Ppm Iron Research Articles

Iron-doped diesel exhaust early-in-life inhalation-induced cardiopulmonary toxicity in chicken embryo: Roles of ferroptosis and Acyl hydrocarbon signaling

Diesel exhaust (DE) is a major contributor to air pollution. Iron-doping could improve diesel burning efficacy and decrease emission, however, it will also change the composition of DE, potentially enhancing the toxicities. This study is aimed to assess iron-doped DE-induced cardiopulmonary toxicity in an established in ovo early-in-life inhalation exposure chicken embryo model, and to explore potential mechanisms. Ferrocene (205, 410, 820 ,1640 mg/L, equivalent to 75, 150, 300, 600 ppm iron mass) was added to diesel fuel, DE was collected from a diesel generator, and then exposed to embryonic day 18-19 chicken embryo via in ovo inhalation. Hatched chickens were kept for 0, 1, or 3 months, and then sacrificed. Histopathology, electrocardiography along with biochemical methods were used to assess cardiopulmonary toxicities. For mechanistic investigation, inhibitor for ferroptosis (ferrostatin-1) or Acyl hydrocarbon receptor (PDM2) were administered before DE (with or without iron-doping), and the cardiopulmonary toxicities were compared. Characterization of DE particles indicated that addition of ferrocene significantly elevated iron content. Additionally, the contents of major toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons decreased following addition of 820 mg/L ferrocene, but increased at other doses. Remarkable cardiopulmonary toxicities, in the manifestation of elevated heart rates, cardiac remodeling and cardiac / pulmonary fibrosis were observed in animals exposed to iron-doped DEs, in which the addition of ferrocene significantly enhanced the toxicities. Both ferrostatin-1 and PDM2 pretreatment could effectively alleviate the observed effects in animals exposed to iron-doped DE. Inhibition of AhR signaling seems to be capable of alleviating changes to ferroptosis related molecules following exposure to iron-doped DE, while inhibition of ferroptosis does not seem to affect AhR signaling molecules. In summary, iron-doping with ferrocene to diesel enhanced DE-induced cardiopulmonary toxicities in chicken embryos. Ferroptosis and AhR signaling both seem to participate in this process, in which AhR signaling seems to affect ferroptosis.

Physicochemical characterization and determination of trace metals in different edible fats and oils in Bangladesh: Nexus to human health

The study assessed the quality of four different edible fats and oils using standard analytical techniques. The presence of potentially toxic elements was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. This study reveals that edible oils function admirably in terms of physical traits such as moisture content, boiling point, melting point, density, and specific gravity. Some edible fats and oils exceeded the standard limit of moisture, acid value, and peroxide value and these values were found in the range of 0.120–0.760 %, 0.220–2.45 mg KOH/g, and 1.23–21.7 meq/kg respectively. The iodine value for fats showed satisfactory results but for oils observed lower than the standard value varied from 68.2 to 104 g/100 g. The results of saponification value for most of the oils and fats were found satisfactory but others were lower than recommended limits and detected results were in the range of 167–224 mg KOH/g. Trace metals viz. Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Cu, and Co were measured in all samples and the concentration ranged from 0.070 to 47.0, 0.120–2.44, 0.540–27.1, 0.030–1.87, 0.010–4.63 and 0.060–8.39 ppm for iron, manganese, nickel, lead, copper, and cobalt respectively. The study found high levels of Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, and Co in edible fats and oils in Bangladesh. No Cd was found, and Pb was not present in over half of the samples, which included the majority of mustard oils. The levels of Fe and Ni were higher than advised, but there was no discernible toxicological danger from Cd or Pb. The results of the health risk assessment indicated that there was no risk to children's health and possible hazards to adults' health.

Effect of Heavy Metal Phytoremediation on Phytochemical Fingerprint and Bioactivity of Pistia stratiotes: A Quest for Re-routing Disposal to Commercial Application

Phytoremediation is one of the non-energy consuming processes of remediating polluted water. However, the disposal of post-remediated plants poses a threat of the re-introduction of pollutants back into the ecosystem. Re-routing remediated pollutants for commercial application could be one way to reduce the re-introduction of pollutants in an ecosystem. Heavy metal pollution in water bodies is one issue, which can be mitigated to an extent with phytoremediation. In the current study, the effect of heavy metal phytoremediation on the phytochemical fingerprint and bioactivity of Pistia stratiotes L. was investigated. Pistia stratiotes L. was subjected to different concentrations of iron (Fe) and lead (Pb), in the range of 5-20 ppm. Different parameters such as heavy metal estimation (in plants and water post-treatment), thin layer chromatography (TLC), antioxidant activity, and antiurolithic activity were measured. Post remediation, heavy metal concentration was found to be comparatively higher in roots (16.515 ± 0.008 mg.g-1 and 5.25 ± 0.086 mg.g-1 when treated with 15 ppm iron and lead respectively). TLC revealed differences between the fingerprints of treated and untreated plants. Some bands increased in intensity as the concentration of heavy metal increased, while some bands which were present in untreated, were absent in treated plant samples. Antioxidant activity of treated plants shows lesser IC50 values, compared to untreated, in that, treated leaves show better activity (IC50 = 1.8 ± 0.5220 mg.mL-1 of leaf treated with 2 ppm iron as opposed to IC50 > 5 mg.mL-1 of untreated leaf extract). The treated plants revealed good antiurolithic activity compared to untreated, in that, the percentage inhibition showed by Iron treated leaves and roots was better (96.87% and 98.95% exhibited by iron-10 ppm treated leaves and roots respectively), while the untreated showed a maximum of only 68.75% inhibition. The results suggest that the bioactivity of the plant extracts increases post-remediation. Potential applications of these extracts can be explored such as nanoparticle synthesis, drug discovery, etc.

Role of iron oxide nanoparticles in maize (Zea mays L.) to enhance salinity stress tolerance

Soils have been getting worse over time, which has led to lower crop yields and nutritional value. This is because of too many conventional fertilizers, anthropogenic activities, and climate change. Soil salinity is also a big problem and challenge for agricultural scientists. To address this issue, nanoparticles are gaining a reputation in agriculture that can enhance salinity tolerance in crops, especially at early growth stages. A pot experiment was conducted at Post Agricultural Research Station (PARS), Faisalabad to assess the impact of iron oxide nanoparticles (0, 15, and 30 ppm) and four levels of salinity (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM) on morphological, physiological and yield traits of maize (Zea mays L.) in salinity stress. Salinity stress significantly negatively affected the growth attributes, photosynthetic pigments, ion content (Na+, K+, and Ca2+) of maize plants. Salinity has also increased the levels of MDA, H2O2, and Na+ ions. The application of iron oxide nanoparticles through foliar spray had a notable impact in enhancing the growth and yield of the tested maize variety. It was achieved by promoting the activities of antioxidant enzymes, increasing photosynthetic pigments, and elevating K+ and Ca2+ ion levels under both normal and salinity-stressed conditions. Additionally, iron oxide nanoparticles mitigated the adverse effects of salinity stress by effectively reducing Na+ ion concentration, MDA levels, and H2O2 concentration. Among the different concentrations tested, 30 ppm of iron oxide nanoparticles proved best in alleviating the negative impacts of salinity stress in maize. Thus, field use of 30 ppm iron oxide nanoparticles as foliar spray could effectively mitigate salinity stress in maize.

The Role of Iron Impurities on Nickel Cathodes for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER)

Over the last decades, several studies have reported the effect of traces of iron species on the improvement of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics for nickel-based anode materials in alkaline media. [1] However, the effect of iron impurities on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is still a subject to debate. For instance, at low iron concentrations (0.03 – 0.5 ppm) a loss of the HER activity for Ni surface is observed due to the electrochemical deposition of less active Fe. [2,3] Other studies showed less deactivation behavior of the Ni cathode at 3 and 14 ppm iron ion concentration over time. [2,4] This improvement of the lifetime of the Ni electrode in the presence of iron cations is very likely related to the increased surface roughness by Fe electrodeposition and thereby the decrease in the formation of inactive NiH species. [2] Systematic investigations on Fe sputtered Ni surfaces with different coverages showed that ≥ 60% of Fe coverage stabilizes the Ni cathode by preventing hydrogen diffusion through the Ni lattice at constant current density of -100 mA cm-2. [5] Generally, the role of Fe impurities on the HER activity for nickel cathode surface in alkaline environments is still unclear to date.In this work, we comprehensively evaluated the influence of the iron ion concentration on the long-term HER performance for a polycrystalline Ni electrode by using rotating disc electrode (RDE) setup. The changes in HER activity as a function of the iron ion concentration was correlated with resulting surface roughness and layer thickness/coverage of the electrodeposited iron. Highly purified 0.1 M KOH was used as basic electrolyte solution and mixed with iron ion concentrations in the range of <1, 6 and 14 ppm. The initial HER activity on the Ni surface is unchanged irrespective of the iron ion concentration added into the electrolyte. However, at iron ion concentrations of <1 ppm and 6 ppm, the chronopotentiometric (CP) experiments at -10 mA cm-2 for 24 hours show a potential drop of ~70 mV and ~53 mV, respectively, resulting in a deactivation of the Ni surface by forming NiH species. Very interestingly, high iron ion concentrations (e.g. ~14 ppm) lead to an almost constant potential (~ 1 - 7 mV drop) during the CP experiment, by reducing the formation of inactive NiH. The electrochemically treated Ni electrodes were then characterized by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy in combination of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The SEM micrographs show iron particles electrodeposited uniformly on the polycrystalline Ni surface after the CP experiments with < 1, 6 and 14 ppm of iron ion concentrations in 0.1 M KOH. The analysis of the EDX maps reveals a coverage of 17, 54 and 58 % on the Ni surface at iron ion concentrations of < 1, 6 and 14 ppm, respectively. Obviously, iron ion concentrations of 6 and 14 pm show very similar coverages on the Ni surface, indicating their minor role on the HER activity. We suggest that during the HER the hydrogen bubbles suppress the formation of a dense and complete iron layer on the Ni electrode surface. The spatial distribution and thickness of the electrodeposited Fe particles were also evaluated after 1 h and 24 h of CP experiments with < 1, 6 and 14 ppm iron ion concentrations by using micro-XRF equipped with a polycapillary lens of 20 µm. Thicker iron layers after 24 hours are formed at high iron ion concentrations, preventing the hydrogen diffusion into Ni lattice to form inactive NiH species and to maintain the HER activity over time under alkaline conditions.In summary, we show that traces of iron impurities have a huge impact on the long-term durability of polycrystalline Ni electrodes for HER in alkaline environments. A critical iron ion concentration is required to suppress the formation of inactive NiH species during the HER at -10 mA cm-2 for 24 h and/or to electrodeposite enough iron for maintaining the HER kinetics on the polycrystalline Ni electrodes in alkaline environments.

Cold Hydraulic Extraction Optimization and Characterization of Balanites aegyptiaca and Ceiba pentandra Seed Oils

Non-edible vegetable oils have a huge potential for many industrial applications. Most of them are expressed by mechanical pressing, but data on the different operating conditions to achieve optimal extraction yields and high-quality oil are scarce. Hence, the objective of this study was to optimize key hydraulic extraction parameters at ambient temperature (25 °C) of &lt;em&gt;Balanites aegyptiaca&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Ceiba pentandra&lt;/em&gt; oils by increasing the oil recovery. Optimal holding time, applied pressure, compression speed, and press cage charge were determined for whole and crushed oleaginous material. The results indicate that the &lt;em&gt;B.aegyptiaca &lt;/em&gt;kernels and &lt;em&gt;C.pentandra&lt;/em&gt; seeds contained 2.7 and 5.7% moisture, as well as 46.3 and 26.2% fat, respectively. Under the optimal operating conditions, the oil recovery (wt.%. d.b.) from whole (crushed) material was 73.4 (69.8) &lt;em&gt;B.aegyptiaca &lt;/em&gt;kernels and 38.2 (41.2) &lt;em&gt;C.pentandra&lt;/em&gt; seeds.&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;The extracted oils have a high content of unsaturated fatty acids including of about 74 wt.% for &lt;em&gt;B. aegyptiaca&lt;/em&gt; and 69 wt.% for &lt;em&gt;C.pentandra&lt;/em&gt;. They were particularly rich in linoleic ω-6 acid, 45.32 and 38.77 wt.%, respectively. The chemical characteristics of cold-extracted &lt;em&gt;B. aegyptiaca&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;C.pentandra&lt;/em&gt; oils were 10 and 20 ppm phosphorus, 2.8 and 3.5 ppm iron, 0.0 ppm copper, 0.06 and 0.1% water-volatile matter, respectively. These valuable material properties make the &lt;em&gt;B.aegyptiaca&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;C.pentandra&lt;/em&gt; oils an ecological and renewable resource for multipurpose applications.

The influence of the main elemental constituents of thousand year old barai mud extension of shades of natural dyed silk from marigold flowers

This research aimed (1) to study the main element of thousand year old mud and types of color-giving substances from marigold flowers and (2) to study the causes of silk color change from dark yellow to dark green at Bankhokmuang, Chorakhemark Sub-district, Prakhonchai District, Buriram Province. Firstly, the researcher studied the element of the mud from Barai Prasat Muang Tam and Barai Kuti Ruesi, using EDXRF. Secondly, the researcher studied types of phytochemicals in marigold extract using HCl solution and NaOH solution. Finally, the researcher dyed the silk with marigold flower extract mixed with alum and dyed it with iron ion solution and the mud solution from both sources. The results showed that both muds had the highest amount of Fe2O3, 64.03% of Barai Prasat Muang Tam mud and 44.22% of Barai Kuti Ruesi mud. The coloring substance of marigold extract was flavonoids and had good water solubility. Then the researcher dyed the silk with marigold flower extract mixed with alum because alum contained Al3+ions. The silk was dark yellow. The silk was divided into three groups to be dyed again. The first group was dyed with 1,000 ppm iron ion solution. The second group was dyed with a solution of Barai Prasat Muang Tam mud. The third group was dyed with a solution of Barai Kuti Ruesi mud. All group color changed from dark yellow to dark green. Thus, iron ion solution and both of Barai mud solution were rich in iron ion. This complex compound could form with flavonoids which made golden yellow color turns dark green and sticks to silk threads. It was also water insolubility. The color was not faded. All groups had different shade values at the significance level of 0.05. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT HIGHLIGHTS Study the main element of thousand year old mud Study area at at Bankhokmuang, Chorakhemark Sub-district, Prakhonchai District, Buriram Province. Causes the color of the silk thread to change from yellow to dark green

Optimization of formulation and processing conditions for the production of functional noodles containing orange-fleshed sweet potatoes and biofortified beans.

The global demand for noodles continues to increase due to their convenience, wide appeal, and affordability. Instant noodles, in particular, are popular for their easy preparation. With annual consumption reaching 106 billion servings in 2019, there is a growing awareness of the importance of healthy food options. However, most noodle types currently available commercially are of low nutritional value. This study sought to develop a protocol for the production of functional noodles consisting of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) puree and biofortified bean powder (BBP). Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize product formulation and processing parameters. Reduced quartic models were found to adequately represent the relationship between dependent variables (hardness, moisture, protein, dietary fiber, iron, and zinc content) and independent variables (dough thickness, drying temperature, and drying time). R 2 values were 0.86-0.99, with a nonsignificant lack-of-fit (p < .05). Using numerical optimization, the optimal protocol for the production of functional noodles was determined to include formulation consisting of wheat 73%, OFSP 21.5%, and BBP 5.5%; dough thickness of 2.0 mm; drying temperature and time of 80.0°C and 143.4 min, respectively. These conditions yielded noodles with 5.9% moisture, 11.0 N hardness, 34.5% protein, 11.9% dietary fiber, 86.9 ppm (parts per million) iron, and 50.53 ppm zinc, with a desirability value of 0.82. Experimental validation demonstrated no significant difference from predicted values. Sensory evaluation rated the noodles as acceptable to consumers, with an overall acceptability of 7.8 on a 9-point hedonic scale. These results show the potential of OFSP and BBP as ingredients for acceptable and nutrient-rich noodles.

Assessment of iron content of cooking water on bulgur by determining chemical, mineral, colour, textural and thermal characteristics.

Bulgur, a whole wheat product, has attracted attention in the world in recent years because of its wide usage possibility in different meals. The basic ingredients in bulgur production are wheat and water. The influence of water composition on bulgur quality has not been investigated. Iron in water can cause discolouration in foods by oxidizing and reacting with phenolic compounds and also by hardening the structure of the foods. Therefore, in the present study, the effects of the iron content of water on the quality of bulgur were examined. The effect of the amount of iron in water on bulgur quality was carried out and examined using water containing iron at three different levels (0, 1 and 2 ppm). Using water containing 2 ppm iron in bulgur production caused a decrease in the L* value and an increase in the YI (i.e. yellowness index), thus negatively affecting the colour of the bulgur. In bulgur prepared with water containing 2 ppm iron, the antioxidant activity was also dramatically reduced. The iron content in the water used in bulgur production did not have a negative effect on bulgur quality up to 2 ppm. The protein, ash, phenolic and mineral amounts and textural characteristics of bulgur were not affected by the concentration of iron in the water. As a result, high iron concentration in cooking water negatively affects bulgur's colour and antioxidant activity. Therefore, it is recommended to use iron-free water in bulgur production. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Health Risk Assessment of Heavy and Trace Metals in Personal Care Products in Nigeria

Heavy metal poisoning is linked to disorders like cancer, endocrine disruption, and kidney dysfunction due to prolonged exposure to environmental pollutants. This study assesses heavy and trace metal levels in cosmetic products sold in Nigeria, including eye shadow, face powder, foundation, henna, eyeliner, and lipsticks. Using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), concentrations of heavy metals (mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead, nickel) and trace metals (iron, chromium, zinc) were determined. A health risk assessment based on the Margin of Safety (MoS), calculated from systemic exposure dosage (SED) and No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL), was conducted. Face powders and eyeliners showed concerning iron and lead levels, with MoS values indicating potential health risks from prolonged use. The highest heavy metal concentration (262.850 ppm of iron) was found in henna, while the lowest (0.001 ppm) was observed in various products. The findings highlight the need for stricter regulatory oversight to mitigate these risks.

Feasibility of Bioremediation of Iron-Contaminated Water Using Trichonephila Clavipes Spider Webs

Heavy metals are of great environmental and sanitary importance due to the toxicity they generate; therefore, a wide variety of methods for elimination in water has been studied. One of the approaches employed is bioremediation, which involves the use of biomass (microorganisms or plants), living plants (phytoremediation), or biomaterials to eliminate these elements. In this study, we investigated the technical feasibility of using the Trichonephila clavipes spider web as a biomaterial for iron removal from water by bioremediation. A bibliometric analysis was carried out, where the process variables and experimental design were defined using the Response Surface Methodology, and the iron concentrations were measured before and after the experiment using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy by dispersive energy. The model predicted an iron removal of 91.82% using 28.09 hr, 81.42 ppm of iron, and 0.062 g of spider web, with a relative error of 0.043 of the true value. This work is novel and presents a new methodology for the bioremediation of water contaminated with iron using spider webs. The results indicate a high efficiency in the removal of iron, which could have important implications in solving environmental and health problems associated with the presence of heavy metals in water.

Moderate Iron Deficiency Does Not Potentiate Renal or Cardiac Calcification and Subsequent Tissue Injury in Mouse Models of CKD

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health challenge that affects over 26 million Americans and many more worldwide. Many develop renal and cardiac calcification, which promotes arterial wall stiffness. These structural changes of the vasculature contribute to hypertension and heart failure, increasing the risk of premature death. Dysregulated iron homeostasis also occurs in many patients with CKD, and iron deficiency and anemia are common complications that are independently associated with CKD progression, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Furthermore, lower transferrin saturation (TSAT) levels are independently associated with higher coronary artery calcification scores in CKD patients receiving hemodialysis. However, whether iron deficiency and/or anemia directly contribute to the pathogenesis of calcification in CKD is unknown. We examined the effects of iron deficiency on renal and cardiac calcification, and tissue injury in mouse models of CKD. We used a dietary model of progressive CKD: 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed for 8 weeks a customized 0.2% adenine-rich diet that was either iron-replete (100 ppm iron; “adenine-IR” group) or iron-deficient (4 ppm iron, “adenine-ID” group). Control mice were fed a diet without adenine, but with matching iron content (iron-replete “CTRL-IR” and iron-deficient “CTRL-ID” groups). Compared to CTRL-IR mice, CTRL-ID mice developed widespread tissue iron deficiency and anemia as expected. Surprisingly, despite 8 weeks of low iron diet which led to lower serum iron and worse anemia, adenine-ID mice had similarly high liver iron as adenine-IR mice, similar expression of transferrin receptor 1 (marker of tissue iron deficiency) in kidney or heart, and similarly elevated liver hepcidin mRNA. This suggests that hepcidin induction in this CKD model likely protected tissues from iron depletion, at least on the time scale of the experiment. Calcification in adenine mice was evident but was similar between adenine-ID and adenine-IR mice, as observed by the comparable expression of calcification markers in kidney and heart ( Runx2, Sox9, Opn). Additionally, markers of kidney function (BUN and serum creatinine), kidney injury ( Kim1, Lcn2) and cardiac injury( Myh7) were also comparable between adenine-ID and adenine-IR mice. Inflammation and fibrosis were increased in kidney and heart of adenine mice in general, but once again similar between adenine-ID and adenine-IR mice (serum IL-6, Tnfa, Tgfb Col1a1). We then employed a genetic model of progressive CKD ‒ constitutive Col4a3 −/−mice (Alport syndrome, life expectancy in this model ~11 weeks of age), and fed male mice either an IR or ID diet for 7 weeks. Diets were started in juvenile mice (4-week-old), a strategy known to exacerbate the effect of ID diet on tissue iron deficiency and anemia. Despite this, Alport-ID and Alport-IR mice still displayed similar liver iron levels and liver hepcidin expression. Alport-IR and -ID groups also had comparable renal and cardiac calcification, injury, inflammation and fibrosis. Altogether, our findings in two different mouse models of CKD indicate that moderate iron deficiency does not potentiate renal or cardiac calcification and subsequent tissue injury. Our data suggest that despite causing hypoferremia and anemia, chronically elevated hepcidin in CKD might delay the development of tissue iron deficiency in the liver, kidney and heart, and potentially protect against deleterious vascular changes and subsequent tissue injury.

Crosslinked hydrogel loaded with chitosan-supported iron oxide and silver nanoparticles as burn wound dressing

Burns can result in infection, disability, psychosocial and economic issues. Advanced wound dressings like hydrogel absorb exudate and maintain moisture. Considering the antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles and iron oxide nanoparticles, the efficiency of cross-linked hydrogel loaded with chitosan-supported iron oxide and silver nanoparticles for burn wounds repair was investigated in animal model. Cellulose hydrogel dressing made from carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose crosslinked with different concentrations of citric acid (10, 15, 20, and 30%) was produced. The physicochemical characteristics of the synthetized hydrogels including Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Thermal behavior, Swelling properties, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were evaluated. The silver nanoparticles and iron nanoparticles were produced and the characteristics, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial activities and their synergistic effect were investigated. After adding nanoparticles to hydrogels, the effects of the prepared wound dressings were investigated in a 14-day animal model of burn wound. The results showed that the mixture comprising 12.5 ppm AgNps, and IONPs at a concentration ≤100 ppm was non-cytotoxic. Moreover, the formulations with 20% CA had a swelling ratio of almost 250, 340, and 500 g/g at pHs of 5, 6.2, and 7.4 after one hour, which are lower than those of formulations with 5 and 10% CA. The total mass loss (59.31%) and the exothermic degradation happened in the range of 273–335 °C and its T m was observed at 318.52 °C for hydrogels with 20% CA. Thus, the dressing comprising 20% CA which was loaded with 12.5 ppm silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and 100 ppm iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) indicated better physicochemical, microbial and non-cytotoxic characteristics, and accelerated the process of wound healing after 14 days. It was concluded that the crosslinked hydrogel loaded with 12.5 ppm AgNPs and 100 ppm IONPs possesses great wound healing activity and could be regarded as an effective topical burn wound healing treatment.

Oxidation of an Azo-Dye via the Photo-Fenton Process under Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Conditions

In today’s industries, a diversity of processes give rise to increasing numbers of non-biodegradable compounds that need to be degraded totally or transformed to other less toxic and/or more biodegradable compounds, before their discharge into the environment. One such compound chosen for this study is Orange II, a representative azo-dye that is widely used and easy to monitor in its degradation. The photo-Fenton process was used under heterogeneous and homogeneous conditions to study several different variables. At the end of this research, a comparative study was carried out between the two types of catalysis. It was observed that better results in primary degradation and mineralization were provided by homogeneous catalysis. The photo-Fenton process takes place effectively under heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis conditions. The process is much faster under homogeneous conditions than under heterogeneous conditions (99.9 and 24% after 90 min, respectively, especially when only 2 ppm of iron in solution is required). Mineralization was observed through total organic carbon, through the variable C/Co as a function of time during photo-Fenton and Orange II degradation, and the data obtained for the final oxidation capacity are in agreement with the experimental percentages of mineralization. A linear fit was observed using the Chan–Chu kinetic model for heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis. For heterogeneous catalysis, 56% mineralization was reached whereas the model predicts 63%. Regarding homogeneous catalysis, according to the model, 100% mineralization is reached because (1/σ) takes a value greater than 1 since the model calculates it on infinite time.

Examining Soil Erodibility, Soil pH, and Heavy Metal Accumulation in a Nickel Ore Mine: A Case Study in Tubay, Agusan del Norte, Philippines

Mining activity always presents threats to soil and water pollution. As an extractive industry, it disturbs the ground and the biodiversity associated with soil and plants. Its operations have led to severe geological and environmental problems, including the depletion of land and water resources, geological dangers, and ecological landscape devastation that may have accelerated the desertification of mining areas. This case study analyzed the soil’s physical and chemical properties in a nickel laterite mine, including soil erodibility K factor, soil pH, and heavy metal accumulation, as a basis for establishing mine management protocol during and post-mining operations in Tubay, Agusan del Norte, Philippines. Results determined a slightly alkaline pH level. An estimate of soil erodibility ranging from 0.016 to 0.066 was determined using the USLE-K factor, with the highest erodibility at Mine 7, where % silt is high and % sand is lowest. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy was used to analyze soil samples. The findings show that Ni, Fe, Co, and Mn in the soil were above the WHO-permitted limits. The surface soil had mean values of 9,239 ppm for nickel, 302,618 ppm for iron, 639 ppm for cobalt, and 5,203 for manganese. Heavy metals in soil may be consumed by crops and pollute land and water.

Assessment of Foliar Spray of Iron and Salicylic Acid under Artificial Magnetism on Various Metabolites of Pisum sativum

Evaluating the impact of foliar treatment of (SA) salicylic acid and iron (Fe) on plants with the treatment of artificial magnetism is very essential to understand its effects on germination and growth of Pisum sativum. The current research was designed to document the primary role of SA and Fe on matore variety of garden pea. Selected specie was given various geo and artificial magnetic treatments. Hence, a pot experimentation was designed using Completely Randomized Design under factorial with three replicates. Seeds were sown in pots having different geo and artificial magnetism treatments. Later, fifteen days of germination, pea plants were foliarly sprayed with 250 μM salicylic acid and 250 ppm iron. Furthermore, later twenty days of foliar supplementation seedlings were uprooted/harvested and taken to lab to analyze different bio-chemical attributes. Data annotate diverse variations in Matore variety among various magnetism treatments. Artificial magnetic treatments combined with foliarly supplementation of salicylic acid and iron significantly improved tannin content, ascorbic acid as well as phytic acid in pea plants. Thus, foliar supplementation based on this current research findings may be proposed for improved development and growth of plants in combination with magnetism.

Hydraulic pressing optimization and physicochemical characterization of Jatropha curcas seed oil

&lt;em&gt;Jatropha curcas&lt;/em&gt; seed oil can be used for numerous purposes including fuel, soap and cosmetics. Better quality oil is obtained by cold pressing, the effectiveness of which is unfortunately limited by a low extraction rate. The objective of this study was to optimize cold hydraulic extraction parameters of &lt;em&gt;Jatropha curcas&lt;/em&gt; seed oil by increasing the oil recovery and characterising the extracted oil. The key extraction parameters (dwell time, pressure, compression speed, and press cage charge) were determined using a laboratory hydraulic press. The results show that the unhulled and dehulled seeds contained 5.1 and 2.9% moisture, as well as 33.6 and 51.7% fat, respectively. Under the optimal operating conditions and at ambient temperature (25 °C), the oil recovery from whole (crushed) material was 38.2 (42.5)% unhulled seeds and 71.3 (69.5)% dehulled seeds. The physicochemical characteristics of cold-extracted Jatropha oil were 10ppm phosphorus, 1.9 ppm iron, 0.0 ppm copper, 0.15% water-volatile matter, 0.918 (15 °C) density, and 37.72 cSt (37.8 °C) kinematic viscosity, respectively. In conclusion, the optimized cold hydraulic extraction of jatropha seed oil leads to high oil recovery and good oil quality suitable for industrial applications.

Dietary Iron Restriction Alters Microbiota-Host Crosstalk and Protects Against Vaso-Occlusion and Organ Damage in Sickle Cell Disease Mice

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most commonly inherited monogenic hemoglobinopathy and results from a mutation in the β-globin gene (HbS), leading to red blood cell (RBC) sickling, vaso-occlusive episodes (VOE), and organ damage. Chronic hemolysis, inflammation, and repeated red blood cell transfusions in SCD can disrupt iron homeostasis. Patients who receive multiple blood transfusions develop iron-overload, and another subpopulation of SCD patients manifest iron deficiency. SCD mice exhibit increased iron absorption via upregulation of the intestinal transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-2a(HIF-2a) leading to the development of iron overload. Disruption of intestinal HIF-2a or limiting iron intake by dietary iron restriction in SCD mice, significantly reduced systemic iron overload, lowered cellular sickle hemoglobin, and consequently improved hemolysis and ameliorated anemia. Our lab previously demonstrated that microbial signals from the gut also participated in initiation of VOE and organ damage in SCD mice. To elucidate connections between dietary iron, the microbiota-gut axis, and SCD pathogenesis, we hypothesize that dietary iron restriction may reduce microbiota load and gut permeability, and contributes to amelioration of acute and chronic complications in SCD mice. Methods: SCD mice were generated by transplanting bone marrow cells from Berkeley SCD (Tg[Hu-miniLCRα1GγAγδβS]Hba−/− Hbb−/−) mice into 8-week old, lethally-irradiated C57BL/6J mice. Immediately after transplantation, SCD mice were fed either a regular-iron diet (Ctrl) containing 185 parts per million (ppm) iron or an otherwise identical iron-restricted diet (IRD) containing 3 ppm iron. VOE and organ damage analysis were conducted 3-4 months after treatments. Results: IRD resulted in a reduced organ iron concentration in SCD compared to Ctrl group(0.6±0.1 v.s. 4.0±0.7ug iron/mg liver tissue; P=0.001), confirming that dietary iron restriction reverses organ iron deposition in SCD mice. SCD mice treated with IRD exhibited reduced MCHC (19.7±0.3 v.s. 20.1±0.2 pg; P=0.006) and serum indirect bilirubin (0.4±0.04 v.s. 0.7±0.07 mg/dL; P=0.001) indicating a decrease in cellular sickle hemoglobin and hemolysis. Furthermore, IRD reduced the fraction of aged neutrophils by >50% in SCD mice which corresponded with improved VOE parameters (RBC velocity: 2.0±0.2 v.s. 1.6±0.1mm/s; P=0.01; blood flow rate: 314±33 v.s. 230±13pL/s; P=0.01; leukocyte adhesion: 10±1 v.s. 14±1cells/100um vein; P=0.01; IRD v.s. Ctrl). Importantly, IRD led to prolonged survival after TNF-a challenge in SCD mice (Fig1). IRD resulted in a dramatic reduction in lung leukocyte infiltration, indicating significantly reduced lung inflammation in SCD mice (Fig2A). Compared to Ctrl liver samples, IRD resulted in significantly less liver necrosis, leukocyte infiltration and fibrosis (Fig2B). We further hypothesized that, in addition to reducing iron concentration in organs, IRD ameliorates organ damage by preventing translocation of microbial compounds. Microbiota load in IRD treated SCD mice were decreased to 25% of Ctrl level. IRD inhibited translocation of FITC-Dextran by 5-fold compared to Ctrl suggesting functionally improved gut permeability. We detected significantly decreased TLR2 ligands in serum of IRD compared to Ctrl mice (0.31±0.04 v.s. 0.46±0.05 TLR2 ligand activities O.D. 650nm; P=0.04) suggesting ligands from gram-positive bacteria (TLR2 agonists) may play a role in triggering SCD complications. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates first time that dietary iron restriction reduces VOE severity and alleviates chronic organ damage in SCD mice. These findings provide strong evidence for the therapeutic potential of manipulating iron homeostasis and the gut microbiome to ameliorate SCD pathophysiology. Many treatments under development focus on lowering the systemic iron concentration to relieve disease complications, and our data suggest that iron-induced changes in microbiota load and gut integrity are related and novel therapeutic targets. Figure 1View largeDownload PPTFigure 1View largeDownload PPT Close modal

ALK2 Inhibition and a Modified Activin Receptor Type Iia Ligand Trap Cotherapy Maximized Hematologic Improvements in a Mouse Model of Anemia of Inflammation

Introduction: Anemia of inflammation (AI) is commonly seen in patients with chronic diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). Current therapeutic options to mitigate anemia in AI include treating the underlying inflammatory disease, oral or intravenous iron supplementation, erythropoietin, and blood transfusions. The persistent release of inflammatory cytokines in AI not only induces the iron regulator hepcidin to inhibit iron absorption and recycling, but also directly impacts the marrow to suppress erythropoiesis, further worsening the ineffective, iron-restricted erythropoiesis. Therefore, targeting both iron and erythropoiesis could comprehensively address anemia in AI. We previously showed that ALK2 inhibition was sufficient to reduce serum hepcidin and improve hemoglobin in a CKD mouse model. We also demonstrated that a modified activin receptor IIA ligand trap RKER-050 increased hemoglobin and red blood cell production by promoting erythroid differentiation in mice. Here, we explored the potential of additive improvements in hematologic parameters that could be achieved with a combination of hepcidin suppression by ALK2 inhibition and increased hematopoiesis with RKER-050 in a mouse model of AI. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were fed a control or 0.2% adenine with 40 ppm iron diet (Ade 40) for 5 weeks to induce CKD. After confirming anemia, CKD mice were subcutaneously treated with 3 mg/kg isotype control or KTI-m216, a neutralizing antibody against ALK2, twice a week for 4 weeks while continuing the Ade 40 diet or switching to a 0.2% adenine with 3 ppm low iron diet (Ade 3). Combination therapy was evaluated in CKD mice on Ade 40 diet receiving biweekly isotype or KTI-m216 and also received either weekly PBS or 7.5 mg/kg RKER-050 intraperitoneally for 4 weeks. Results: CKD mice developed impaired kidney function and characteristics of AI, including increased serum IL-6 and hepcidin, hypoferremia, tissue iron retention, and anemia compared to control mice. Serum hepcidin was reduced >95% in KTI-m216 treated mice on both Ade diets compared to mice receiving isotype control (CKD control). Transferrin saturation (TSAT) increased 65% in KTI-m216 treated mice on Ade 40 diet, with a similar trend in mice on Ade 3 diet. When compared to CKD control of the same diet, KTI-m216 treated mice had similar hematologic improvements: hemoglobin (+2.2 g/dL), hematocrit (+5.4%), red blood cells (+1.1 M/μl), and reticulocyte hemoglobin (CHr, +1.8 pg). These data support that increased circulating iron by KTI-m216 mediated hepcidin suppression can increase erythropoiesis in CKD mice. Data also suggest that dietary iron contribution is negligible in supporting erythropoiesis in this context. With combination therapy, mice receiving KTI-m216 alone (KTI-m216 and PBS) and a combined KTI-m216 and RKER-050 therapy had a similar reduction in serum hepcidin (>91%) and a similar increase in TSAT (>1.7-fold), compared to mice receiving vehicle (isotype and PBS) controls. Mice treated with KTI-m216 alone increased hemoglobin to 11.4 g/dL compared to vehicle treated mice with hemoglobin of 8.0 g/dL. Treatment with a combined KTI-m216 and RKER-050 therapy showed a further increase in hemoglobin to 13.5 g/dL. Additionally, red blood cell production was 6.4 M/μl in mice given vehicle controls and increased to 8.3 M/μl in KTI-m216 alone and 9.8 M/μl in combined KTI-m216 and RKER-050; hematocrit was 23.4% in vehicle control, 32.5% in KTI-m216 alone and 38.7% in combined KTI-m216 and RKER-050. Although hematocrit was not fully rescued, hemoglobin and red blood cells in mice receiving a combined KTI-m216 and RKER-050 therapy were not different from the non-CKD controls. Conclusion: These data illustrate that inhibition of ALK2 with KTI-m216 could potentially release sufficient iron from the recycling pathway to ameliorate anemia, but not restore RBC parameters to normal levels. Combined treatment with activin receptor ligand trap, RKER-050 and KTI-m216 normalized the RBC production in this preclinical model. These data support that increasing erythropoiesis with RKER-050 combined with iron mobilization with KTI-m216 has the potential to achieve the maximal amelioration of anemia in AI.

Effect of sulfide and hydroxide on the removal of heavy metal ions from hydrometallurgical zinc effluent

ABSTRACT Heavy metals removal from Specialized Industrial Park of Zinc of Zanjan effluent was tested using sulfide, hydroxide, and the combination precipitation. The initial effluent includes 200 ppm of zinc, 55 ppm of cadmium, 113 ppm of manganese, 0.85 ppm cobalt, 0.65 ppm nickel, 0.2 ppm iron, and 0.55 ppm lead. Sulfide precipitation using Na2S as a sulfide source is inefficient in the precipitation of manganese except in high concentrations of sulfide, while hydroxide precipitation using lime is not successful in cadmium removal. Combining these two methods in one and two steps is helpful in the precipitation and settling of all heavy metal ions. The optimum temperature, pH, sulfide concentration, and time were determined. The concentration of zinc, cadmium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, and iron were reduced to 0.1, 0.1, 0.14, 0.23, 0.19, and 0.16 ppm, while lead was not detected in the solution in optimum condition. The experiments were repeated for effluent with higher amounts of lead, iron, and nickel, and its success in efficient removing of these ions is also confirmed. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns were used to study morphologies and structures of precipitation. The concentration of Na2S plays a crucial role in removal efficiency. Excess sulfide causes the increment of ions such as manganese in the solution and decrements the efficiency discussed in this research. The lower use of lime, almost no excess sulfide ions in solution, fast kinetics, and precipitating of a wide range of metal ions are some advantages of this method.