stable. In both patients, the DTP vaccination was given 4 and 6 days before admission. Both patients had prolonged corrected QT interval (QTc), poor left ventricular function, and high troponin levels at admission. However, numerous ST segment depression was only noted in the first case. Bacteriology and virology study results were negative for any pathogen. No atherosclerotic lesions were observed by coronary angiography. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was only performed in the second case, which confirmed the diagnosis of myocarditis. Initial therapy was administered with a beta-blocker, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and intravenous methylprednisolone. Nonetheless, in the first case, rapid clinical deterioration and sudden cardiac death occur within 3 days of hospitalization. Learn from the first case, a high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment was initiated in the second case, which resulted in an improvement in left ventricular function and clinical symptoms, as well as a significant reduction in QTc interval and troponin levels.Rapid diagnostic testing and early recognition of the fulminant course is mandatory, allowing clinicians to aggressively treat the patient with high-dose intravenous immune globulin, thus obtaining a better outcome.

Remediation of Cd contaminated paddy fields by intercropping of the high- and low- Cd-accumulating rice cultivars

Intercropping cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulators with crops have been widely applied in the remediation of contaminated farmland soils. However, most studies were done on drylands since the majority of the hyperaccumulators are susceptible to the aquatic environment, making the remediation of Cd-contaminated paddy fields particularly difficult. Our study attempts to address the issue by intercropping the high-Cd-accumulating (henceforth, “high-Cd”) rice cultivars with the low-Cd-accumulating (henceforth, “low-Cd”) ones, and to study the Cd removal, uptake and translocation during the remediation process. The results indicated that intercropping mode with 20-cm row spacing (intercropping-20 treatment) performed better than the that with 30-cm row spacing (intercropping-30 treatment), while intercropping had stronger impact on late rice compared to early rice. In general, the physiological condition of rice was stable under the intercropping-20 treatment, suggesting the growth of rice was not impeded. For late rice, as the intercropping-20 treatment can significantly reduce soil pH and increase the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid extracted Cd (DTPA-extracted Cd) from the rhizosphere soil, Cd accumulated more in the tissues of the high-Cd rice cultivars (H2), and its dry biomass increased. As a result, a drastic improvement in the total Cd removal rate by 38.55 % was noticed. Therefore, the reduction of total Cd concentration in 0–20 cm profile caused by removal, thus it could provide safer soil environment for the growth of low Cd-rice cultivars (L2), leading to a significant drop in the root Cd concentration and safer production of L2. Interestingly, intercropping had no effect on the yield per plant of low-Cd rice cultivars. For early rice, intercropping-20 treatment exerted trivial effects to all aspects. The intercropping-30 treatment has poor representativeness of all indicators because of the large intercropping distance. Our results demonstrate that intercropping of the high-Cd and the low-Cd rice cultivars is a potential mode for Cd remediation in paddy fields.

Macrophage-infectivity potentiator of Trypanosoma cruzi (TcMIP) is a new pro-type 1 immuno-stimulating protein for neonatal human cells and vaccines in mice.

This work identifies the protein "macrophage infectivity potentiator" of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes, as supporting a new property, namely a pro-type 1 immunostimulatory activity on neonatal cells. In its recombinant form (rTcMIP), this protein triggers the secretion of the chemokines CCL2 and CCL3 by human umbilical cord blood cells from healthy newborns, after 24h in vitro culture. Further stimulation for 72h results in secretion of IFN-γ, provided cultures are supplemented with IL-2 and IL-18. rTcMIP activity is totally abolished by protease treatment and is not associated with its peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase enzymatic activity. The ability of rTcMIP to act as adjuvant was studied in vivo in neonatal mouse immunization models, using acellular diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-vaccine (DTPa) or ovalbumin, and compared to the classical alum adjuvant. As compared to the latter, rTcMIP increases the IgG antibody response towards several antigens meanwhile skewing antibody production towards the Th-1 dependent IgG2a isotype. The amplitude of the rTcMIP adjuvant effect varied depending on the antigen and the co-presence of alum. rTcMIP did by contrast not increase the IgE response to OVA combined with alum. The discovery of the rTcMIP immunostimulatory effect on neonatal cells opens new possibilities for potential use as pro-type 1 adjuvant for neonatal vaccines. This, in turn, may facilitate the development of more efficient vaccines that can be given at birth, reducing infection associated morbidity and mortality which are the highest in the first weeks after birth.

Impact of the New Glomerular Filtration Rate Formulas on Kidney Function Assessment in Living Kidney Donors and Candidates.

To address this, we conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of 150 kidney donors and donor candidates. We calculated pre- and postdonation eGFR using the old and new equations and compared them with measured GFR by 2.8 mCi Tc-99m diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid clearance (mGFRDTPA) and 24-h creatinine clearance (mGFRCrCl). We evaluated the impact of the new equations on donation eligibility and postdonation eGFR. We found that using the new eGFR equations resulted in higher predonation eGFR compared with the old equations but remained significantly lower than mGFRDTPA and mGFRCrCl. We also found that using the new eGFR equations would not exclude any potential donors based on our center's GFR criteria for donation. At 6 mo postdonation, the new equations resulted in higher eGFR values compared with the old equations. The new eGFR equations continue to underestimate GFR in healthy donor candidates but would not exclude any potential donors from donation and resulted in higher eGFR predonation and postdonation in a predominantly White population. eGFR equations designed specifically for potential kidney donors are still needed for better kidney function assessment.

Date palm-magnetized biochar for in-situ stabilization of toxic metals in mining-polluted soil: evaluation using single-step extraction methods and phytoavailability

Mining activities provide a pathway for the entry and accumulation of various heavy metals in soil, which ultimately leads to severe environmental pollution. Utilization of various immobilizing agents could restore such contaminated soils. Therefore, in this study, date palm-derived biochars (BCs: produced at 300 °C, 500 °C and 700 °C) and magnetized biochars (MBCs) were employed to stabilize heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn) in mining polluted soil. Metal polluted soil was amended with BCs and MBCs at w/w ratio of 2% and cultivated with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a greenhouse. After harvesting, dry and fresh biomass of plants were recorded. The soil and plant samples were collected, and the concentrations of heavy metals were measured after extracting with water, DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid), EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), and acetic acid. BCs and MBCs resulted in reduced metal availability and uptake, with higher fresh and dry biomass (>36%). MBCs showed maximum decrease (>70%) in uptake and shoot concentration of metals, as these reductions for Cd and Pb reached below the detection limits. Among all single-step extractions, the DTPA-extractable metals showed a significant positive correlation with shoot concentrations of tested metals. Thus, the synthesized BCs and MBCs could effectively be used for stabilizing heavy metals and improve plant productivity in multi-contaminated soils. However, future studies should focus on long term field trials to restore contaminated mining soils using modified biochars.

Quantitative Imaging of Hypoxic CAIX-Positive Tumor Areas with Low Immune Cell Infiltration in Syngeneic Mouse Tumor Models.

Limited diffusion of oxygen in combination with increased oxygen consumption leads to chronic hypoxia in most solid malignancies. This scarcity of oxygen is known to induce radioresistance and leads to an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is an enzyme functioning as a catalyzer for acid export in hypoxic cells and is an endogenous biomarker for chronic hypoxia. The aim of this study is to develop a radiolabeled antibody that recognizes murine CAIX to visualize chronic hypoxia in syngeneic tumor models and to study the immune cell population in these hypoxic areas. An anti-mCAIX antibody (MSC3) was conjugated to diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and radiolabeled with indium-111 (111In). CAIX expression on murine tumor cells was determined using flow cytometry, and in vitro affinity of [111In]In-MSC3 was analyzed in a competitive binding assay. Ex vivo biodistribution studies were performed to determine in vivo radiotracer distribution. CAIX+ tumor fractions were determined by mCAIX microSPECT/CT, and the tumor microenvironment was analyzed using immunohistochemistry and autoradiography. We showed that [111In]In-MSC3 binds to CAIX-expressing (CAIX+) murine cells in vitro and accumulates in CAIX+ areas in vivo. We optimized the use of [111In]In-MSC3 for preclinical imaging such that it can be applied in syngeneic mouse models and showed that we can quantitatively distinguish between tumor models with varying CAIX+ fractions by ex vivo analyses and in vivo mCAIX microSPECT/CT. Analysis of the tumor microenvironment identified these CAIX+ areas as less infiltrated by immune cells. Together these data demonstrate that mCAIX microSPECT/CT is a sensitive technique to visualize hypoxic CAIX+ tumor areas that exhibit reduced infiltration of immune cells in syngeneic mouse models. In the future, this technique may enable visualization of CAIX expression before or during hypoxia-targeted or hypoxia-reducing treatments. Thereby, it will help optimize immuno- and radiotherapy efficacy in translationally relevant syngeneic mouse tumor models.

A Study on the Characteristics and Outcomes of Reported Diphtheria Patients in a Western State in India.

Background The incidence of diphtheria cases has declined significantly from 1,00,000 cases in 1980 to 2500 in 2015 globally. India contributed to half of the diphtheria cases reported globally from 2001 to 2015. The disease has higher case mortality and morbidity rate due to various geographic-specific factors. The current study aims to outline the characteristics and outcomes of the diphtheria-reported patients of Gujarat, a western state of India. Method A record-based, descriptive retrospective study was undertaken in the western state of India by analyzing district-wise reported diphtheria cases in diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DPT) surveillance program format during 2020-2021. Result Out of 446, most patients were reported from selected geographies of Gujarat state in 2020-2021. The 424 (95%) reported cases were from 0-14 years of age. Only 9 (2%) subjects had a travel history, and 369 (82.7%) patients were reported from rural areas. The time trend analysis showed that 339 (76%) patients were reported from September to December. The case-fatality ratio was 5.4%, and 300 (67.2%) cases didn't take the DPT (DPT3)/pentavalent 3rd dose vaccine and subsequent doses during their lifetime, emphasizing the role of the vaccine in preventing diphtheria disease. Conclusion Increased vaccination coverage and completing all doses of the DPT vaccine are crucial to avert deaths due to diphtheria. An effective surveillance system will aid in early disease detection and provide more information on the factors that lead to disease occurrence for prompt action by the authority.

Comparative Study on the Decontamination Efficacy of Peelable Coatings for Heavy Metals Removal

This study presents the formulation and application of strippable coatings for the entrapment and removal of heavy metals (HMs) and radio nuclides (RNs). The “green” formulations involve the use of a water-based solution consisting of a synthetic biodegradable polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), together with a natural polymer (sodium alginate) as the polymer matrix and bentonite as the reinforcing agent with cation exchange capacity. Four chelating agents comprising two classical chelating agents (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (DPTA)) and two “green” chelating agents (iminodisuccinic acid (IDS), 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC)) were used to evaluate the capacity to remove Cu, Sb, Zn, Sr, Pb, Co, and Hg from the contaminated surfaces. This decontamination method leads to the formation of a solid waste, thus eliminating the need for wastewater treatment. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy were used to comparatively evaluate the decontamination efficacy. EDX elemental mapping confirmed the entrapment of the contaminants inside the polymeric matrix.

Interface engineering of LDH-based material as efficient anti-corrosive system via synergetic performance of host, interlayers, and morphological features of nature-mimic architectures

High-performance hybrid materials with special features are desired to meet the requirements of more complex cutting-edge applications. However, the self-assembly of layered double hydroxides (LDH) with organic frameworks is hampered by a lack of understanding of the formation mechanism and the effects of the self-assembled architecture on anticorrosion activity remain a major challenge. Herein, we put forward how the honeycomb-like network would architecturally upgraded on the pre-existing hierarchical floral structure with Trimesic acid (TMA) compound resulting in a promising layer-by-layer (LBL) material. This nature-inspired network is realized to offer an ideal approach not only endows with excellent properties but also exploits the power of layered coating materials as a bastion in the fields of nanotechnology, without limiting conditions, taking advantage of the synergy beneficial effects of the self-assembled honeycomb-like TMA and the anion-exchange ability of the layered coating material. In this work, a three-dimensional assembly with an architecture closely resembling interconnected micro-petals was successfully deposited on the defective surface obtained via plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of Mg alloy, where TMA compound was used for supramolecular self-assembly. The MgO layer was first formed on AZ31Mg alloy via PEO treatment and the Mg-Al LDH micro-petals were synthesized on the MgO surface in the presence of a chelating agent [diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)]. In a typical synthesis, TMA compound was used as an appropriate linker for the formation of well-organized multidimensional layered materials taking advantage of the synergy beneficial effects of the self-assembled honeycomb-like TMA and the anion-exchange ability of the Mg-Al LDH coating. The results indicate that Mg alloy coated with the self-assembled TMA@LDH-MgO materials presents excellent anti-corrosion performance as compared to the bare Mg. The use of such system would open a brand-new possibility to correct, in a targeted way, the inevitable defects of the layered coating morphology while retaining its exceptional potential. First-principles calculations, quantitative molecular surface analyses and independent gradient model framework further verify the self-assembly and adsorption behavior of TMA over the Mg-Al LDH layer. The improved performance of the TMA@Mg-Al LDH film is attributed to the synergistic effects of different interactions that occurred around active sites in the hierarchical network.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION OF ALKALINE CELLULASE ENZYMES IN PULP AND PAPER RECYCLING: A REVIEW

"Industrial utilization of waste paper in the production of a new one is increasing globally. Currently, the pulp and paper industry is one of the largest consumers of wood. Based on the demand, due to global economic growth, an increasing number of trees are harvested each year, also leading to increased amounts of wastes and pollutants, which represent a serious hazard for the environment. Chemical agents, such as sodium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, sodium carbonate, diethylenetriaminepentacetic acid, sodium silicate and surfactants, are used in large quantities by paper industries as part of the conventional methods of deinking waste paper, leading to the need to apply expensive wastewater treatments in order to meet environmental regulations. On the other hand, enzymes, such as cellulase, lipase, xylanase, pectinase, hemicellulase, amylase and esterase, can substitute conventional chemical methods of deinking waste papers. These enzymes have been reported to be environmentally friendly, as compared to the chemicals involved in conventional methods. Several decades ago, it was established that microbial enzymes might be useful in the processing of paper, since it is composed of natural polymers, such as cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. However, despite their enormous potential, the industrial use of these enzymes is still limited, being affected by lack of microbial strains capable of generating a high amount of alkaline cellulase. This paper provides an insight into recent research performed with the objectives of optimizing alkaline cellulase enzymes production and applying them in pulp and paper processes."

The effect of the chelated form of iron on its mobility and phytodavailability when applied to the soil

In spite of well-known mechanisms of iron consumption by plants from the soil and action patterns of iron ions in the soils, the work to eliminate the deficiency of this trace element in plants is still relevant. The article presents an assessment of the effect of iron (III) chelate complexes with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPА Fe) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA Fe) on the mobility and availability of iron for plants in soil with a pH close to neutral. In a model experiment with using of drainage columns, there were established the patterns of iron distribution in the soil and its removal with irrigation water from the root zone of plants (10 cm). Against the background of similar distribution of iron in the soil, a higher content of its mobile forms in the lower layers was noted when using EDTA Fe. The leaching of iron from the soil was confirmed using both DTPA Fe and EDTA Fe. The vegetation experiment revealed the effect of chelate forms on the accumulation of iron in barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L.) during their early growth period (11 days). The iron content in the shoots varied from 120 to 140 µg/g, in the roots – from 233 to 244 µg/g, with a content of 200 µg/g in the control sample. A significant contribution to the accumulation of iron in barley seedlings was observed at the level of the root system in the experiment with EDTA Fe. Data on the accumulation of iron in barley roots were correlated (r = 0.99) with data on their ash content.

Ultrasensitive Urinary Diagnosis of Organ Injuries Using Time-Resolved Luminescent Lanthanide Nano-bioprobes.

Urinary sensing of synthetic biomarkers that are released into urine after specific activation in an in vivo disease environment is an emerging diagnosis strategy to overcome the insensitivity of a previous biomarker assay. However, it remains a great challenge to achieve sensitive and a specific urinary photoluminescence (PL) diagnosis. Herein, we report a novel urinary time-resolved PL (TRPL) diagnosis strategy by exploiting europium complexes of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Eu-DTPA) as synthetic biomarkers and designing the activatable nanoprobes. Notably, TRPL of Eu-DTPA in the enhancer can eliminate the urinary background PL for ultrasensitive detection. We achieved sensitive urinary TRPL diagnosis of mice kidney and liver injuries by using simple Eu-DTPA and Eu-DTPA-integrated nanoprobes, respectively, which cannot be realized by traditional blood assays. This work demonstrates the exploration of lanthanide nanoprobes for in vivo disease-activated urinary TRPL diagnosis for the first time, which might advance the noninvasive diagnosis of diverse diseases via tailorable nanoprobe designs.

Effects of a novel Cd passivation approach on soil Cd availability, plant uptake, and microbial activity in weakly alkaline soils

Heavy metal pollution, including that caused by cadmium (Cd), is a matter of increasing concern. Although in situ passivation remediation has been widely used to treat heavy metal-polluted soils, most studies have focused on acidic soils, while studies on alkaline soil conditions are scarce. In this study, the effects of biochar (BC), phosphate rock powder (PRP), and humic acid (HA) on Cd2+ adsorption were examined alone and in combination to choose an appropriate Cd passivation approach for weakly alkaline soils. Additionally, the combined impact of passivation on Cd availability, plant Cd absorption, plant physiology indexes, and soil microbial community was elucidated. BC had a higher Cd adsorption capacity and removal rate than those of PRP and HA. Moreover, HA and PRP enhanced the adsorption capacity of BC. A combination of biochar and humic acid (BHA), and biochar and phosphate rock powder (BPRP) significantly affected soil Cd passivation. BHA and BPRP decreased the plant Cd content and soil Cd-DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) by 31.36 %, 20.80 %, 38.19 %, and 41.26 %, respectively; however, they increased the fresh weight by 65.64–71.48 % respectively, and dry weight by 62.41–71.35 %, respectively. Notably, only BPRP increased the node and root tip number in wheat. Total protein (TP) content increased in BHA and BPRP, with BHA showing lower TP than BPRP. BHA and BPRP showed a reduction in glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2, and peroxidase (POD); BHA showed a significantly lower GSH than BPRP. Additionally, BHA and BPRP increased soil sucrase, alkaline phosphatase, and urease activities, with BPRP showing considerably higher enzyme activity than BHA. Both BHA and BPRP increased the number of soil bacteria, altered the community composition, and critical metabolic pathways. The results demonstrated that BPRP could be used as a highly effective, novel passivation technique for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soil.

Effect of women's literacy on maternal and child health: Evidence from demographic Health Survey data in Senegal.

Senegal has certainly made significant efforts in adult literacy and in the fight against maternal and infant mortality. However, a large proportion of the female population is illiterate, and the country's maternal and infant mortality rates are still higher than WHO recommendations. This article examined the effect of women's literacy on maternal and child health in Senegal. Data were extracted from the last Senegal Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) collected in 2019. A binary logistic model was performed to assess the effect of women's literacy on ten outcomes of maternal and child health indicators. Results indicate that women's literacy has a positive and significant effect on nine of key indicators outcomes. For instance, women's literacy increases the odds of contraceptive use by 1.29 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.13-1.48; p<0.01), compliance with the number of prenatal visits by 1.57 (95% CI, 1.35-1.83; p<0.01) and consultation in the first trimester of pregnancy by 1.52 (95% CI, 1.31-1.78; p<0.01). Literacy is associated with increased odds of breastfeeding up to six months (Odds Ratio [OR], 1.17; 95% CI, 0.97-1.42; p<0.1) and healthy birth interval (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.97-1.44; p<0.1) only in rural areas. Women literacy reduces the risk of stunting by 0.81 (95% CI, 0.68-0.96; p<0.05) and the risk of underweight by 0.72 (95% CI, 0.59-0.87; p<0.01) among children under five years. The mother's ability to read and write favors compliance with the increase of odds of DPT vaccination record of her children, especially in rural areas (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.05-2.74; p<0.05). Moreover, there are serval other factors influencing positively the maternal and child health, like health insurance access, media exposure, and clean water and improved sanitation facilities access. This study emphasizes on the need to strengthen adult literacy programs, especially for women in rural areas. Indeed, this could help generalize health insurance by income-sensitive premiums or exemptions for the poor as well as increased awareness campaigns to promote reproductive and maternal health benefits, via the radio or television. Furthermore, improving access to clean water supply and improved sanitation facilities would greatly ameliorate maternal and child health.