Source Of Ca Research Articles

Variation in macrominerals and trace elements in cows’ retail milk and implications for consumers nutrition

Based on previous farm-level studies, this study hypothesised that production system (conventional, CON; organic, ORG; channel island, CHA) and season would cause variation in the concentrations of macrominerals and trace elements in retail milk. On average, milk retained its status as an excellent source of Ca, P, I, and Mo across different demographics, and a very good source of K, Mg, and Zn for children. Compared with CON and ORG, CHA milk contained higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Mn, and Zn; and lower concentrations of K and I. Macrominerals did not show a clear seasonal pattern but trace elements were all at lower concentrations during the typical grazing season. Variation in mineral concentrations can have implications to Ca and P supply in children, and I and Zn supply across different consumer demographics; while the seasonal variation was more pronounced than that associated with production system.

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus From Healthcare And Community Associated Sources

Introduction: Staphylococci are Gram-positive bacteria with diameter of 1 μm. Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile human pathogen responsible for nosocomial and community-associated infections which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. MRSA (also known as Mercer) is a bacterium responsible for several infections in humans that are difficult to treat. The study aimed at screening of microbial flora on mobile phones to find out the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out in the Department of Medical Microbiology, NIMS Medical College and Hospital, NIMS University, Jaipur during the period of January 2014-June 2014. Results: The present study showed males prevalence of MRSA than Females. MRSA was seen among the age group 21-40 years. Maximum MRSA were obtained from pus/wound samples 12 (66.6%). The present study showed higher prevalence rate of MRSA from Doctors mobile phones. Higher prevalence rate of MRSA 58.8% in Hospital associated as compared to community associated sources 40%. HA(MRSA) showed highest resistance to penicillin 100%. The present study showed 35% MDR MRSA in HA. CA(MRSA) showed higher resistance to penicillin and ciprofloxacin 100%. HA and CAMRSA showed vancomycin and Linezolid 0% resistance. Conclusion: The study showed a higher prevalence of MRSA in HA as compared to CA sources and indicated high risk of infection in individual exposed to hospital environment. Thus, there is a need to screen individuals in hospitals for risk exposure and infection, to avoid outbreak and cross infection. There is a need of taking good Infection control measures and suggested that microbiological surveillance and monitoring of susceptibility patterns of MRSA may also help in arresting the spread of infections.

A review of anatomical and phytolith studies of cystoliths: silica-calcium phytoliths in dicotyledonous angiosperms

Abstract Cystoliths are phytoliths of silica and calcium carbonate and are produced in a few groups of dicotyledonous angiosperms. Anatomical and, more recently, phytolith studies have recorded them in different families. In the present review, we analyse and integrate both types of research to compile information about their formation and composition, their distribution in vascular plants, their relation with anatomy and systematics and their potential roles in plant tissues. We also include analyses of specimens belonging to families having poorly-known cystolith information. According to our review, cystoliths can be considered to be Si-Ca phytoliths. They are well described in eight families, and in 14 other families the information is inconclusive. The production of cystoliths is limited to dicotyledons, but there is no clear phylogenetic relation between the families that produce them. Cystolith accumulation is predominantly in the epidermis of leaves and/or in parenchymatic rays of woods. Diverse roles related to photosynthesis enhancement and as Ca reservoirs have been assigned to cystoliths. Knowledge of cystolith production among vascular plants is relevant for anatomical, systematic and ecological research, and also for biogeochemical studies due to their importance as a source of Ca and Si.

Hydrogel Complex Containing the Antimicrobial Peptide HX-12C Accelerates Healing of Infected Wounds.

Bacterial infections of the wound surface can be painful for patients, and traditional dressings do not effectively address this problem. In this study, an antimicrobial wound dressing is prepared using a novel antimicrobial peptide, HX-12C. This hydrogel system is based on the natural biomaterials sodium alginate and gelatin, utilizing calcium carbonate as a source of Ca2+ , and ionic cross-linking is facilitated by lowering the solution pH. The resulting sodium alginate/gelatin HX-12C-loaded hydrogel (CaAGEAM) has good mechanical and adhesion properties, biocompatibility and in vitro degradability. Its extraordinary antibacterial efficacy (>98%) is verified by an antibacterial experiment. More importantly, in vivo experiments further demonstrate its healing-promotion effect, with a 95% wound healing rate by day 9. Tissue staining demonstrates that the hydrogel containing antimicrobial peptides is effective in suppressing inflammation. The dressing promotes wound healing by stimulating the deposition of skin appendages and collagen. The results of this study suggest that composite hydrogels containing antimicrobial peptides are a promising new type of dressing to promote the healing of infected wounds.

WYBRANE SKŁADNIKI MINERALNE MI ˛ESNI SZKIELETOWYCH DANIELI ( ´ DAMA DAMA) I JELENI (CERVUS ELAPHUS) Z EKOLOGICZNEGO SYSTEMU CHOWU

The aim of the present study was to identify and assess the determinants of the content of Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cd, and Pb in longissimus lumborum (LL) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles of fallow deer and red deer reared in the organic system. The concentrations of 6 elements (Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cd, Pb) in fallow deer and red deer meat produced in the organic system in Poland were analyzed with the use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The animals, i.e. 12 ca. 2- and 3-year-old fallow deer (Dama dama) and 12 ca. 3- and 4-year-old red deer (Cervus elaphus), were culled during the autumn season. Both groups of animals comprised 6 males and 6 females. A significant effect of the species on the content of selected minerals in the meat was noted. It was found that the LL muscle from the fallow deer was a rich source of Ca, Mg, and Zn, and the meat from the red deer had high amounts of Zn and Fe. The age of the animals had a significant effect on the level of Mg in the red deer meat.

Micro/Nano Structural Investigation and Characterization of Mussel Shell Waste in Thailand as a Feasible Bioresource of CaO.

Mussel shell waste, which is regularly disposed by households, restaurants, markets, or farms, causes environmental problems worldwide, including in Thailand, because of its long decomposing time. Owing to a large amount of calcium (Ca) content from calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in mussel shell waste, many Thai local businesses grind the shell waste into powder and sell it as a source of Ca. Generally, these powdered waste shells are a mixture of various types of mussel shell waste. In this study, we investigated and characterized powdered mixed waste shells sold in a local Thai market (called mixed shell powder) and ground shells from waste green mussel shells (called green mussel shells) prepared in the laboratory after calcination at different temperatures (800 °C, 900 °C, and 1000 °C). Mixed shell powder containing five different types of mussel shells and green mussel shells were calcined for 2 h and 3 h, respectively. The time used for calcination of mixed shell powder and green mussel shells was different due to the different particle sizes of both shell wastes. We found that an optimal temperature of 1000 °C completely converted CaCO3 to CaO in both samples. The nanoscale size of CaO was detected at the surface of calcined shells. These shell wastes can be used as a bioresource of CaO.

The impact of various calcium sources offered to Arabic hens during their early-laying stage on calcium consumption and egg production.

The research was conducted to calculate feed, calcium (Ca) intake, Ca requirements, and egg production for Arabic hens during the early egg-laying period. A total of 135 30-week-old Silver female Arabic pullets were randomly allocated to one of three treatments with five replicate cages with a semi-scavenging system of nine pullets per cage in a completely randomized design and allowed to choose Ca from limestone and oyster shells. As a control (T1), pullets were only given a complete feed with Ca and phosphorus percentages according to Hy-line International in 2018. Other treatment feeds were control feed without limestone fed with a combination of limestone (T2) or oyster shell (T3) separately. The treatments had no effect (p > 0.05) on feed, grit and Ca intake (gm/bird/week), egg weight (gm), egg mass, egg production (%), and feed efficiency, but had an effect (p < 0.05) on Ca concentration (%). Ca concentration was the same at T1 and T3, and both were higher than at T2. The female Arabic chickens could fulfill Ca requirements by selecting from different sources of Ca. Limestone is better than the oyster shell as a source of Ca. The Ca requirement for Arabic hens in the early laying period based on the Ca concentration of the feed intake is sufficient at around 3.64% since producing the same number of egg production and heavier egg weight compared to a higher Ca level.

β-tricalcium phosphate synthesized in organic medium for controlled release drug delivery application in bio-scaffolds.

β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) was synthesized in an organic medium (acetone) to obtain a single-phase product while calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and ortho-phosphoric acid (H3PO4) were the sources of Ca, and P, respectively. The synthesized β-TCP was characterized by employing a number of sophisticated techniques vis. XRD, FTIR, FESEM, VSM and UV-Vis-NIR spectrometry. On the other hand, cytotoxicity, hemolysis, and antimicrobial activity for Gram-negative as well as Gram-positive (E. coli and S. aureus) bacteria were explored using this synthesized sample in powder format. However, to assess the drug loading and releasing profile, these powdered samples were first compressed into disks followed by sintering at 900 °C. Prior to loading the drug, porosity, density, and water absorbance characteristics of the scaffolds were examined in deionized water. Both loading and releasing profiles of the antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) were looked over at various selected time intervals which were continued up to 28 days. The observed results revealed that 2.87% of ciprofloxacin was loaded while 37% of this loaded drug was released within the selected time frame as set in this study. The scaffold was also immersed in SBF solution maintaining identical interim periods for the bioactivity evaluation. Furthermore, all three types of samples (e.g. drug-loaded, drug-released, and SBF-soaked) were characterized by FESEM and EDX while antimicrobial activity (against E. coli, S. typhi, and S. aureus) and efficacy to prevent hemolysis were also investigated. The drug-loaded scaffold presented a larger inhibition zone than the standard for all three types of microbes. Although powdered β-TCP was inactive in killing the Gram-negative bacteria, surprisingly the drug-released scaffold showed an inhibition zone.

Utilization of Chicken Eggshell Waste: A Potential Calcium Source for Incorporation into Vegetable Soup Mix

Calcium, an important mineral in bones, is widely available in the form of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) in eggshells. However, tonnes of eggshells have been wasted every year all around the globe. The current work was aimed at valorizing the eggshell waste and incorporating it as an alternative Ca source for calcium deficient people. Soup mixes (named 1-5) were formulated by varying the ratio of starch (4-12 g) and vegetables (2-10 g) along with the constant quantity of mushroom and eggshell powder. The formulated soup mix was assessed for physiochemical properties and proximate analysis. The results showed that the soup mix 4 with 4 g vegetables, 10 g corn starch, 1 g onion, and garlic, 2 g salt and sugar, 2 g mushroom, and 1 g eggshell powder was found similar to the commercial soup mix along with 3069.095 mg/kg calcium content which meets individuals' RDA requirement. The results suggest that the formulated soup mix can act as a proper preload for all individuals and is used as a supplement for commercial calcium foods. Further research is required to increase the soup's acceptability, its bioavailability, and shelf stability.

The Rural Fires of 2017 and Their Influences on Water Quality: An Assessment of Causes and Effects.

As water is facing increasing pressures from population and economic growth and climate change, it becomes imperative to promote the protection, restoration and management of this resource and its watersheds. Since water quality depends on multiple factors both natural and anthropic, it is not easy to establish their influences. After the October 2017 fires that affected almost 30% of the Mondego hydrographic basin in Central Portugal, 10 catchments were selected for periodic physical-chemical monitoring. These monitoring campaigns started one month after the fires and lasted for two hydrological years, measuring the electric conductivity (EC), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity (Turb), alkalinity (Alk), major and minor ions, and trace elements. The obtained data were then statistically analysed alongside the geomorphological characteristics of each catchment coupled with features of land-use and occupation. From the results, it was possible to establish that fire-affected artificial areas, through the atmospheric deposition and surface runoff of combustion products, had the most impact on surface water quality, increasing As, K-, Ca2+, Mg2+, NO3-, SO42- and Sr, and consequently increasing electrical conductivity. Agricultural land-use seems to play a major influence in raising the water's EC, Cl, K- and Na2+. Regarding natural factors such as catchment geology, it was found that the extent of igneous exposures influences As, and the carbonate sedimentary units are a source of Ca2+ and HCO32- concentrations and impose an increase in alkalinity. Rainfall seems, in the short term, to increase the water concentration in Al and NO3-, while also raising turbidity due to sediments dragged by surface runoff. While, in the long-term, rainfall reduces the concentrations of elements in surface water and approximates the water's pH to rainfall features.

A novel and sustainable technique to immobilize lead and zinc in MSW incineration fly ash by using pozzolanic bottom ash

Fly ash (FA) generated from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) incineration contains high leaching potential of toxic metals. Calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H) is the main hydration product of cement and can immobilize the leaching of toxic metals, formed by the reaction of Ca with pozzolanic Si in a highly alkaline environment. Toxic metals can be immobilized by the addition of pozzolan to FA residues (in lieu of cement), which is a source of Ca and provides an alkaline condition. The current study proposed a new approach of reusing the fine-fraction of MSW incineration bottom ash (BA), which contains amorphous silica, known as pozzolan for immobilization of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in FA. The dissolved amorphous silica and alumina emerged from the BA, with available Ca ions and in an extremely alkaline condition owing by FA, stimulate the pozzolanic reaction, resulting the formation of cementitious compounds of C–S–H gel and calcium aluminate hydrates (C-A-H) that can immobilize the heavy metals leaching from FA. The existence of calcium hydroxide promotes the carbonation process, reducing pH, and consequently immobilizing heavy metals. The method involves the simple mixing of BA and FA with water. The mixture was settled for 1, 4, 16, and 30 days at room temperature and annealed (120 °C) conditions. The leaching concentrations of Pb and Zn significantly reduced in the stabilized FA samples followed by standard Japanese leaching test (JLT- 46). Pb stabilization efficiency was reached >99.9% after 16-days of settling periods with 10% dosage of BA at room temperature. The added BA to FA residues reacted with Ca(OH)2 and CaClOH produced the C–S–H gel. pH, XRD, and SEM-EDX analyses evaluated the carbonation and pozzolanic reactions that promoted the immobilization of Pb and Zn. Immobilization of heavy metals by using fine-fraction of BA seems to be very effective and technically feasible. The technology can save original material, produce inert material and avoids landfilling of incineration residues. More advanced and detailed experiments have been designed to promote the optimization of the proposed technology for application in industries.

Indirect Measurement of the Amounts of Casein Phosphopeptides Added to Dangmyon (Starch Vermicelli or Glass Noodle) as a Calcium-Absorption Enhancer

Industrial-scale Ca-fortified Dangmyon was manufactured with added casein phosphopeptides (CPP) to increase Ca adsorption in the intestine. Very low P content in eggshell Ca (egg Ca) and Dangmyon could make it possible to indirectly measure CPP content in Dangmyon. Partitions of the whole P present in Dangmyon were made into sweet potato, egg Ca, and CPP. The CPP content was obtained by multiplying CPP per P by the amount of P partitioned into CPP. It was found that 88.46% of CPP was obtained. However, when milk Ca, which was much higher in P, was added to fortify Dangmyon with CPP, it was found that the CPP content was either under- or over-estimated. Care must be taken when a much higher content of P as a Ca source is selected using this method. It was discovered that the added Ca and CPP were retained after cooking at boiling temperature; therefore, Dangmyon could be an excellent Ca and CPP carrier for humans.

Effects of physical treatments on size particle and nutritional properties of bone powder from Pangasius sp

Fishbone (FB) is a nutritionally dense by-product of fisheries processing, which is a good source of Ca and other elements. This study aimed to determine the effect of sonication and water bath treatments on the size and nutritional value of Pangasius bone powder. Pulverized FB was soaked in 40% lime solution (pH 2) under different conditions in a sonicator and water bath for 30 min. and 60 min. at 60 C, and then powdered. The whiteness index (WI), pH, particle and distribution size, proximate and mineral contents of FB powder were investigated. This study showed that sonication treatments were 89.09-89.17 for WI, 6.99-7.14 for pH, 860.15-1029.3 nm for particle size, 3.66-3.95 % for fat, 14.62-16.10 % for protein, 50.48-50.91% for Ca, 14.77-15.08 % for P and water bath treatments were 88.91-88.93 for WI, 7.36-7.43 for pH, 734.5-959 nm for particle size, 3.22-3325 % for fat, 14.78-15.23 % for protein, 50.97-50.95 % for Ca, and 14.97-14.99 % for P. Both showed a mono-modal size distribution and trace amounts of other minerals in all treatments. In conclusion, a 60-minute water bath treatment is a promising method for reducing the particle size of FB powder without significantly altering its nutritional composition.

Origin of carbonate cements in Ben Nevis sandstones of Jeanne d’Arc Basin: Insights from geochemistry

The Ben Nevis sandstones in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin in offshore eastern Newfoundland have abundant carbonate cements, and are the primary hydrocarbon reservoirs of the White Rose Oilfield. A multiapproach of petrographic, carbon and oxygen isotopic, and in situ geochemical analyses were applied to investigate the origin of the carbonate cements in the Ben Nevis sandstones (quartzose to litho-quartzose, Well F-04). Petrographic examinations reveal five generations of cements that occur in concretions, which are (from earliest to latest), siderite, early calcite cement (C1), recrystallized fossil (Crf), sparry fossil-filling calcite (Cf), and late calcite cement (C2). The comparable carbon (3.6‰ VPDB) and oxygen isotopic (−1.3‰ VPDB) compositions of siderite to those of the bivalve shells (δ13C = 3.6 ± 0.6‰ VPDB and δ18O = −1.7 ± 0.5‰ VPDB, respectively) indicate an early precipitation from suboxic water near the sediment-seawater interface. The well-preserved intergranular volumes (IGVs up to 41%) and low δ18O (−3.3 ± 1.1‰ VPDB) as well as comparable δ13C values (3.6 ± 0.6‰ VPDB) of the early poikilotopic calcite (C1) argue for a pre-compaction precipitation at a shallow burial setting with carbon derived mainly from the dissolution of bioclasts. The later calcite cement (C2) precipitated during progressive burial with involvement of organic carbon as indicated by its depleted δ18O (−6.7 ± 2.0‰ VPDB) and δ13C (1.8 ± 1.3‰ VPDB) values, and the reduced IGVs (28.2%), as well as the consistent depletion of Sr with enrichment of Mn. The dissolution of aragonitic bioclasts, was likely the main source of Ca for calcite, which is consistent with the high Sr content of C1 (1369 ± 597 ppm), Crf (2005 ± 472 ppm), Cf (1354 ± 48 ppm) and C2 (1831 ± 696 ppm). The parallel shale normalized (REESN) patterns of the cements and the way they mimic, to some extent, that both of seawater and meteoric water, suggest that the diagenetic fluid is bracketed by those of the early Cretaceous marine and meteoric waters, as reflected by the estimated δ18OSW composition of parent fluid for C1. The consistent Eu anomalies of carbonate cements and the increasing δ18OSW composition of pore water during C2 precipitation reflect the evolution of the diagenetic fluids in siliciclastic intervals during progressive burial.The secondary porosity development as the main contributor to the present reservoir porosity seem to be closely related to the dissolution of calcite cements, especially in the lower part of the Ben Nevis interval. The meteoric water influx from the overlying unconformities may have induced the dissolution of calcite concretions.

δ26Mg, δ44Ca and 87Sr/86Sr isotope differences among bedrock minerals constrain runoff generation in headwater catchments: An acidified granitic site in Central Europe as an example

Magnesium, calcium and strontium isotope systematics were studied in a Central European headwater catchment underlain by granite. The Uhlirska catchment (Czech Republic) is recovering from acidification following 40 years of acid rain. A combination of isotope and non-isotope data was used to constrain the origin of base cations in runoff. Whole-rock δ26Mg, δ44Ca values and 87Sr/86Sr ratios were complemented by isotope analysis of apatite, biotite, plagioclase, orthoclase and titanite. Isotope composition of Mg, Ca and Sr in precipitation, throughfall and runoff was monitored for 12 months.Soil, soil solutions and Norway spruce tissues were also analyzed. Non-isotope data included a 24-year time-series of input/output Mg and Ca fluxes. Biotite was the likely main source of geogenic Mg. Apatite and plagioclase were the likely main sources of geogenic Ca, and plagioclase was the likely main source of geogenic Sr. Magnesium in biotite was isotopically too heavy to dominate runoff. Calcium in apatite and plagioclase was isotopically indistinguishable from whole-rock Ca and could play a major role in runoff generation. Plagioclase had a significantly lower 87Sr/86Sr ratio than bulk bedrock, close to the low 87Sr/86Sr ratio of runoff. Plagioclase weathering was consistent with a sizeable geogenic Sr contribution to runoff but if only bulk-rock 87Sr/86Sr was considered predominance of geogenic Sr in runoff would be unlikely. Higher Mg, Ca and Sr runoff fluxes, compared to deposition, suggested geogenic control of runoff. A decrease in runoff fluxes of Mg and Ca coincided with a decrease in deposition fluxes but there may not be a causal relationship pointing to a large atmospheric contribution of base cations to runoff. Decreasing fluxes of base cations via runoff were mostly related to decreasing sulfate export accompanying retreat of acidification. Mg/Ca/Sr isotope systematics at Uhlirska are discussed in light of analogous data from four other headwater catchments.

Full-disc Ca ii K observations—A window to past solar magnetism

Full-disc observations of the Sun in the Ca iiK line provide one of the longest collections of solar data. First such observations were made in 1892 and since then various sites around the world have carried out regular observations, with Kodaikanal, Meudon, Mt Wilson, and Coimbra being some of the most prominent ones. By now, Ca iiK observations from over 40 different sites allow an almost complete daily coverage of the last century. Ca iiK images provide direct information on plage and network regions on the Sun and, through their connection to solar surface magnetic field, offer an excellent opportunity to study solar magnetism over more than a century. This makes them also extremely important, among others, for solar irradiance reconstructions and studies of the solar influence on Earth’s climate. However, these data also suffer from numerous issues, which for a long time have hampered their analysis. Without properly addressing these issues, Ca iiK data cannot be used to their full potential. Here, we first provide an overview of the currently known Ca iiK data archives and sources of the inhomogeneities in the data, before discussing existing processing techniques, followed by a recap of the main results derived with such data so far.

Is there still something to eat for trees in the soils of the Strengbach catchment?

The global demand for wood is growing and the sustainability of forests has become an increasingly important issue. The first metre of soil represents the reserve of nutrients cations (K, Ca, Mg) for trees. The depletion of these elements in the soil gradually leads to a decrease in soil fertility, which can have a strong impact on the development and health of forests.The aim of this study was to better understand the source and dynamics of nutrients in forested soils from a base poor environment by combining mineralogic, chemical, isotopic and numerical tools through an experimental approach. We designed batch experiments to follow the leaching of soils from two experimental plots (under spruce and under beech from the Strengbach catchment, Vosges Mountain, NE France). The studied elements show highly contrasting behaviours. Mg release results from a mixing between cationic exchange, mineral dissolution (mainly smectite) and organic matter mineralization. The dynamics of K are underestimated by modelling, which may be attributed either to an unknown source of K or to an overestimation of the secondary phase precipitation. The Sr isotopic approach, used as a proxy to identify the sources of Ca, shows that the exchangeable complex supplies nutrients first and rapidly to the solution, followed by the clay compartment and at the very end, the bulk soils. Na is mainly controlled by albite dissolution.The release of Ca is significantly lower than that of other cations as Mg or K. Our results suggest that the exchangeable Ca, estimated through classical extractions, is only partly available for plants, due to strong chemical binding with organic matter and/or the occurrence of Ca-chemical bridges between clay and organic matter. Sustainable management should thus consider that exchangeable Ca, conventionally determined, does not necessarily provide an accurate picture of the real availability of Ca and therefore of the fertility of soils, with a risk of overestimation of nutrient reservoir for trees. Calcium tree nutrition at these sites has to rely on the long term on atmospheric deposition and an efficient recycling through biological cycling. This is also true for the other nutrient cations, but to a lesser extent since soil intrinsic fluxes (i.e., weathering, mineralisation of OM…) are not null and may thus supply the exchangeable pools and participate substantially to tree nutrition. Harvesting and biomass exportation could rapidly impact the biological cycle and threaten the sustainability of these ecosystems, similar to changing tree species that may influence the nature of the litter, its turnover and the input of nutrients to the soil.

Nutritional Assessment of a Traditionally Important Shrub &lt;i&gt;Haloxylon Salicornicum&lt;/i&gt; from Four different Locations of Western Rajasthan

Haloxylon salicornicum is a very important lesser known wild fruiting shrub species of arid region. It has edible seeds and reported to be used for bread making by mixing with other grains during famines. Fruits and seeds are also used as animal feed, wood as fuel and different plant parts for medicine purpose. It is a good soil binder hence used in restoration of degraded lands. Nutritional evaluation of Haloxylon salicornicum seeds was carried out from four different locations of Western Rajasthan. Moisture, ash, sugar, fat, fibre content were determined using standard AOAC procedures. Seeds were found to contain protein (12.04-18.3%), sugar (2.63-6.11%), crude fat (1.6- 3.51%) and vitamin C (34.85-47.96 mg/100g). Mineral analysis showed that they were rich source of Fe, Mn, Mg, K and Ca. This work aims at summarizing information on the food value of H. salicornicum so as to promote this species for domestication in arid lands for use as dietary supplement. As it can survive under extreme drought conditions so can be used for cultivation in marginal lands of arid areas.

Decoupling of physical and chemical erosion in the Himalayas revealed by radiogenic Ca isotopes

Determining the rate of CO2 consumption associated with the Himalayan uplift is an essential prerequisite to understanding climate evolution throughout the Cenozoic. The riverine fluxes of dissolved calcium can be used to quantify uptakes of atmospheric CO2 by chemical weathering, but this approach requires deciphering the silicate-derived Ca flux from the generally dominant carbonate-derived Ca flux. Here we present high-precision radiogenic calcium (40Ca) analyses of bank sediments and dissolved loads from a network of rivers in central Nepal Himalaya and Bangladesh, to constrain the sources and relative contributions of carbonate and silicate-derived calcium to the dissolved loads of Himalayan rivers. Calcium isotope analyses were performed in multidynamic mode by thermal ionization mass spectrometry, yielding an external precision of ±0.4 ε-units (2 S.D.). Our results show that silicate catchments exposed in the Himalayan range have variably radiogenic ε40Ca compositions relative to seawater, ranging from +0.7 in the TSS to +14 in the LH. In contrast, sedimentary carbonates, including metamorphosed dolomites with variably radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr, exhibit uniform ε40Ca identical to modern seawater. The homogeneous ε40Ca composition of sedimentary carbonates confirms the relative resistance of radiogenic Ca signatures to post-depositional alteration and provides a robust baseline against which the contribution of silicate weathering to the riverine Ca flux can be evaluated. Dissolved load compositions of rivers draining LH catchments exhibit ε40Ca values ranging from 0 to +11, reflecting the relative contribution of unradiogenic carbonates and highly radiogenic metapelitic units of the LH sequence. HHC rivers show a more moderate range, from 0.5 to +2, reflecting the less radiogenic composition of HHC paragneisses. Himalayan front rivers draining all three lithotectonic units of the Himalayan range exhibit moderately radiogenic ε40Ca, ranging from +0.5 to +1.4 and overall similar to the average composition of the Ganga mainstream in Bangladesh. Using an approach combining conventional alkalinity budgets with isotopic mass balance calculations, we show that the dissolved silicate Ca flux of major Himalayan front rivers is primarily derived from the weathering of metapelitic rocks of the lesser Himalaya. In contrast, regions of the high range that generate the bulk of the detrital flux to the Gangetic floodplain represent a subordinate source of silicate-derived Ca. This result demonstrates that the chemical weathering of Ca-silicates in the Himalayan system is decoupled from physical erosion. The extensive erosional activity observed in the high range may thus play a limited role in promoting CO2 consumption and global cooling by silicate weathering.

Bitterleaf (Venonia amygdalina) and Water leaf (Talinum triangulare) in Pullets Nutrition: Effects on Blood Vitamins and Minerals

The effect of bitter leaf (Venonia amygdalina) and water leaf (Talinum triangulare) extracts on blood vitamins and minerals composition of pullet birds were investigated. A total of 456 day-old Isa brown pullet chicks were allotted to four dietary treatments in six replicates in a completely randomized design experiment. Aqueous extracts of bitter leaf and water leaf were used as test dietary treatments for the birds. In treatment 1, a commercial multivitamin (vitalyte) was given in water (1g/L) to the birds to serve as the control. In treatments 2 and 3 aqueous extracts of bitter leaf and waterleaf were given at 100ml/L of water, while in treatment 4 mixed bitter leaf and water leaf aqueous extract (50% each in composition) was given. On the last day of the feeding trial, blood samples were collected from the birds for vitamins and minerals analysis. The observed results showed that dietary treatments significantly affected the blood serum parameters. Vitamin A was significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) in the vitalyte birds. The values ranged from 0.27iu in the bitter leaf birds to 0.37iu in the vitalyte. Vitamin C was more abundant (1.84iu) in the bitter leaf treated pullets and was significantly reduced (1.21iu) in the vitalyte. Vitamin D was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher (0.35 iu) in the water leaf as well as vitamin E (10.14iu) while they were highly reduced considerably in the vitalyte administered birds, 0.16 and 4.83iu respectively. On mineral composition, while bitter leaf was the highest Ca (14.24mg/dl) source, K (5.46 mmol/L) and Mg (2.78mg/dl) were highly increased in the water leaf administered birds. Pullets on the control vitalyte had higher Na (132.75 mmol/L) and Fe (1.42g/dl). It can however be concluded that bitter leaf and water leaf as used in this study are potential sources of some vitamins and minerals in pullet chick nutrition.