Phosphorus Reduction Research Articles

Removal efficacy of fly ash composite filler on tailwater nitrogen and phosphorus and its application in constructed wetlands.

Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been widely used in tailwater treatment. However, it is difficult to achieve considerable removal efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus in tailwater solely by CWs-an efficient green wetland filler is also important. This study investigated 160 domestic sewage treatment facilities (DSTFs) in rural areas from two urban areas in Jiaxing for TP and NH3-N and found that TP and NH3-N concentrations in rural domestic sewage (RDS) in this plain river network are still high. Therefore, we selected a new synthetic filler (FA-SFe) to enhance nitrogen and phosphorus reduction, and we discuss the importance of filler in constructed wetlands. Experiments revealed the adsorption capacity of the new filler: the maximum adsorption amounts of TP and NH3-N reached 0.47g m-2 d-1 and 0.91gm-2 d-1, respectively. The application potential of FA-SFe was verified in actual wastewater treatment, with the removal rates of ammonia nitrogen and TP reaching 71.3% and 62.7%, respectively. This study provides a promising pathway for nitrogen and phosphorus removal from rural tailwaters.

Evolutionary data driven modeling and tri-objective optimization for noisy BOF steel making data

Evolutionary data-driven modeling and optimization play a major role in generating meta models from real-time data. These surrogate models are applied effectively in various industrial operations and processes to predict a more accurate model from the nonlinear and noisy data. In this work, the data collected from a basic oxygen furnace of TATA steel are utilized in the modeling process by using evolutionary algorithms like evolutionary neural network (EvoNN), bi-objective genetic programming (BioGP), and evolutionary deep neural network (EvoDN2) to generate the meta models. For creating surrogates out In the current scenario of the Indian plants, reduction of phosphorus to an acceptable level, limiting the carbon and controlling the temperature are the basic needs in a basic oxygen furnace (BOF) to produce steels with a suitable composition. This work focused on three essential process parameters, temperature, carbon and phosphorus contents, and created intelligent models using 91 process variables of the operational process. The analysis began with a total of around 17000 operational observations and creating surrogate models out of them is a mammoth task, for which the data-driven evolutionary algorithms were some apt choices. Even there deep learning turned out to be essential and only the EvoDN2 algorithm performed at the expected level. Once the trained models are generated, optimization work was carried on three objectives simultaneously by using a constraint-based reference vector evolutionary algorithm (cRVEA). The optimized results were analyzed in multi-dimensional hyperspace, and their effectiveness in BOF steel making is presented in this work.

Gasification Behavior of Phosphorus during Biomass Sintering of High-phosphorus Iron Ore

Developing the innovative technology for efficient utilization of high-phosphate iron ore was the inevitable choice of resource strategy. In this paper, exploring a new method of gasification removal of phosphorus by iron ore sintering technology based on biomass. Combined with theoretical analysis and experimental research, the effects of different conditions (biochar type, addition proportion, basicity) on the reduction and gasification behavior of phosphorus were studied. The results showed that the addition of biochar instead of part of the coke powder could promote the reduction of apatite and increase the dephosphorization rate compared with the full coke breeze. Among different types of biochar fuels (fruit shell charcoal, straw charcoal, bamboo charcoal), bamboo carbon had the greatest effect on the dephosphorization rate. The optimal reduction temperature was 1100°C, substitution proportion of bamboo charcoal was 20% and basicity was 0.5 for the phosphorus gasification and removal, and the corresponding dephosphorization rate was 28.77%. Selective reduction of iron and phosphorus existed in the reduction process, iron oxide took precedence over the reduction of apatite, and part of phosphorus gas entered the metal iron to form iron phosphide, resulting in the decrease of dephosphorization rate.

Stand age alters fungal community composition and functional guilds in subalpine Picea asperata plantations

Soil fungi participate in a variety of forest ecological processes and drive the succession of degraded forests. However, how the soil fungal community and functional taxa change with stand age remains unclear in subalpine plantations. We established five vegetation survey plots in four planted Picea asperata forests aged 25, 40, 50 and 75 years and one natural P. asperata forest aged approximately 200 years in a subalpine region and randomly collected rhizosphere and bulk soils of two representative P. asperata individuals in each plot for high-throughput sequencing of fungal communities and determination of soil properties. The fungal community composition in both rhizosphere and bulk soils varied significantly among different stand ages. Fungal operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness and Shannon diversity in bulk but not rhizosphere soil changed significantly with stand age. Except for the 75-year-old plantation, there was no difference in the fungal community composition between rhizosphere soil and bulk soil. Soil properties, plant production (P. asperata growth indicators) and plant richness jointly determined the fungal community composition, and soil total phosphorous (TP) accounted for the most variation in the fungal community. P. asperata regulated the community composition of fungal functional guilds (i.e., plant pathogens, saprophytes, ectomycorrhizal fungi and endophytes) mainly by changing soil properties rather than plant richness. Interestingly, the community composition of fungi and functional guilds in plantations became increasingly similar to that in the natural forest over time, and the fungal restoration rate (represented by the Bray–Curtis distance between plantations and natural forest) in bulk soil was faster than that in rhizosphere soil. In addition, with increasing stand age, the relative abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi increased, and the diversity of plant pathogens decreased, both of which were significantly associated with the reduction in soil total phosphorus. These results suggest that stand age is a major factor affecting soil fungal community variation in subalpine P. asperata plantations, which is largely dependent on soil property changes. In particular, soil TP may play a key role in the regulation of different ecological functional fungi.

High performance of phosphorus and sulfur co-doped oxygen reduction reaction catalysts derived from daylily

In this paper, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst is synthesized by daylily that needs to absorb phosphorus-containing and sulfur-containing fertilizers during the growth process. Excellent phosphorus- and sulfur-containing porous carbon materials derived from daylily were prepared by carbonization at different temperatures. From the analysis of the experimental results, it was concluded that D900-3 derived from daylily by two rapid carbonization methods had the best catalytic effect. Compared with the commercial Pt/C (20 wt%), the difference in half-peak potential was only 20 mV. This paper not only enriches non-Pt-based ORR catalysts, but also provides a new way of phosphorus-sulfur co-doping.

Parathyroidectomy versus oral cinacalcet on cardiovascular parameters in peritoneal dialysis patients with advanced secondary hyperparathyroidism (PROCEED): A randomized trial.

This trial aimed to evaluate oral cinacalcet versus total parathyroidectomy with forearm autografting (PTx) on cardiovascular surrogate outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures in dialysis patients with advanced SHPT. In this pilot prospective randomized trial conducted in two university-affiliated hospitals, 65 adult peritoneal dialysis patients with advanced SHPT were randomized to receive either oral cinacalcet or PTx. Primary endpoints were changes in left ventricular (LV) mass index by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) over 12 months. Secondary endpoints included changes in heart valves calcium scores, aortic stiffness, biochemical parameters of chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disease (CKD-MBD) and HRQOL measures over 12 months. Changes in LV mass index, CACS, heart valves calcium score, aortic pulse wave velocity and HRQOL did not differ between-groups or within-groups, despite significant reductions in plasma calcium, phosphorus and intact parathyroid hormone in both groups. Cinacalcet-treated patients experienced more cardiovascular-related hospitalizations than those who underwent PTx (P=0.008) but the difference became insignificant after adjusting for baseline difference in heart failure (P=0.43). With the same monitoring frequency, cinacalcet-treated patients had fewer hospitalizations due to hypercalcemia (1.8%) than patients who underwent PTx (16.7%) (P=0.005). No significant changes were observed in HRQOL measures in either group. Both cinacalcet and PTx effectively improved various biochemical abnormalities of CKD-MBD and stabilized but did not reduce LV mass, coronary artery and heart valves calcification, arterial stiffness or improve patient-centered HRQOL measures in PD patients with advanced SHPT. Cinacalcet may be used in place of PTx for treating advanced SHPT. Long-term and powered studies are required to evaluate PTx versus cinacalcet on hard cardiovascular outcomes in dialysis patients.

Evaluation of Phosphorus Storage and Performance of Broilers Using Phytase Synthetic Enzyme.

Phytic acid is a stored form of phosphorus in cereals, 65 to 70% of phosphorus in plant sources is phytate, and broilers are only able to use part of the phosphorus in plant sources. To meet the needs of chickens, it is necessary to use other artificial resources, which not only impose part of the cost of the breeding period because of its presence in the manure but is one of the factors polluting the environment. This study aimed to use different levels of phytase enzyme to reduce dietary phosphorus levels. 600 Ross 308 broilers were used in this experiment with five treatments and six replications, and in each replication, 20 chickens were used in a completely randomized design (CRD). Experimental treatments include 1) basal diet (control) 2) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus 3) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus + 1250 (FTU) phytase enzyme 4) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus + 2500 (FTU) phytase enzyme 5) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus + 5000 (FTU) phytase enzyme. The evaluated traits included weekly feed intake, weekly weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass characteristics, ash, calcium, and bone phosphorus. The use of phytase enzyme in different diets had no significant effect on food intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (P>0.05). However, the use of phytase in different diets significantly affected the percentage of Gizzard, Heart, Liver, Proventriculus, and Spleen (P<0.05). The most changes were the increase in the ratio of feed intake and weight gain in the fourth week compared to the third week so that the changes in the ratio of feed intake ranged from 1.85 to 1.91, and this ratio for weight gain also ranged from 3.12 to 3.86 was recorded, and the lowest feed conversion ratio was obtained at the same age. The percentage of raw ash in broiler chickens was significantly increased by adding dietary phytase. The lowest amount of ash, calcium, and phosphorus belonged to the second group (diets with low phosphorus and no enzyme). The difference between the other groups and the control was not significant. Feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio with the addition of phytase enzyme were not affected by phosphorus reduction and had no significant effect on carcass characteristics. Environmental pollution can be prevented by reducing the level of dietary phosphorus and reducing excreted phosphorus.

Impact of radiotherapy on the morphological and compositional structure of intra-radicular dentin

Considering the side effects in the oral cavity and dental structures of radiotherapy (RDT) for head and neck cancer, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of RDT on the root dentin concerning the obliteration of dentinal tubules, the inorganic composition of intra-radicular dentin, and the integrity of collagen fibers. Thirty human canines were selected from a biobank and randomly divided into two groups (n=15). The samples were sectioned buccolingually, and a hemisection was used for structural analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). Low-vacuum SEM images were obtained at 2000-x magnification to observe the obliteration of the dentinal tubules. Moreover, compositional evaluation was performed using EDS. After RDT, the SEM and EDS analyses were repeated using the same methodology. RDT was applied fractionally at 2 Gy per day, 5 days per week, for 7 weeks, resulting in a total dose of 70 Gy. The collagen integrity of the irradiated and non-irradiated samples was analyzed using Masson's trichrome and picrosirius red staining polarization microscopy. Samples subjected to RDT exhibited dentinal tubule obliteration (p < 0.001); low integrity of type I and III collagen fibers (p < 0.05); compositional reduction of calcium (p = 0.012), phosphorus (p = 0.001), and magnesium (p < 0.001); an increased Ca/P ratio (p < 0.001). RDT affects the structure of dentinal tubules, the inorganic composition of intra-radicular dentin, and the collagen fiber integrity in the root dentin, which may interfere with the effectiveness and durability of dental procedures.

A model for predicting reduction in mobile phosphorus of lake sediment by aluminum drinking water treatment residuals

Drinking water treatment residual (DWTR) derived from flocculation and sedimentation of raw water using aluminum coagulants is a valuable environmental remediation byproduct capable of inactivating phosphorus (P). However, no generalizable model exists in the literature to describe reduction of releasable (mobile) P in lake sediment as a result of DWTR addition. The reduction of mobile P (sum of labile P and reductant soluble P) was investigated in over 100 sub-samples using five sediment samples from two lakes and three DWTRs from different water treatment plants. A consistent relationship was determined across a range of mobile P contents (0.23 g/m2/cm to 0.92 g/m2/cm, or 15.8 to 186.1 µg/g DW) and DWTRs. The relationship was best described as a function of the mobile P content of the sediment and the oxalate-extractable aluminum content of the DWTR. An empirical model was developed to predict the immediate reduction in mobile P following the addition of DWTR containing aluminum. This model was validated using two additional lake sediments and one additional DWTR (R² = 0.995). Thus, the immediate inactivation of P in lake sediment following DWTR addition can be predicted with this model, which can be used with internal P loading or other water quality goals to determine an appropriate DWTR dose. Further recommendations were made about dosing DWTRs for lake restoration, allowing practitioners to use DWTR to inactivate P in lake sediment without conducting individual sorption experiments.

Efficiency of a new hybrid multi-soil-layering eco-friendly technology for removing pollutants from domestic wastewater under an arid climate

The goal of this research is to assess and track the efficacy of hybrid multi-soil-layering (MSL) plant in treating domestic wastewater for reuse in landscape irrigation. The investigated wastewater treatment plant is composed of a solar septic tank followed by a vertical flow MSL (VF-MSL) unit in series with a subsurface horizontal flow MSL (HSSF-MSL) unit. Wastewater samples were taken bimonthly from the plant's influent and effluent, respectively. The two-stage MSL units are composed of gravel layers alternated with soil-based layers, which are arranged in brick-like patterns, although they are operated under an HLR of 250 L m−2 day−1, which corresponds to 125 g COD/m2/d, 52 g TN/m2/d, and 2.70 g TP/m2/d. The mean removal efficiency was 75 %, 42 %, 67 %, and 47 %, respectively, for TSS, COD, NH4+, and TP for the VF-MSL system. Moreover, the VF-MSL combined with the HSSF-MSL system resulted in significant nitrogen removal as well as a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in organic matter and phosphorus with an abatement of 97 %, 79 %, 76 %, and 27 %, respectively, for TSS, COD, TP, and TN. For fecal bacteria indicators, the hybrid MSL system achieved high log removals, reaching 2.88 log units during two years of monitoring. Principal component analysis (PCA) was done on the positive correlation between COD, NH4+, TP removal, and summer seasons. Nonetheless, the winter season significantly influenced TN removal in the MSL system. The investigated hybrid multi-soil-layering plant has been shown to be effective in terms of water quality for the irrigation of green spaces in urban areas.

Effects of Livestock Exclusion on Pollutant Export From a North Carolina Beef Cow Pasture

Highlights Exclusion of beef cattle from two streams resulted in significant reductions in nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment exports. Reductions in nutrient and sediment export improved following four or more years of exclusion. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in storm samples decreased more than those in baseflow samples. Abstract. Fences were installed to exclude cattle from two adjacent small streams on a beef and swine farm located in central North Carolina. The two streams, referred to as UTA and North, originated in a pasture used for beef cow production and the application of swine waste. Rainfall and discharge were continuously monitored for 1.34 years prior to and 1.8 years after the fencing was installed in order to quantify the effect of the livestock exclusion on pollutant export/loads in the two streams originating in the pasture. Monitoring results documented reductions in total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), and total suspended solids (TSS) exports via the North stream of 15%, 54%, and 67%, respectively. Monitoring on the UTA stream was restarted 3.7 years after the initial 1.8 years and continued for about 1 year to assess the effect of natural vegetation growth and stream channel soil recovery. The combined reductions for the two periods were 39%, 64%, and 74% for TN, TP, and TSS, respectively. Exports of TN, TP, and TSS during the later monitoring period decreased by 13%, 60%, and 22%, respectively, compared to the initial 1.8-year monitoring period. These results indicated that exclusion fencing was effective at reducing pollutant exports during the first 1.8 years and that its effectiveness increased after about four years. Consequently, studies that report effectiveness during the first 2 to 4 years after exclusion likely underestimate the long-term effectiveness of the exclusion fencing. Keywords: Best management practices, Discharge monitoring, Livestock exclusion.

Efficacy of Mycosorb on Nutrient Retention in Aflatoxicated Broiler Chickens

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of Mycosorb (esterified glucomannan-EGM) on nutrient retention in aflatoxicated broiler chickens. Day-old chicks (n=270, 50±5 g) were divided into 6 treatment groups, containing 45 numbers in each for 6 weeks. A control ration was prepared with conventional feedstuffs and an experimental diet was prepared from this after incorporating aflatoxin B1 @ 300 ppb. From the experimental diet, 3 rations were prepared by mixing EGM at graded levels i.e., 0.025, 0.05, or 0.10 per cent. The control ration was mixed with EGM, @ 0.05 per cent and maintained as a positive control. A balance trial of three days duration in the 6th week was conducted for determination of nutrient retention. There was a significant reduction in dry matter, ether extract, protein, calcium and phosphorus due to aflatoxicosis except on crude fibre. However, the improvement was noticed after the incorporation of Mycosorb. It could be concluded that the maximum benefit of nutrient retention was obtained at the high dose, i.e., 0.10 per cent.

Mesotrophy is not enough: Re-assessing phosphorus objectives for the restoration of a deep Alpine lake (Lake Lugano, Switzerland and Italy)

The restoration of eutrophic lakes requires the identification of phosphorus objectives, i.e., the phosphorus reductions needed to achieve desired water quality goals. Due to inherent uncertainty, phosphorus objectives need periodic revision as the restoration progresses. We used monitoring data from a deep southern Alpine lake (Lake Lugano, Switzerland and Italy) to assess restoration progress and revise the current phosphorus objective of 30 mg m–3. Because one basin of the lake is meromictic (North basin) and the other is holomictic (South basin), restoration focussed on the mixolimnion for the North basin and the entire water column for the South basin. Time series analyses indicated that, thanks to restoration, phosphorus concentrations in the lake declined to values compliant with the objective (~20-30 mg m–3). In contrast, little progress was observed towards achieving the main water quality goals (chlorophyll a ≤4 mg m–3, primary production ≤150 g C m–2 year–1 and oxygen concentrations ≥4 mg L–1). Using predictive models, we estimated that achieving these goals requires a phosphorus objective of &lt;10 mg m–3, which would bring the lake back to the original oligotrophic state. The concentration of &lt;10 mg m–3 is lower than the objectives predicted for other (mainly northern) deep Alpine lakes. The apparent sensitivity of Lake Lugano, which we attribute to unfavorable hydrodynamic conditions common in lakes south of the Alps (weak mixing and long stratification), calls for particularly attentive phosphorus management.

Efficient removal of Phaeocystis globosa from seawater with the persulfate activation by arbutin-modified cellulose nanocrystals

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) from seawater have a severe threat to human health, aquaculture, and coastal nuclear power safety. Thus, it is highly desirable to explore environmentally friendly, efficient, and economic methods for controlling HABs. Herein, the arbutin-modified cellulose nanocrystals (AT-CNC) activated persulfate (PS), as a novel heterogeneous Fenton-like process, was proposed to remove Phaeocystis globosa (P. globosa) from seawater. The AT-CNC was synthesized via the surface modification of AT on CNC. The effects of AT dosage, CNC dosage, and PS dosage on the removal performance of P. globosa were investigated. With the addition of 530 mg/L AT-CNC (6 wt% AT/CNC of AT loading) and 120 mg/L PS, the removal percentage of chlorophyll a (Rc), optical density at 680 nm (Ro) and turbidity (Rt) reached 97.7%, 91.9% and 85.2% at 24 h. According to electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra and radical quenching tests, the predominant free radicals inactivating P. globosa were hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Additionally, the flocculation of the inactivated algae cells by AT-CNC was also critical for removing P. globosa. Moreover, a positive environmental impact was achieved in the AT–CNC–PS system due to the reduction of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon contents. Based on the excellent removal performance for P. globosa, we believe that the AT-CNC activated persulfate is a promising option for HABs control.

Multivariate methods in modelling the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus in deep-bed two-media down-flow sand filters

Abstract Multiple linear regression (MLR) was applied to study the operation and efficiency of simultaneous denitrification with sodium acetate (NaAc) as a carbon and energy source and the chemical precipitation of phosphate with iron salts in a pilot sand filter. Different loads were simulated with the addition of primary settled wastewater (PW) containing suspended solids (SS) and biological SS from the aeration tank. SS from PW partly passed the filter. Biological SS was caught by the filter. The validation of the model showed that phosphorus concentration and chemical oxygen demand reduction were easier to predict correctly than the time of operation of the filter. The reduction of total phosphorus differed between 0.01 and 0.31 mg P/L, and the nitrate concentration in the filtrate differed between 0 and 5.2 mg N/L when comparing the experimental values with the model. Experiments showed filtrate concentrations of 0–0.12 mg PO4-P/L, 3.0–8.8 mg NO3-N/L, and 1.9–34 mg SS/L. The addition of NaAc gave a small increase in the reduction of PO4-P probably because of the assimilation of PO4-P into the denitrifying sludge. The dosage of Fe gave a small decrease in the reduction of NO3-N probably because of PO4-P limitation for denitrifying bacteria, as Fe acts as a precipitation agent upon PO4-P.

Identification of pollutant sources and evaluation of water quality improvement alternatives of a large river.

While pollutants are the most important factors for the deterioration of surface water quality, the identification of major pollutant sources for rivers is challenging, especially in areas with diverse land covers and multiple pollutant inputs. This study aims to identify the significant pollutant sources from the tributaries that are affecting the water quality and identify the limiting nutrient for algal growth in the Geum river to provide a management alternative for an improvement of the water quality. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) was applied for pollutant source identification and apportionment of the two major tributaries, Gab-cheon and Miho-cheon. Positive matrix factorization identifies three and two major pollutant sources for Gab-cheon and Miho-cheon, respectively. For Gab-cheon, wastewater treatment plants, urban, and agricultural pollution are identified as major pollutant sources. Furthermore, for Miho-cheon, agricultural and urban pollution were identified as major pollutant sources. Total phosphorus (TP) is also identified as a limiting nutrient for algal growth in the Geum river. Water quality control scenarios were formulated and improvement of water quality in the river locations was simulated and analyzed with the Environmental Fluid Dynamic Code (EFDC). Scenario results were evaluated using a water quality index. The reduction of total phosphorus (TP) from the tributaries has greatly improved the water quality, especially algal bloom in the downstream stations.

Plant-based default nudges effectively increase the sustainability of catered meals on college campuses: Three randomized controlled trials

BackgroundLiterature suggests limiting consumption of animal products is key to reducing emissions and adverse planetary impacts. However, influencing dietary behavior to achieve planetary health targets remains a formidable problem.ObjectiveWe investigated the effect of changing the default meal option at catered events–from meat to plant-based–on participants' meal choices using three parallel-group, balanced, randomized controlled trials (RCT), and use these experimental results to project differences in plant-based default vs. meat default events on greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs) (kg CO2 − eq), land use (m2), nitrogen (g N), and phosphorus (g P) footprint.MethodsData collection was performed at three catered events (n = 280) across two college campuses. The selected experimental sites used convenience sampling. Events consisted of a graduate orientation, sorority dinner, and academic conference. Eligibility of individual participants included being 18 years or older and an invitation to RSVP for an enrolled event. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the control group received a RSVP form that presented a meat meal as the default catering option; whereas the intervention group received a form that presented a plant-based meal as the default. The primary outcome of interest in each group was the proportion of participants who selected plant-based meals. To explore environmental impacts, we modeled the footprints of four hypothetical meals. Using these meals and RCT results, the impact (GHGE, land use, nitrogen, phosphorus) of two hypothetical 100-person events was calculated and compared.ResultsIn all, participants assigned to the plant-based default were 3.52 (95% CI: [2.44, 5.09]) times more likely to select plant-based meals than those assigned to the meat default. Using these results, a comparison of hypothetical events serving modeled meat-based and plant-based meals showed a reduction of up to 42.3% in GHGEs as well as similar reductions in land use (41.8%), nitrogen (38.9%), and phosphorus (42.7%).ConclusionResults demonstrated plant-based default menu options are effective, providing a low-effort, high-impact way to decrease consumption of animal products in catered events. These interventions can reduce planetary impact while maintaining participant choice.

Thallium Induced Sub-chronic Toxicity Profile in Wistar Rats

Thallium (Tl) is one of the most toxic heavy metals affecting both humans and animals, yet is one of the least studied for its toxicological effects. A total of 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four Groups with 10 rats in each Group. Group I received distilled water only and served as a control. Group II, III, and IV received thallium sulfate (I) at 0.48, 0.93, and 1.33 mg/kg body weight, respectively, in drinking water for 90 days. In Group IV rats, lethargy, dehydration, weakness, mild diarrhea, weight loss and 100% morality in male Wistar rat were noted. Group II and III rats showed significant reduction in cholesterol, phosphorus, triglyceride level, and absolute and relative spleen weight. Microscopically, thallium sulfate (I) found to cause lymphoid depletion in white pulp of spleen in all treatment Groups. In kidney of Group IV rats, tubular necrosis, cytoplasmic vacuolation or clearing of tubules, cast, and thrombosis were found. Dose dependent hyperkeratosis was found in non-glandular stomach in all three treated Groups. In conclusion, spleen, kidney and stomach were primarily affected organs in sub-chronic thallium toxicity.

Effect of a strong reduction of calcium and phosphorus in broilers diets on their zootechnical performances

Effect of a strong reduction of calcium and phosphorus in broilers diets on their zootechnical performances

Short-term biochemical and anthropometric effects of nutritional education for serum phosphorus control in hemodialysis patients

Background Hyperphosphatemia is a frequently encountered and difficult-to-manage problem in hemodialysis (HD) patients and is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study was carried out to explore the effect of nutritional education on the serum phosphorus level in HD patients. Patients and methods This open-label, single-center randomized controlled trial involved 100 HD patients. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the education group underwent a 12-week nutritional education program, whereas the control group received standard treatment. Nutritional education was provided by a trained renal dietitian in the form of educational sessions, brochures, audiovisual teaching aids, and patient-tailored dietary recommendations. Detailed nutritional and laboratory tests were done before randomization and 3 weeks after the end of the study. Results Serum phosphorus level and calcium–phosphorus product were significantly lower among the education group (P=0.02 and 0.04, respectively) with a percent reduction of serum phosphorus of -13.8 ± 21.41 after nutritional education. Nutritional education (B: -0.57, 95% confidence interval: -1.13 to -0.01, P=0.04) and the dietary protein intake (B: -0.47, 95% confidence interval: -0.94 to -0.003, P=0.04) were the predictors of serum phosphorus level at the end of the study. Three weeks after termination, BMI, waist circumference, and malnutrition inflammation score were lower (P=0.04, 0.04 and 0.02, respectively), whereas midarm muscle circumference was higher (P=0.004) among the education group. Conclusion Nutritional education can help in controlling the serum phosphorus level in HD patients without causing derangements in the nutritional status and should be provided in each HD unit.