Iron Content Research Articles

Effect of MgO content and CaO/Al2O3 ratio on melting temperature and viscosity of CaF2–CaO–Al2O3–MgO slag for electroslag remelting

During electroslag remelting (ESR), high MgO contents are typically added to CaF2–CaO–Al2O3 slag to control magnesium content in iron- and nickel-based alloys. The melting temperature and viscosity of ESR slag are pivotal for energy consumption, production efficiency, smooth operation, and ingot quality. However, there is currently a notable scarcity of research on the melting temperature and viscosity of CaF2–CaO–Al2O3–MgO slag with high MgO levels. Thus, the melting temperatures and viscosity of CaF2–CaO–Al2O3–MgO slags with varying MgO contents and CaO/Al2O3 (C/A) ratios were investigated. The results show that as the MgO content increases from 7.83 % to 13.18 %, the final precipitation content of the MgO phase significantly increases, resulting in an increase in the melting temperature from 1306 °C to 1319 °C. With the increase in the C/A ratio from 0.86 to 1.16, the precipitation completion temperatures of the Ca12Al14F2O32 and MgO phases significantly decrease and the MgAl2O4 phase transforms into the CaO phase. Hence, the melting temperature decreases from 1329 °C to 1314 °C. Further increasing the C/A ratio to 1.40, the final precipitation content of the CaO phase increases, resulting in a decrease in the melting temperature from 1314 °C to 1282 °C. Moreover, as the MgO content and C/A ratio increase, the slag viscosity exhibits different change trends within various temperature ranges. This depends on which of the depolymerization of the slag structure and the precipitation and clustering of the MgO phase has a greater effect on the slag viscosity.

Effect of NOX and SOX Contaminants on Corrosion Behaviors of 304L and 316L Stainless Steels in Monoethanolamine Aqueous Amine Solutions

This work is devoted to evaluating the corrosion behaviors of SS 304L and SS 316L in monoethanolamine solutions (MEA) containing SOX and NOX pollutants, examining both lean and CO2-loaded conditions at 25 °C and 40 °C. Electrochemical techniques (potentiodynamic and cyclic polarization) were used along with Scanning Electron Microscopy, Confocal Microscopy and weight loss measurements. The results reveal that the introduction of SOX and NOX pollutants increased the corrosion rate, whereas CO2 loading primarily reduced the corrosion resistance in the lean MEA solution, while its impact on solutions with SOX and NOX was less pronounced. This suggests that SOX and NOX play primary roles in the metal’s dissolution. Also, SS 316L demonstrated superior corrosion resistance compared to 304L in nearly all of the cases examined. Elevated temperatures were also found to intensify the corrosion rate, indicating a correlation between the corrosion rate and temperature. A microscopic observation and EDX analysis revealed that corrosion products are characterized by high concentrations of iron (Fe) and oxygen (O) as well as carbon (C). There is also an indication of the possible formation of amine complexes, suggesting a potential for amine degradation. No pitting corrosion was observed in SS 304L and SS 316L across any tested solution. Finally, the immersion results expose a tendency for passivity in all amine solutions and at both temperatures after several days of exposure. Moreover, they confirm the very low corrosion rate calculated from potentiodynamic curves due to minimal weight loss after 24 days of immersion.

Synergistic catalytic performance of Co–Fe/CQD nanocatalyst for rapid hydrogen generation through NaBH4 hydrolysis

In this study, a bimetallic Co–Fe nanocatalyst supported on carbon quantum dots (CQDs) is introduced as an effective catalyst for promoting hydrogen generation upon hydrolysis of sodium borohydride. Hydrothermal synthesis routes were used to produce CQDs support. All samples were subjected to analysis using XRD, UV–Vis, Raman, FTIR, FESEM, EDX, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption techniques. Benefiting from the higher surface area (51 m2gr), pore volume (0.200 mLgr), and good dispersion of Co–Fe nanoparticles over the CQDs support, the CoFe/CQD spherical nanocatalysts with 5 wt.% iron content exhibited the highest catalytic activity of 20200 mL/min.gcat within only 1 min of reaction. The kinetics studies revealed a low activation energy of 48 kJ/mol over this optimum catalyst. In addition, it was found that the catalytic performance of this catalyst was decreased after 4 runs of recycling experiments. Catalyst degradation and leaching of the active phase were likely responsible for the decline in catalyst performance.

Effects of sodium nitroprusside foliar application on the growth characteristics and nutrient elements in some grapevine cultivars and rootstocks under salt stress conditions

Grape is a staple crop in many parts of Iran which has shown moderate sensitivity to salinity stress. Water and soil salinity is one of the major environmental stresses that strongly affect the production of agricultural products, including grapes. To overcome the harmful effects of salinity, different methods and materials are used, one of which is the use of nitric oxide. In order to explore the impact of nitric oxide on the mitigation of the negative effects of salinity stress on four grape cultivars and rootstocks (‘Bidaneh Sefid’ (Sultana) and ‘Yaghouti’ cultivars, and 140Ru and 1103 P rootstocks), a pot experiment was performed in a factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plants were subjected to three sodium chloride (NaCl) levels of 0 (control), 25, and 50 mM and three levels of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) of 0 (control), 0.5, and 1 mM. Results indicated that increasing SNP concentration caused an increase in growth indices such as leaf area, shoot and root length, fresh and dry weights of leaves, shoots, and roots, and leaf relative water content (RWC). Furthermore, salinity decreased the concentrations of potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and iron (Fe2+) in leaves, while increased the amount of sodium (Na+) and chlorine (Clˉ) as well as the electrolyte leakage (EL). In addition, SNP at 0.5 and 1 mM could increase the growth efficiency and RWC as well as the elements such as K+ and Mg2+ while decreased the absorption of Na+ and Clˉ as well as the EL in plants under salinity. According to the obtained results, SNP at both concentrations (0.5 and 1 mM) had a pronounced effect on reducing the negative effect of salinity in the evaluated grape rootstocks and cultivars. In general, the positive effects of SNP on ‘Yaghouti’ and ‘Bidaneh Sefid’ cultivars were higher than those on 140Ru and 1103 P rootstocks.

Hindlimb immobilization induces insulin resistance and elevates mitochondrial ROS production in the hippocampus of female rats.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the 5th leading cause of death in older adults and treatment options are severely lacking. Recent findings demonstrate a strong relationship between skeletal muscle and cognitive function, with evidence supporting that muscle quality and cognitive function are positively correlated in older adults. Conversely, decreased muscle function is associated with a 3-fold increased risk of cognitive decline. Based on these observations, the purpose of this study was to investigate the negative effects of muscle disuse (via a model of hindlimb immobilization (HLI)) on hippocampal insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial function and identify the potential mechanisms involved. HLI for 10 days in 4-month-old female Wistar rats resulted in the following novel findings: 1) hippocampal insulin resistance and deficits in whole body glucose homeostasis, 2) dramatically increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the hippocampus, 3) elevated markers for amyloidogenic cleavage of APP and tau protein in the hippocampus, 4) and reduced BDNF expression. These findings were associated with global changes in iron homeostasis, with muscle disuse producing muscle iron accumulation in association with decreased serum and whole brain iron levels. We report the novel finding that muscle disuse alters brain iron homeostasis and reveal a strong negative correlation between muscle and brain iron content. Overall, HLI-induced muscle disuse has robust negative effects on hippocampal insulin sensitivity and ROS production in association with altered brain iron homeostasis. This work provides potential novel mechanisms that may help explain how loss of muscle function contributes to cognitive decline and AD risk.

Experimental Study on the Preparation of High-Purity Iron Oxide Red by Acid Leaching Iron from Coal Gangue.

Aiming at the problems of the large storage, complex composition, low comprehensive utilization rate, and high environmental impact of coal gangue, this paper carried out experimental research on the preparation of iron oxide red from high-iron gangue by calcination activation, acid leaching, extraction, and the hydrothermal synthesis of coal gangue. The experimental results show that when the calcination temperature of coal gangue is 500 °C, the calcination time is 1.5 h, the optimal concentration of iron removal is 6 mol/L, the acid leaching temperature is 80 °C, the acid leaching time is 1 h, and the liquid--solid mass ratio is 4:1; the iron dissolution rate can reach 87.64%. A solvent extraction method (TBP-SK-hydrochloric acid system) was used to extract the leachate, and a solution with iron content up to 99.21% was obtained. By controlling the optimum hydrothermal conditions (pH = 9, temperature 170 °C, reaction time 5 h), high-purity iron oxide red product can be prepared; the yield is 80.07%. The red iron oxide was characterized by XRD, SEM-EDS, particle-size analysis, and ICP-OES. The results show that the red iron oxide peak has a cubic microstructure, an average particle size of 167.16 μm, and a purity of 99.16%. The quality of the prepared iron oxide red product meets the requirement of 98.5% of the "YHT4 Iron oxide Standard for ferrite". It can be used as a raw material to produce high-performance soft magnetic ferrite. In summary, this experimental study on the preparation of iron oxide red from coal gangue is of great significance for the comprehensive utilization of coal gangue to realize the sustainable development of the environment and economy.

Cardiac Disease in Egyptian Thalassemia Major and Sickle Cell Disease Adolescents in relation to Vitamin D Status Using Echocardiogram & Ultrafast Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract Background Cardiovascular complications are well recognized in patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM) and sickle cell disease (SCD). Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia and there is an association between vitamin D deficiency and both left ventricular function and iron overload in thalassemia. However, the relationship between vitamin D and cardiac iron is not well studied in Egypt and the role of vitamin D in cardiac disease in SCD and β-TM needs to be assessed. Aim To assess vitamin D status in children and adolescents with SCD and β-TM in relation to cardiac complications using echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) T2*. Methods Forty-one patients with SCD and 35 patients with β-TM without symptomatic cardiac disease were studied stressing on history of splenectomy and transfusion history. Markers of hemolysis, serum ferritin and vitamin D levels were measured. Liver iron concentration (LIC) was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Screening for cardiovascular abnormalities was performed by the non-invasive Doppler echocardiography and CMR was used to assess myocardial iron overload. Results Echocardiography showed that cardiac functions were significantly impaired in β-TM patients compared with SCD while the frequency of pulmonary hypertension risk (elevated TRV ≥2.5 m/sec) was consistent between both β-TM and SCD groups. Cardiac T2* (which reflects cardiac iron overload) was significantly lower while myocardial iron concentration (MIC) was significantly higher in β -TM patients compared with SCD group. Vitamin D levels were decreased in both SCD and β-TM patients than control levels; however, SCD patients had significantly lower vitamin D levels. Low vitamin D levels were significantly associated withincreased risk of pulmonary hypertension in the SCD group while In β-TM group, vitamin D levels were significantly lower in patients with cardiac disease and those with serum ferritin levels ≥ 2500 µg/L. A significant evidence of diastolic dysfunction was found in SCD and β-TM patients who had low serum vitamin D level < 20 ng/mL. Vitamin D levels were negatively correlated to serum ferritin and LIC while positively correlated to cardiac T2*. Conclusion Low vitamin D levels were associated with cardiopulmonary dysfunction in adolescents with SCD and β-TM. Vitamin D deficiency in those patients was linked to cardiac iron overload leading to iron induced cardiomyopathy. Proper chelation therapy is mandatory to improve cardiac disease, iron overload and consequently, vitamin D status in β-TM patients.

Analytically monitored cultivation of Arthrospira platensis on food waste extracts to compose a sustainable, low-prized, Zarrouk-based medium

ABSTRACT A sustainable, low-cost medium based on food waste for cultivating the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (A. platensis) was investigated. Zarrouk medium components, especially phosphate, were substituted with extracts from beetroot peel, brewer’s grains, and walnut press cake. Ion concentrations of magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, phos-phate, nitrate, sulfate, and chloride were analyzed to determine the optimal medium composition. Walnut press cake and brewer’s grains extracts showed high potential due to their magnesium, calcium, and phosphate content. Brewer’s grains extracts also provided glucose as an additional carbon source. Cultivations in shaking flasks and a photobioreactor (PBR) monitored cell growth through optical density and biomass concentration. The excess of magnesium and reduced phos-phate concentrations positively affected biomass production. A. platensis’s ability to metabolize glucose resulted in 68% higher biomass production. Growth in brewer’s grains extract required no additional phosphate. PBR cultivation showed A. platensis consumed significant magnesium and nitrate, achieving higher biomass concentrations with optimized gas exchange and light reflection systems.

Prescribed fire increases forage mineral content in grazed rangeland

Background Sustainable rangeland management balances production and conservation. While a broad literature describesthe conservation benefits of prescribed fire, benefits for livestock production have emerged more slowly. Mineral nutrition is important for livestock health and performance, but the impact of prescribed fire on mineral concentration of forages, especially in the northern US Great Plains, remains unknown. Aims We investigated how burning affects the mineral concentration of forage early and late in the growing season. Methods Data were collected on mixed-grass prairie in south-central North Dakota, USA. Vegetation was clipped from recently burned, 1 year post-fire, 2 years post-fire, and not-yet-burned patches at the same sampling points in spring and late summer. Samples were analysed for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc concentration. Key results Burning increased forage mineral concentration across most minerals. Phosphorous, potassium, copper and zinc were higher in burned areas in late spring and summer; calcium, magnesium and manganese were only higher during the late summer; Late-season iron levels increased with time since fire. Conclusions Prescribed fire has a positive effect on forage mineral content. Implications Prescribed fire has the potential to reduce mineral supplementation costs and improve cow performance.

Comparison of leaf and root nutrients concentration in twenty olive cultivars grown on a calcareous soil

Comparing the absorption and translocation efficiency of the nutrients in olive cultivars can lead to the selection of cultivars with higher efficiency. This research was conducted with the aim of comparing the uptake and translocation capacity in 20 olive cultivars (12 domestic and 8 foreign) in a commercial orchard on calcareous soil in a randomized complete block design. Except for copper (Cu), leaf concentration of other elements was within the optimal range. In ʻAmphesis,ʼ high translocation (5.28%) and in ʻAmigdalolia,’ high uptake capacity (12.6) caused an increase in leaf phosphorus (P). Leaf K in all cultivars was higher than the deficiency limit (0.77%). In none of the cultivars, leaf sodium (Na) concentration was higher than the toxicity limit (0.2%), it accumulated in the root of ʻZard-Aliabadʼ and ʻShengeh,ʼ and reduced in their leaf. Leaf iron (Fe) concentration of all cultivars was in the sufficient range (>63 mg kg−1) and the highest was in ʻGorgan-Aʼ and ʻZardʼ and the lowest in ʻKazeroon,ʼ ʻArbequinaʼ and ʻMission.ʼ Although the leaf Cu in ʻAmphesisʼ (4.32 mg kg−1) and ʻArbequinaʼ (4.03 mg kg−1) was above the sufficient limit, in the rest of the cultivars it was below this critical limit. The highest leaf manganese (Mn) concentration (61.35 mg kg−1) and the highest Mn translocation percentage (84.59) were in ʻFeshomi.ʼ Among these cultivars, ʻAmphesisʼ was higher than others in terms of P, potassium (K), Cu and zinc (Zn) leaf concentrations and ʻAmigdalolia in terms of P, K and Zn, and in most cases the reason for this is the higher translocation efficiency.

ZnO NPs induce miR-342-5p mediated ferroptosis of spermatocytes through the NF-κB pathway in mice

BackgroundZinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO NP) is one of the metal nanomaterials with extensive use in many fields such as feed additive and textile, which is an emerging threat to human health due to widely distributed in the environment. Thus, there is an urgent need to understand the toxic effects associated with ZnO NPs. Although previous studies have found accumulation of ZnO NPs in testis, the molecular mechanism of ZnO NPs dominated a decline in male fertility have not been elucidated.ResultsWe reported that ZnO NPs exposure caused testicular dysfunction and identified spermatocytes as the primary damaged site induced by ZnO NPs. ZnO NPs led to the dysfunction of spermatocytes, including impaired cell proliferation and mitochondrial damage. In addition, we found that ZnO NPs induced ferroptosis of spermatocytes through the increase of intracellular chelatable iron content and lipid peroxidation level. Moreover, the transcriptome analysis of testis indicated that ZnO NPs weakened the expression of miR-342-5p, which can target Erc1 to block the NF-κB pathway. Eventually, ferroptosis of spermatocytes was ameliorated by suppressing the expression of Erc1.ConclusionsThe present study reveals a novel mechanism in that miR-342-5p targeted Erc1 to activate NF-κB signaling pathway is required for ZnO NPs-induced ferroptosis, and provide potential targets for further research on the prevention and treatment of male reproductive disorders related to ZnO NPs.Graphical

Hibiscus acid and hydroxycitric acid dimethyl esters from Hibiscus flowers induce production of dithiolopyrrolone antibiotics by Streptomyces Strain MBN2-2

Plants and microbes are closely associated with each other in their ecological niches. Much has been studied about plant–microbe interactions, but little is known about the effect of phytochemicals on microbes at the molecular level. To access the products of cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters in bacteria, we incorporated an organic extract of hibiscus flowers into the culture media of different Actinobacteria isolated from plant rhizospheres. This approach led to the production of broad-spectrum dithiolopyrrolone (DTP) antibiotics, thiolutin (1) and aureothricin (2), by Streptomyces sp. MBN2-2. The compounds from the hibiscus extract responsible for triggering the production of these two DTPs were found to be hibiscus acid dimethyl ester (3) and hydroxycitric acid 1,3-dimethyl ester (4). It was subsequently found that the addition of either Fe2+ or Fe3+ to culture media induced the production of 1 and 2. The Chrome Azurol S (CAS) assay revealed that 3 and 4 can chelate iron, and therefore, the mechanism leading to the production of thiolutin and aureothricin appears to be related to changes in iron concentration levels. This work supports the idea that phytochemicals can be used to activate the production of cryptic microbial biosynthetic gene clusters and further understand plant–microbe interactions.Graphical

P-299 The influence of ovarian endometriomas surgery or not and the iron overload in follicular fluid on the outcome of IVF-ET

Abstract Study question To investigate the influence of ovarian endometriomas(OEM) surgery or not on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Summary answer Laparoscopic surgery can not significantly improve the outcome of IVF-ET in OEM patients, but may decrease the ovarian reserve. What is known already Despite the great advantages of ovarian endometriomas surgery treatment in endometriosis-linked infertility, the impact of laparoscopic cystectomy on outcomes of infertility management with ART is controversial. Numerous mechanisms have been proposed in an effort to delineate the multifaceted pathophysiology that induces impairment of reproductive dynamics in patients with OEM. Reactive oxygen species, dysregulation of the immune system and iron overload constitute the crucial mechanisms that detrimentally affect oocyte and embryo developmental potential. Study design, size, duration This study retrospectively included 882 cycles in our reproductive center from January 2018 to December 2020, and the patients were divided into operation group (n = 386) and OEM group (n = 496) according to whether they underwent laparoscopic cystectomy before IVF-ET. Participants/materials, setting, methods The baseline data of age, infertility duration, basic FSH, AFC, and BMI were used as matching factors, and Propensity score matching was carried out according to the sample ratio of 1:1, and 327 cycles in the operation group and 327 cycles in the OEM group were finally included. Follicular fluid was collected under ultrasound guidance during oocyte retrieval. A total of 74 follicular fluid samples meeting the study conditions were collected. Main results and the role of chance (1)The clinical pregnancy rate of fresh embryo transfer cycle in the OEM group was significantly higher than that in the operation group (77.4% Vs 52.9%), and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.039). There was no significant difference in pregnancy outcome in frozen embryo transfer cycle (P > 0.05). (2) The results of Multi-factor logistic regression model showed the clinical pregnancy rate of patients in the OEM group was 3.048 times than that of patients in the operation group in fresh cycle, and the difference was significant (OR 3.029 95%CI 1.017-9.018, P = 0.047), while early abortion and live birth pregnancy outcomes were not significantly affected in both groups. For the frozen embryo transfer cycle, there were no significant effects on clinical pregnancy, early abortion and live birth pregnancy outcomes in both groups. (3) There was no significant difference in follicular fluid iron concentration between OEM group and control group(11.53±3.38 Vs 12.18±4.37μg/dl, P = 0.112). The concentration of ferritin in follicle fluid in OEM group (57.38±139.90) was significantly higher than that in control group (24.88±13.76 μg/ml), the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.032). Limitations, reasons for caution The present study being of a retrospective and monocentric study, may not come to a very convincing conclusion, and some unknown biases might still exist due to possible underestimation of some confounders. Wider implications of the findings Collectively, our results indicate that laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy couldn’t significantly improve the IVF-ET outcomes in patients with OEM, but rather increased the risk of reduced ovarian reserve function. Ovarian reserve function was the main factor affecting the IVF-ET outcomes for infertile patients with OEM. Trial registration number /

Assessment of dietary supplementation of green iron oxide nanoparticles: impact on growth performance, ammonia emissions, carcass criteria, tissue iron content, and meat quality in broiler chickens under hot climate conditions.

The potential significance and importance of green iron nanoparticles (Nano-Fe) in poultry production lie in their capability to effectively tackle iron deficiency in poultry. Iron, an indispensable mineral for numerous physiological functions in birds, such as oxygen transport, energy metabolism, and immune response, underscores the critical need for adequate iron levels. Nevertheless, conventional iron supplementation methods frequently face hurdles like limited bioavailability rates in poultry. To enhance performance, and promote sustainable broiler productivity, Nano-Fe showed promise as an efficient feed supplement for broiler chickens. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of green Nano-Fe inclusions in diets on growth, ammonia excretion, carcass criteria, and meat quality in broiler chickens. A total of 192 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks, were assigned to three treatment diets including Nano-Fe oxide at 0, 20, or 40 mg/kg, respectively, for 42 days. Each treatment comprised eight replicates, each with eight broiler chicks. Two phases comprised the 42-day study (0 to 21 days for the starter and 21 to 42 days for the finisher). In comparison to the control group, the Nano-Fe oxide groups 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg linearly improved (p < 0.05) body weight (R 2 = 0.574) and body weight gain (R 2 = 0.367) under hot climatic conditions at 42 days of age. Furthermore, Nano-Fe oxide to broiler diets, improved (linear, p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (R 2 = 0.424) throughout whole periods. The feed intake did not show any significant difference (p > 0.05) among groups during the experimental periods under hot climatic conditions. The ammonia content of excreta (R 2 = 0.454) was linearly decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing Nano-Fe oxide levels in broiler diets compared to control at 21 and 42 days of age under hot climatic conditions. Nano-Fe oxide positively influences cook loss, water-holding capacity, and iron content in various tissues. Moreover, it contributes to a healthier carcass yield and reduced abdominal fat. In conclusion, broiler chickens fed diets containing Nano-Fe oxide at 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg demonstrated enhanced growth performance, improved meat quality, increased iron content in tissues, higher dressing percentage, and reduced abdominal fat deposition. Future research should explore the impact of green Nano-Fe oxide on additional factors such as the microbiome and gene expression related to immunity and heat stress.

Kinetics of chemical and color changes in wheat and water during atmospheric cooking as affected by the acidity, hardness, and iron content of water.

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

Social defeat stress impairs systemic iron metabolism by activating the hepcidin–ferroportin axis

AbstractChronic psychological stress has been reported to decrease circulating iron concentrations and impair hematopoiesis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of psychological stress on biological iron metabolism by using the social defeat stress (SDS) model, a widely used model of depression. Compared with control mice, mice subjected to SDS (SDS mice) had lower social interaction (SI) behavior. The SDS mice also showed impaired hematopoiesis, as evidenced by reduced circulating red blood cell counts, elevated reticulocyte counts, and decreased plasma iron levels. In the SDS mice, the iron contents in the bone marrow decreased, whereas those in the spleen increased, suggesting dysregulation in systemic iron metabolism. The concentrations of plasma hepcidin, an important regulator of systemic iron homeostasis, increased in the SDS mice. Meanwhile, the concentrations of ferroportin, an iron transport protein negatively regulated by hepcidin, were lower in the spleen and duodenum of the SDS mice than in those of the control mice. Treatment with dalteparin, a hepcidin inhibitor, prevented the decrease in plasma iron levels in the SDS mice. The gene expression and enzyme activity of furin, which converts the precursor hepcidin to active hepcidin, were high and positively correlated with plasma hepcidin concentration. Thus, furin activation might be responsible for the increased plasma hepcidin concentration. This study is the first to show that psychological stress disrupts systemic iron homeostasis by activating the hepcidin–ferroportin axis. Consideration of psychological stressors might be beneficial in the treatment of diseases with iron‐refractory anemia.

PH-adjustment alleviates NH4 +-induced toxicity in Arabidopsis thaliana

This work was conducted to evaluate the effect of N source (NH4 +/NO3 -) and the implication of NH4+-induced acidification on plant development in Arabidopsis thaliana. seedlings were hydroponically cultivated during 21 days under three ratios of NO3 −/NH4 + (mM); 2.5/0.0; 1.25/1.25, and 0.0/2.5. For each ratio, plants were cultivated under not controlled pH and adjusted pH at 6.2. Ammonium-fed plants (0.0/2.5) showed chlorosis if cultivated under uncontrolled pH. This symptom was associated with suppressions in plant growth, chlorophyll and iron contents as well as shoots hydration and nutrient concentration. Growth was limited with increasing NH4 + medium-concentration. At pH 6.2, plants receiving only NH4 + produced the same biomass as NO3-fed ones. The mineral disturbances in plants grown on strictly NH4 +-medium (0.0/2.5) were alleviated under controlled pH. The activities of nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NIR) were lower in plants amended only with NH4 + under uncontrolled pH. At adjusted pH, the NR activity was ameliorated but that of NIR was not ameliorated, suggesting hence that NR activity depended on medium pH but that of NIR was related only to the pool of NO2 -. In conclusion, this work demonstrated that the adjustment of pH at 6.2 mitigated significantly the toxic effects of ammonium to A. thaliana.

Qualitative Assessment of Water Sources in Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

To ascertain the quality of water used for drinking purpose, by the consumers and wildlife, water quality monitoring of the groundwater and surface water sources was conducted in Pench Tiger Reserve area in Maharashtra. The fecal streptococci (FS) and fecal coliforms (FC) ranged from 0-5 CFU/100ml and 0-62 CFU/100ml respectively. The bacterial contamination in groundwater may be because of improper source protection and possibility of enroute contamination. Geogenic background has major impact on groundwater quality in Pench with gneisses and basaltic type of formation which reflect on the physicochemical water quality parameters. Water quality parameters like turbidity, fluoride, iron and bacterial counts are above the permissible limit in some water sources making the water unsuitable for drinking purpose. The high turbidity in the groundwater samples is attributed to the presence of iron precipitates. Study area is covered with red ferruginous soils which are rich in iron and contributes to iron content in groundwater. Appropriate treatment is required to reduce down the iron and fluoride concentrations followed by disinfection so that the water quality parameters fulfill BIS guidelines for potability of water. The correlation and regression analysis among different water quality parameters helps in establishing relationships among water quality parameters drawing inferences about them. Water quality monitoring at regular interval with suitable treatment measures is very much essential to provide safe drinking water to the consumers.

The Underwater Esmeralda Volcano (Mariana Island Arch) and some Features of the Composition of its Composition Rocks

A generalization of the available original data and literature data on the geological and geophysical knowledge of the underwater volcano Esmeralda, located in the Mariana Island Arc, has been carried out. As a result of studying the rocks dredged during the 4th and 5th cruises of the R/V Vulkanolog at the present level, new data were obtained on the silicate and rare-element composition of the rock samples that make up this underwater volcano. It has been established that the studied volcanic edifice is composed of five types of rocks: basalts, basaltic andesites, dacites, gabbro, and basanites. For the first time, samples of dacite and basanite have been discovered, indicating that the petrochemical diversity of the underwater volcano Esmeralda is wider than previously thought. All dredged rocks are characterized by a slightly increased content of incoherent elements LILE and HFSE. The studies carried out made it possible to attribute the main part of the dredged rocks to the association of island-arc ferruginous tholeiites (IAB, IAT) and only the composition of a single sample of alkaline basalt (basanite) falls into the field of alkaline basalts of oceanic islands (OIB, OIA). The increased content of iron in plagioclase phenocrysts confirms that the rocks belong to the high-iron tholeiite association.

Peroxiredoxin 6 Protects Pulmonary Epithelial Cells From Cigarette-related Ferroptosis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) has a protective effect on pulmonary epithelial cells against cigarette smoke (CS)-induced ferroptosis. This study investigates the role of PRDX6 in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its possibility as a target. We observed that PRDX6 was downregulated in lung tissues of COPD patients and in CS-stimulated cells. The degradation of PRDX6 could be through the lysosomal pathway. PRDX6 deficiency exacerbated pulmonary inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in vivo. Overexpression of PRDX6 in Beas-2B cells ameliorated CS-induced cell death and inflammation, suggesting its protective role against CS-induced damage. Furthermore, PRDX6 deficiency promoted ferroptosis by adding the content of iron and reactive oxygen species, while iron chelation with deferoxamine mitigated CS-induced ferroptosis, cell death, and inflammatory infiltration both in vitro and in vivo. The critical role of PRDX6 in regulating ferroptosis suggests that targeting PRDX6 or iron metabolism may represent a promising strategy for COPD treatment.