Sulfate Treatment Research Articles

Improving Stormwater Runoff Quality using Wasted activated Carbon from a Household Water Purifier

Objectives : To recycle the wasted activated carbon from water purifiers and reuse stormwater runoff, this study evaluated water quality of stormwater runoff with regeneration using granular activated carbon containing commercial activated carbon for water treatment and wasted activated carbon from household water purifiers.Methods : The removal of total coliforms, chloride, BOD, T-N, T-P, turbidity, and pH in stormwater runoff were analyzed by down-flow column test using granular activated carbon with varied mixing ratios. In addition, chemical modification with ferrous sulfate and ultrasonic treatment were conducted to improve the removal efficiency of total coliforms, and turbidity.Results and Discussion : The optimal mixing ratio of granular activated carbon was 7:3 (GAC:WGAC), which showed high removal efficiency of 88.2% for total coliforms, 70.8% for chloride, 72.6% for BOD, 88.4% for T-N, 50.7% for T-P, and 85.9% for turbidity. The granular activated carbon with surface modification using a 0.2 M FeSO<sub>4</sub> solution with ultrasonic treatment demonstrated the highest removal efficiency, with a reduction of 11.8% in total coliforms, 29.2% in chloride, 12.1% in BOD, 20.3% in T-P, and 13.2% in turbidity, while T-N showed a decrease of 19.4% in removal efficiency.Conclusion : The granular activated carbon with a 7:3 mixing ratio showed highest removal efficiencies for all water quality parameters, while the total coliforms and turbidity did not meet the water quality standards for reclaimed water. This indicated that further physicochemical surface modification with FeSO<sub>4</sub> and ultrasonic treatment was needed to improve the removal performance and meet the water quality standards for reclaimed water. This approach explored in this study using wasted activated carbon should be continued in the area of resource and water circulation to properly utilize resources of wastes.

The effect of sulfur-containing compounds and thiobacillus bacteria on corn plants under field soil and soil contaminated by heavy metals lead and zinc conditions

Investigating the effect of various sources of sulfurous compounds along with the inoculation of Thiobacillus bacteria on corn plants under stress conditions of lead and zinc metals, an experiment executed at zanjan uni researching green house. The treatments include elemental sulfur (0.75, 1.25 and 2 g/kg soil), sulfur with Thiobacillus bacteria (1, 2 and 3 g/kg soil) and potassium sulfate (0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/kg soil ). The results showed that the traits were significant in all applied treatments except proline. The amount of morphological traits and physiological traits increased in sulfur treatment with thiobacillus bacteria in field soil conditions and heavy metal stress compared to the control. But the properties of soluble sugars and proline decreased in this treatment. On the other hand, with the increase in the concentration of elemental sulfur and potassium sulfate treatments that caused stress in the plant. However, under stress conditions, the amount of absorption of lead and zinc in the root and aerial part of the plant increased to a critical and damaging level, but by applying of treatments, the amount of absorption and damage decreased. it can be concluded that elemental sulfur and potassium sulfate treatments by reducing the absorption of all elements required by the plant caused stress, but sulfur with bacteria treatment reduces the absorption of these heavy elements, and the bacteria in the soil provides the conditions for absorbing more water and nutrients through the roots and improves the growth of the plant.

Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid and Zinc Sulphate Levels on Growth and Yield of Squash under Net House Condition

A field experiment was conducted at Horticulture Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during November, 2020 to February, 2021. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The experiment had two factors (Different levels of salicylic acid, S0= No salicylic acid (control), S1= 60 ppm of salicylic acid, S2= 90 ppm of salicylic acid and different levels of zinc, Z0= No zinc sulphate (control), Z1= 25 ppm of zinc sulphate, Z2= 50 ppm of zinc sulphate. Different levels of salicylic, zinc sulphate and also their combinations showed significant influence on different growth, yield contributing parameters and yield of squash. The treatment, S2 showed highest results in fruit yield per plant (2422.7 g), fruit yield per plot (9.68 kg) and fruit yield per ha (37.83 t) compared to control. In case of zinc treatments, the highest results in fruit yield per plant (2597.1 g), highest fruit yield per plot (10.38 kg) and highest fruit yield per ha (31.74 t) were found from Z1 compared to control. Likewise, the treatment combination of S2Z1 (90 ppm of salicylic acid and 25 ppm of zinc sulphate) gave the highest fruit yield per plant (3045.4 g) fruit yield per plot (12.18 kg) and highest yield per ha (47.57 t) where the lowest results were found from the treatment combination of S0Z0 (control). The highest gross return (BDT 1189425), net return (BDT 881669) and BCR (3.86) were obtained from the treatment combination of S2Z1 where the lowest was obtained from S0Z0. It can be concluded that from economic point of view, S2Z1 (90 ppm of salicylic acid and 25 ppm of zinc sulphate) treatment combination is suitable for squash cultivation than other treatment combinations.

Extracellular matrix composition analysis of human articular cartilage for the development of organ-on-a-chip

IntroductionArticular cartilage has a complex extracellular matrix (ECM) that provides it a defined architecture for its load-bearing properties. The complete understanding of ECM components is imperative for developing biomimetic organ-on-a-chip tissue construct. ObjectiveThis study aimed to decellularize and characterize the ECM for its protein profiling to generate a niche for enhanced chondrocyte proliferation. MethodsArticular cartilage scrapings were subjected to mechanical and collagenase digestion, followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment for 8 h and 16 h. The de-cellularization efficiency was confirmed by hematoxylin & eosin, alcian blue, masson's trichrome staining, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ECM protein profile was quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using a bottom–up approach. ResultsHistological characterization revealed void lacunae that lacked staining for cellular components. The ECM, sulfated glycosaminoglycan content, and collagen fibers were preserved after 8 h and 16 h of de-cellularization. The SEM ultrastructure images showed that few chondrocytes adhered to the ECM after 8 h and cell–free ECM after 16 h of de-cellularization. LC-MS/MS analysis identified 66 proteins with heterotypic collagen types COL1A1-COL6A1, COL14A1, COL22A1 and COL25A1 showed moderate fold change and expression levels, while COL18A1, COL26A1, chondroitin sulfate, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), fibronectin, platelet glycoprotein 1 beta alpha (GP1BA), vimentin, bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6), fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4) and growth hormone receptor (GHR) showed maximum fold change and expression levels. ConclusionsThe standardized de-cellularization process could preserve majority of ECM components, providing structural integrity and architecture to the ECM. The Identified proteins quantified for their expression levels provided insight into engineering the ECM composition for developing cartilage-on-a-chip.

New insights into sulfur input induced methylmercury production and accumulation in paddy soil and rice

Sulfur has a high affinity for mercury (Hg) and can serve as effective treating agent for Hg pollution. However, conflict effects between reducing Hg mobility and promoting Hg methylation by sulfur were found in recent studies, and there is a gap in understanding the potential mechanism of MeHg production under different sulfur-treated species and doses. Here, we investigated and compared the MeHg production in Hg-contaminated paddy soil and its accumulation in rice under elemental sulfur or sulfate treatment at a relatively low (500 mg·kg−1) or high (1000 mg·kg−1) level. The associated potential molecular mechanisms are also discussed with the help of density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Pot experiments demonstrate that both elemental sulfur and sulfate at high exposure levels increased MeHg production in soil (244.63–571.72 %) and its accumulation in raw rice (268.73–443.50 %). Coupling the reduction of sulfate or elemental sulfur and decrease of soil redox potential leads to the detachment of Hg-polysulfide complexes from the surface of HgS which can be explained by DFT calculations. Enhancement of free Hg and Fe release through reducing Fe(III) oxyhydroxides further promotes soil MeHg production. The results provide clues for understanding the mechanism by which exogenous sulfur promotes MeHg production in paddies and paddy-like environments and give new insights for decreasing Hg mobility by regulating soil conditions.

Impact of sulfate attack on flexural behaviour of CFRP strengthened concrete beams

The effect of exposing concrete beams (150 × 250 × 1600 mm), retrofitted with parabolic and straight profiles of near-surface-mounted (NSM) carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) ropes, to mild and moderate stages of cyclic sulfate treatment (CST) is investigated as a part of an ongoing comprehensive study. A total of 16 beams were used to evaluate structural performance for strengthened beams before and after exposure to CST for about 4 and 11 months when free concrete expansions of about 2008 and 8690μ strain, respectively, were attained. Mechanical tests on concrete cylinders showed increased brittleness of concrete as a result of the CST, with 6% and 15% reductions in compressive strength after exposure to mild and moderate stages of CST, respectively. The load capacity and stiffness for beams exposed to the mild stage of CST were slightly decreased, yet were noticeably increased for those exposed to the moderate stage of CST, owing to the significant precompressive stresses induced in concrete. In contrast, rotational ductility and toughness were progressively decreased as the treatment progressed. Generally, concrete beams, strengthened with curved and straight NSM CFRP ropes, cannot retain their overall structural performance under moderate levels of sulfate attack.

Hyphal Growth in Trichosporon asahii Is Accelerated by the Addition of Magnesium.

Fungal dimorphism involves two morphologies: a unicellular yeast cell and a multicellular hyphal form. Invasion of hyphae into human cells causes severe opportunistic infections. The transition between yeast and hyphal forms is associated with the virulence of fungi; however, the mechanism is poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to identify factors that induce hyphal growth of Trichosporon asahii, a dimorphic basidiomycete that causes trichosporonosis. T. asahii showed poor growth and formed small cells containing large lipid droplets and fragmented mitochondria when cultivated for 16 h in a nutrient-deficient liquid medium. However, these phenotypes were suppressed via the addition of yeast nitrogen base. When T. asahii cells were cultivated in the presence of different compounds present in the yeast nitrogen base, we found that magnesium sulfate was a key factor for inducing cell elongation, and its addition dramatically restored hyphal growth in T. asahii. In T. asahii hyphae, vacuoles were enlarged, the size of lipid droplets was decreased, and mitochondria were distributed throughout the cell cytoplasm and adjacent to the cell walls. Additionally, hyphal growth was disrupted due to treatment with an actin inhibitor. The actin inhibitor latrunculin A disrupted the mitochondrial distribution even in hyphal cells. Furthermore, magnesium sulfate treatment accelerated hyphal growth in T. asahii for 72 h when the cells were cultivated in a nutrient-deficient liquid medium. Collectively, our results suggest that an increase in magnesium levels triggers the transition from the yeast to hyphal form in T. asahii. These findings will support studies on the pathogenesis of fungi and aid in developing treatments. IMPORTANCE Understanding the mechanism underlying fungal dimorphism is crucial to discern its invasion into human cells. Invasion is caused by the hyphal form rather than the yeast form; therefore, it is important to understand the mechanism of transition from the yeast to hyphal form. To study the transition mechanism, we utilized Trichosporon asahii, a dimorphic basidiomycete that causes severe trichosporonosis since there are fewer studies on T. asahii than on ascomycetes. This study suggests that an increase in Mg2+, the most abundant mineral in living cells, triggers growth of filamentous hyphae and increases the distribution of mitochondria throughout the cell cytoplasm and adjacent to the cell walls in T. asahii. Understanding the mechanism of hyphal growth triggered by Mg2+ increase will provide a model system to explore fungal pathogenicity in the future.

Effect of magnesium sulfate treatment on mediators of endothelial dysfunction and electrolytes in mild and severe preeclampsia: A case-control study.

Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) treatment is widely used for the prevention of eclamptic seizures. However, its effect on mediators of endothelial dysfunction (ED) and electrolytes remains unclear. We evaluated the effects of MgSO4 treatment on mediators of ED and electrolytes. We recruited 100 women comprising 50 severe, 50 mild preeclampsia (PE) as cases and 50 normotensive pregnant women as controls from the Sampa Government Hospital, Ghana. We estimated for adrenomedullin (AM),calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP),soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), Na+, K+, and Mg2+ before MgSO4 treatment, 24 h after MgSO4 treatment, and 48 h after delivery. p < 0.05 were considered significant for statistical analyses. Levels of AM, sICAM-1, and Na+ decreased significantly at 24 h after MgSO4 treatment and 48 h after delivery among PEwomen compared to the AM levels before treatment (p < 0.0001). The levels of CGRP and Mg2+ increased significantly after 24 h of MgSO4 treatment and 48 h after delivery among PE compared to the AM levels before treatment (p < 0.0001). The changes in AM, sICAM-1, CGRP, and Mg2+ at 24 h after treatment and 48 h after delivery were significantly higher in severe compared to mild PE (p < 0.0001). AM levels reduced significantly by 14.7% in mild and 42.7% in severe PE after MgSO₄ treatment (p < 0.05). sICAM-1 levels reduced significantly by 20.9% in mild and 25% in severe PE after MgSO₄ treatment. After MgSO₄ treatment, there was significant increase of 42.1% and >100% in CGRP levels in mild and severe PE, respectively (p < 0.05). After MgSO₄ treatment, Mg²⁺ levels increased significantly by 67.0% and 63.8% in mild and severe PE, respectively (p < 0.05). MgSO₄ treatment reduces AM, sICAM-1, and sodium levels but improves magnesium and CGRP in severe than mild PE thus have more beneficial role in severe PE.

Magnesium sulphate reduces tertiary gliosis but does not improve EEG recovery or white or grey matter cell survival after asphyxia in preterm fetal sheep.

Maternal magnesium sulphate (MgSO4 ) treatment is widely recommended before preterm birth for neuroprotection. However, this is controversial because there is limited evidence that MgSO4 provides long-term neuroprotection. Preterm fetal sheep (104days gestation; term is 147days) were assigned randomly to receive sham occlusion with saline infusion (n=6) or i.v. infusion with MgSO4 (n=7) or vehicle (saline, n=6) from 24h before hypoxia-ischaemia induced by umbilical cord occlusion until 24h after occlusion. Sheep were killed after 21days of recovery, for fetal brain histology. Functionally, MgSO4 did not improve long-term EEG recovery. Histologically, in the premotor cortex and striatum, MgSO4 infusion attenuated post-occlusion astrocytosis (GFAP+ ) and microgliosis but did not affect numbers of amoeboid microglia or improve neuronal survival. In the periventricular and intragyral white matter, MgSO4 was associated with fewer total (Olig-2+ ) oligodendrocytes compared with vehicle+occlusion. Numbers of mature (CC1+ ) oligodendrocytes were reduced to a similar extent in both occlusion groups compared with sham occlusion. In contrast, MgSO4 was associated with an intermediate improvement in myelin density in the intragyral and periventricular white matter tracts. In conclusion, a clinically comparable dose of MgSO4 was associated with moderate improvements in white and grey matter gliosis and myelin density but did not improve EEG maturation or neuronal or oligodendrocyte survival. KEY POINTS: Magnesium sulphate is widely recommended before preterm birth for neuroprotection; however, there is limited evidence that magnesium sulphate provides long-term neuroprotection. In preterm fetal sheep exposed to hypoxia-ischaemia (HI), MgSO4 was associated with attenuated astrocytosis and microgliosis in the premotor cortex and striatum but did not improve neuronal survival after recovery to term-equivalent age, 21days after HI. Magnesium sulphate was associated with loss of total oligodendrocytes in the periventricular and intragyral white matter tracts, whereas mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes were reduced to a similar extent in both occlusion groups. In the same regions, MgSO4 was associated with an intermediate improvement in myelin density. Functionally, MgSO4 did not improve long-term recovery of EEG power, frequency or sleep stage cycling. A clinically comparable dose of MgSO4 was associated with moderate improvements in white and grey matter gliosis and myelin density but did not improve EEG maturation or neuronal or oligodendrocyte survival.

Fecal Microbiota Restoration Modulates the Microbiome in Inflammation-Driven Colorectal Cancer.

Chronic inflammation of the colon (colitis) is a known risk factor for inflammatory-driven colorectal cancers (id-CRCs), and intestinal microbiota has been implicated in the etiology of id-CRCs. Manipulation of the microbiome is a clinically viable therapeutic approach to limiting id-CRCs. To understand the microbiome changes that occur over time in id-CRCs, we used a mouse model of id-CRCs with the treatment of azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and measured the microbiome over time. We included cohorts where the microbiome was restored using cage bedding swapping and where the microbiome was depleted using antibiotics to compare to untreated animals. We identified consistent increases in Akkermansia in mice receiving horizontal microbiome transfer (HMT) via cage bedding swapping, while the control cohort had consistent longitudinal increases in Anaeroplasma and Alistipes. Additionally, fecal lipocalin-2 (Lcn-2), a marker of intestinal inflammation, was elevated in unrestored animals compared to restored and antibiotic-treated counterparts following HMT. These observations suggest a potential role for Akkermansia, Anaeroplasma, and Alistipes in regulating colonic inflammation in id-CRCs.

β-CaSiO3 and colloidal n-SiO2 based blended cement composites- their properties, regression analysis and micro-characterization studies

This paper examines the effect on mechanical properties such as compressive strength, flexural strength, and dynamic modulus of elasticity (DYE) of different proportions of wollastonite (β-CaSiO3) and colloidal nano-silica (n-SiO2) partially replacing cement. Durability indicators (water absorption, sorptivity and sulphate treatment test) were also examined to ascertain the quality of hardened paste mixes with respect to the control mix. The regression models were found for mechanical properties using different parameters from the results obtained, and statistical relations were established and validated. Regression analysis shows the significance of every parameter considered and model for the prediction of mechanical strengths. Finally, the results were substantiated by the microstructural characterization by FESEM. β-CaSiO3 and colloidal n-SiO2 replaced cement by 15%, and 1.5%-6% with an offset of 1.5%, respectively at low (0.25), medium (0.40) and high (0.55) water/binder (w/b) ratio. FESEM micrographs showed dense Calcium-silicate-hydrate (CSH) gel and stratlingite (CASH) was formed by blended cement paste mixes containing β-CaSiO3 and n-SiO2. n-SiO2 at 3% and CaSiO3 at 15% replacements of cement (NS3 mix) was the optimum replacement level for the cement paste mix. Analysed regression model suggests that the models and parameters were found significant and can also be used for prediction (based on R2 values and p-value).

Effects of Different Types of Potassium Fertilizers on Nutrient Uptake by Grapevine

Potassium (K) is the most important element for fruit quality improvement. This study aimed at determining the best K fertilizer type that can promote grape growth and nutrient uptake. Specifically, four types of K fertilizers (complex fertilizer, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate) were applied to grapevines grown in plastic pots, and then their effects on grape growth and nutrient uptake were explored. Results showed that the complex fertilizer and potassium nitrate treatments increased the biomass of the grapevine plants, whereas the other fertilizers had no significant effects on the biomass. Only the potassium nitrate treatment increased the contents of photosynthetic pigments in grapevine leaves. The complex fertilizer and potassium nitrate treatments increased the total N content in the grapevine plants to some extent, whereas the other fertilizer treatments decreased the total N content to some extent. It was also evident that all four K fertilizers increased the total P and K contents in the grapevine plants. Compared to the control, the complex fertilizer, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate treatments increased the scion total P content by 20.18%, 9.77%, 12.52%, and 30.81%, respectively, and increased the scion total K content by 15.37%, 8.41%, 20.15%, and 26.48%, respectively. In addition, correlation and grey relational analyses showed that the rootstock stem total N content, rootstock root biomass, and soil alkali-hydrolyzable N concentration were the top three indicators most closely associated with the scion total N content, whereas the rootstock root total P content, soil available P concentration, and rootstock stem total P content were the top three indicators most closely associated with the scion total P content. Additionally, the rootstock root total K content, soil available K concentration, and rootstock root total P content were the top three indicators most closely associated with the scion total K content. Overall, the different K fertilizers can all promote the uptake of P and K by grapevine plants, and the potassium dihydrogen phosphate fertilizer is the best choice.

Connecting Gut Microbial Diversity with Plasma Metabolome and Fecal Bile Acid Changes Induced by the Antibiotics Tobramycin and Colistin Sulfate.

The diversity of microbial species in the gut has a strong influence on health and development of the host. Further, there are indications that the variation in expression of gut bacterial metabolic enzymes is less diverse than the taxonomic profile, underlying the importance of microbiome functionality, particularly from a toxicological perspective. To address these relationships, the gut bacterial composition of Wistar rats was altered by a 28 day oral treatment with the antibiotics tobramycin or colistin sulfate. On the basis of 16S marker gene sequencing data, tobramycin was found to cause a strong reduction in the diversity and relative abundance of the microbiome, whereas colistin sulfate had only a marginal impact. Associated plasma and fecal metabolomes were characterized by targeted mass spectrometry-based profiling. The fecal metabolome of tobramycin-treated animals had a high number of significant alterations in metabolite levels compared to controls, particularly in amino acids, lipids, bile acids (BAs), carbohydrates, and energy metabolites. The accumulation of primary BAs and significant reduction of secondary BAs in the feces indicated that the microbial alterations induced by tobramycin inhibit bacterial deconjugation reactions. The plasma metabolome showed less, but still many alterations in the same metabolite groups, including reductions in indole derivatives and hippuric acid, and furthermore, despite marginal effects of colistin sulfate treatment, there were nonetheless systemic alterations also in BAs. Aside from these treatment-based differences, we also uncovered interindividual differences particularly centering on the loss of Verrucomicrobiaceae in the microbiome, but with no apparent associated metabolite alterations. Finally, by comparing the data set from this study with metabolome alterations in the MetaMapTox database, key metabolite alterations were identified as plasma biomarkers indicative of altered gut microbiomes resulting from a wide activity spectrum of antibiotics.

Effect of zinc concentration on the growth performance of White leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei Boone

Awareness about healthy organic food is increasing, leading to research on contaminants/pollutants and their effect on aquatic fauna and mankind. The effect of zinc sulphate on the growth performance of White leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) was evaluated under six doses viz; 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mg/l in in vitro study conducted from June to October 2021. The results revealed that higher doses of zinc sulphate showed toxicity against L. vannamei. The weight (3.12gm), length (8.95cm), weight gain per shrimp (4.11g), average daily weight gain (0.032), and specific growth rate (1.1g) were significantly (5%) lower at the higher dose (8mg/l) of zinc sulphate than control 11.73g, 16.22cm, 19.75g, 0.156g, and 2.20g respectively. With an increase in zinc sulphate dose from 0 mg/l in control to 8 mg/l, survival of shrimp decreased from 100 % to 7%. The Lethal concentration (LC50) for zinc sulphate treatments was recorded at 0.71 ppm for shrimp. The water quality parameter pH (7.17-8.09), dissolved oxygen (6.13-7.58mg/l), hardness (4000-4772mg/l), and total alkalinity (162-231mg/l) were in an optimum range. The variation in Nitrite- Nitrogen, Nitrate- Nitrogen and Ammonical-Nitrogen (0-0.018, 0-0.4, 0-0.018mg/l) were within a permissible range. Thus, the present study revealed that zinc had a negative potential effect on L. vannamei at higher concentrations and may lead to serious economic loss to farmers if ignored.

Effects of Various Copper Sources and Concentrations on Performance, Skeletal Growth, and Mineral Content of Excreta in Broiler Chickens.

The experiment was designed to study the effect of supplemental sources and concentrations of copper on the performance and development and mineralization of tibia bones in broiler chickens. A 42-day feeding experiment was conducted utilising three copper sources, including copper sulphate (CuS), copper chloride (CuCl), and copper propionate (CuP), each with four different concentrations, i.e. 8, 100, 150, and 200mg/kg. The body weight gain with 200mg Cu/kg food was noticeably higher during the first 4-6weeks of age. Due to the interaction between Cu sources and levels, there was no significant change in the body weight gained. The feed intake during various growing phases did differ significantly neither the main effect nor the interaction between different copper sources and levels. A CuP-supplemented diet (200mg/kg food) considerably (P ≤ 0.05) improved the feed conversion ratio between 4-6 and 0-6weeks. At the end of the experiment, a total of 72 tibia bones, i.e. six for each treatment were collected. A metabolic trial was conducted to look into mineral retention in broiler chickens on the final 3days of the trial (40-42days). Increased tibia bone zinc (Zn) levels were seen with the addition of 8mg Cu/kg of Cu chloride, 100mg Cu/kg of Cu propionate, 8mg Cu/kg of Cu sulphate, and 8mg/kg of Cu propionate to the diet. At higher levels of Cu (150 and 200mg/kg diet), there was a significantly (P ≤ 0.01) reduced tibia Zn content. Cu sulphate treatment group had higher (P ≤ 0.01) tibia Cu content (8mg Cu/kg diet). Cu sulphate supplemented diet had a greater excreta Zn content (P ≤ 0.01) than Cu chloride supplemented diet, and Cu propionate supplemented diet had the lowest excreta Zn content. Excreta with a higher Fe concentration were found in diets supplemented with copper sulphate and copper chloride (P ≤ 0.05) than in diets supplied with copper propionate. Thus, it may be concluded that feeding dietary Cu concentrations up to 200mg Cu/kg diet, regardless of the different sources, had no negative effects on bone morphometry and mineralization parameters with the exception of a decrease in the tibia's zinc content.

Synthesis and characterisation of sulfated-nanocrystalline cellulose in epoxy coatings for corrosion protection of mild steel from sodium chloride solution

Biomaterials such as nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) have attracted considerable attention in coating production industries due to their sustainable and renewable attributes. This work presents NCC obtained from the hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose and sulfation treatment of NCC to obtain sulfated-NCC (S-NCC) using a chemical agent for corrosion protection of mild steel in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. Two types of anticorrosion coatings were formulated by incorporating either NCC or S-NCC of different loading ratios (10 wt.% to 50 wt.%) to epoxy-matrix to form composite coatings. The structural characterisations of NCC and S-NCC showed that the sulfation introduced sulfate ester groups on NCC. The morphological characterisations displayed that the average particle sizes obtained for both ranged between 40 nm and 50 nm. Electrochemical measurements were conducted to obtain the anticorrosion behaviour of the composite coatings in the corrosive solution. The results indicated that the sulfation of NCC improved the anticorrosion performance to 99.7%, and the best performance was obtained from a coating containing 20 wt.% S-NCC. Finally, a mechanism for corrosion protection of S-NCC coating was proposed where electrostatic repulsion of chloride species from the coated mild steel occurred. This study, therefore, demonstrates the applicability and importance of S-NCC in improving the anticorrosion performance of epoxy coatings for maritime applications.

Term Neonatal Outcomes after Maternal Magnesium Sulfate Treatment for Seizure Prophylaxis.

This study aimed to evaluate term neonatal outcomes after maternal magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) treatment for seizure prophylaxis. This was a single-site retrospective cohort study of all women with term singleton gestation requiring MgSO4 treatment for seizure prophylaxis and their respective neonatal outcomes from January 2013 through December 2020. Our primary outcome was neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. We compared outcomes between women treated with MgSO4 for 24 hours or more and women treated with MgSO4 for less than 24 hours prior to delivery. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to calculate adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI), controlling for variables with a p < 0.05 based on bivariable analysis. Of 834 women analyzed, 173 (20.7%) neonates were admitted to the NICU. Women treated with MgSO4 for 24 hours or more compared with women treated with MgSO4 for less than 24 hours were more likely to have neonates admitted to the NICU during their hospitalization (27.3 vs. 18.9%; p = 0.01), neonates requiring immediate NICU admission (24.6 vs. 18.3%; p < 0.01), and NICU admission for neonatal lethargy. After adjusting for covariates, only NICU admission due to neonatal lethargy remained statistically significant (aOR: 4.78 [95% CI: 1.50-15.21]). Prolonged MgSO4 treatment for 24 hours or more was associated with increased odds of term NICU admission due to neonatal lethargy. · NICU admission rose with longer magnesium treatment.. · Nulliparous patients had more magnesium sulfate exposure.. · Obese patients had longer magnesium sulfate exposure..

The efficacy of oral iron treatment in Somalian nonpregnant female patients with mild/moderate iron deficiency anemia.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of oral ferrous sulfate therapy in non-pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia in Somalia, which is one of the poorest and undeveloped countries in the world. Study Design: Cross Sectional. Setting: Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia. Period: December 2018 to June 2019. Material &amp; Methods: The study included 117 ambulatory females between 18 and 41 years with iron deficiency anemia diagnosed with a hemoglobin level between 9 and 12g/dL and a serum ferritin level below of 15 ng/ml. The patients received ferrous sulfate 200 mg twice daily. Hemoglobin levels of the patients were measured at 2,4,8, and 12 weeks after the start of treatment, and ferritin levels were measured at 4,8 and 12 weeks. Results: The mean baseline hemoglobin and ferritin values were 9.71+1. 01 g/dl and 6.59+3,63 ng/ml, respectively. After 2,4,8 and 12 weeks of treatment, the mean hemoglobin values were increased to 10.58 g/dl, 11.53g/dl, 12.24g/dl and 12.85 g/dl, respectively. At 12 weeks, 79% of participants had normalized hemoglobin concentrations. (&gt;12 gr/dl). Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study also demonstrated that in patients with mild-moderate IDA oral ferrous sulfate is an effective and better-tolerated treatment. At the same time, oral ferrous sulfate treatment is cost-effective.

Role of zinc-methionine chelate on bone health and eggshell quality in late–phase laying hens

This experiment aimed to assessing bone status and eggshell properties of laying hens at the end of a production cycle in response to inclusion of zinc-methionine chelate and zinc sulfate to diet. In a completely randomized design, 125 Leghorn laying hens (w36) 80 weeks old were divided into five treatment groups with five replications.Treatments were control (without zinc supplementation), zinc sulfate treatments (30 and 45 mg/kg), and zinc-methionine chelate (30 and 45 mg/kg). There was a significant increase in the feed intake in zinc sulfate and zinc -methionine chelate treatments campare the control treatment (P < 0.05). Tibia ash was significantly higher in treatments containing sulfate and zinc methionine chelate than in the control treatment (P < 0.05). The tibia's cortical thickness was improved in laying hens receiving 30 mg/kg zinc-methionine chelate. The supplementation of zinc could lead to an increase of mineralization in bone tissue. According to the results, zinc supplementation can improve feed intake, egg weight and the optimal zinc absorption in tissues. Zinc-methionine chelate boosts tibial mechanical properties without compromising eggshell quality of laying hens at the end of a production cycle.

Biometabolites of Citrus unshiu Peel Enhance Intestinal Permeability and Alter Gut Commensal Bacteria

Flavanones in Citrus unshiu peel (CUP) have been used as therapeutic agents to reduce intestinal inflammation; however, the anti-inflammatory effects of their biometabolites remain ambiguous. Here, we identified aglycone-type flavanones, such as hesperetin and naringenin, which were more abundant in the bioconversion of the CUP than in the ethanol extracts of the CUP. We found that the bioconversion of the CUP induced the canonical nuclear factor-κB pathway via degradation of IκB in Caco-2 cells. To check the immune suppressive capacity of the aglycones of the CUP in vivo, we orally administered the bioconversion of the CUP (500 mg/kg) to mice for two weeks prior to the 3% dextran sulfate sodium treatment. The CUP-pretreated group showed improved body weight loss, colon length shortage, and intestinal inflammation than the control mice. We also found a significant decrease in the population of lamina propria Th17 cells in the CUP-pretreated group following dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) treatment and an increase in mRNA levels of occludin in CUP-treated Caco-2 cells. Pyrosequencing analysis revealed a decreased abundance of Alistipes putredinis and an increased abundance of Muribaculum intestinale in the feces of the CUP-pretreated mice compared to those of the control mice. Overall, these findings suggest that the pre-administration of CUP biometabolites may inhibit the development of murine colitis by modulating intestinal permeability and the gut microbiome.