Supply Of Trace Elements Research Articles

Safety Assessment on the Proposed Inclusion of Up to 75% Inert Copper in a PARNUT Bolus (RP2059)

An application was submitted to the Food Standards Agency in May 2023 to extend the scope of the conditions of use associated with an existing feedstuff for particular nutritional purposes (PARNUT). Intraruminal boluses can be used to provide a long-term supply of trace elements and vitamins to grazing animals, specifically ruminants with functional rumen. Under this use, they are classified as a PARNUT. Up to 20% inert, non-bioavailable iron can be added to the bolus as a means to increase density and ensure that the bolus is retained in the reticulum of the animal. The applicant proposed the inclusion of up to 75% inert, non-bioavailable copper in a bolus as an alternative to iron. To support the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) in evaluating the dossier, the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF) were asked to review the dossier and the supplementary information from the applicant. The FSA/FSS concluded, based on the ACAF’s advice, that copper in a bolus ballast is inert and that leaching of copper into the rumen is highly unlikely. The copper in a bolus ballast is not bioavailable to the animal, therefore the risk of toxicity to target animals and consumers is low. The use of up to 75% inert copper as an alternative to up to 20% inert iron in a PARNUT bolus poses no additional risk to the target animals, consumers, users or the environment. The views of the ACAF have been taken into account in the safety assessment which represents the opinion of the FSA and FSS.

Інтенсивність нітрозо-оксидативних процесів у ротовій рідині дітей з поєднанням латентного залізо- та легкого йододефіциту

Proper supply of bioelements that participate in physiological processes is especially important in childhood, because it significantly affects for the formation of the hormonal profile. The prevalence of dental pathology among schoolchildren reflects the priority of early diagnosis and thorough prevention of pathological processes. In order to find out the risks of dental health disorders, the intensity of nitroso-oxidative processes in the oral fluid of children (boys and girls aged 6-11 and young men and girls aged 12-18) with combined latent iron and mild iodine deficiency was studied and in conditions of sufficient supply of trace elements (control group). As a result of the study, the activation of the peroxidation processes of proteins (the level of products of oxidative modification of proteins increases by 87.3% - 3.3 times) and lipids (the content of diene conjugates increases by 62.7% - 12.4 times) in case of imbalance of antioxidant protection of oral fluid (inhibition of SOD by 20.4-30.7%, activation of glutathione peroxidase by 92.0-93.3%) compared to data in healthy teenagers. The development of iron and iodine deficiency is accompanied by an 8.3-fold increase in NO2 - content, a 3.3-fold increase in the amount of NO2 - and NO3 - in the oral fluid of boys, and a 2.5-11.4-fold increase in the concentration of peroxynitrite in all schoolchildren compared to controls. An increase in H2S content in the oral fluid was also found in girls (by 25.6% compared to the values of the control group). The level of oxidative processes is higher in younger schoolchildren (ages 6-11). With age, the intensity of oxidative stress decreases, but changes in the NO metabolism system increase, especially for girls (cytotoxic peroxynitrite and H2S accumulate in the oral fluid). Therefore, it is possible to assert a high probability of the development of nitroso-oxidative stress in the conditions of a combination of iron and iodine deficiency already at the stage of preclinical changes, which can increase the risks of developing dental pathology.

Influences of sources and weather dynamics on atmospheric deposition of Se species and other trace elements

Abstract. Atmospheric deposition is an important source of the micronutrient selenium for terrestrial ecosystems and food chains. However, the factors determining the total concentrations and chemical forms (speciation) of selenium in atmospheric deposition remain poorly understood. Here, aerosol samples were collected weekly over 5 years at Pic du Midi Observatory (French Pyrenees), alongside highly temporally resolved samples of aerosols, precipitation, and cloud water taken during a 2-month campaign. Firstly, measurements of selenium, other elements, and water isotopes were combined with sophisticated modelling approaches (aerosol–chemistry–climate SOCOL-AERv2 model and air parcel backward trajectories and Lagrangian moisture source analyses). Aerosol selenium measurements agreed well with SOCOL-AERv2-predicted values, and interestingly, higher fluxes of selenium and other elements were associated with deep convective activity during thunderstorms, highlighting the importance of local cloud dynamics in high deposition fluxes. Our results further indicate the coupling of element and water cycles from source to cloud formation, with decoupling during precipitation due to below-cloud scavenging. Secondly, selenium speciation was investigated in relation to sulfur speciation, organic composition, and moisture sources. While in the 5-year aerosol series, selenite (SeIV) was linked to anthropogenic source factors, in wet deposition it was related to pH and Atlantic moisture sources. We also report an organic selenium fraction, tracing it back to a marine biogenic source in both aerosols and wet deposition. With a comprehensive set of observations and model diagnostics, our study underscores the role of weather system dynamics alongside source contributions in explaining the atmospheric supply of trace elements to surface environments.

Long-term suboptimal dietary trace element supply does not affect trace element homeostasis in murine cerebellum.

The ageing process is associated with alterations of systemic trace element (TE) homeostasis increasing the risk, e.g. neurodegenerative diseases. Here, the impact of long-term modulation of dietary intake of copper, iron, selenium, and zinc was investigated in murine cerebellum. Four- and 40-wk-old mice of both sexes were supplied with different amounts of those TEs for 26 wk. In an adequate supply group, TE concentrations were in accordance with recommendations for laboratory mice while suboptimally supplied animals received only limited amounts of copper, iron, selenium, and zinc. An additional age-adjusted group was fed selenium and zinc in amounts exceeding recommendations. Cerebellar TE concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the expression of genes involved in TE transport, DNA damage response, and DNA repair as well as selected markers of genomic stability [8-oxoguanine, incision efficiency toward 8-oxoguanine, 5-hydroxyuracil, and apurinic/apyrimidinic sites and global DNA (hydroxy)methylation] were analysed. Ageing resulted in a mild increase of iron and copper concentrations in the cerebellum, which was most pronounced in the suboptimally supplied groups. Thus, TE changes in the cerebellum were predominantly driven by age and less by nutritional intervention. Interestingly, deviation from adequate TE supply resulted in higher manganese concentrations of female mice even though the manganese supply itself was not modulated. Parameters of genomic stability were neither affected by age, sex, nor diet. Overall, this study revealed that suboptimal dietary TE supply does not substantially affect TE homeostasis in the murine cerebellum.

Dietary patterns, plasma and hair trace element in Ukrainian cohort of adults during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Adequate mineral intake is important for optimal immune protection against viral infections. However, there is insufficient data on the mineral status of the Ukrainian adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included people aged 35-80 years with a history of COVID-19 (study group, n=35) and those without (control group, n=26). Dietary intake was assessed using 7-day weighted food records. Trace element analysis of plasma and hair was performed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (Elvatech, Ukraine). Low levels of zinc, copper, and, to a lesser extent, iron and selenium were found in the participants' plasma and hair samples. Low hair zinc levels were found in 75.8 % of participants in the study group and 95.8% in the control group (p=0.065). Hair zinc was positively associated with plasma levels (β 0.09, CI 0.03 to 0.15, p=0.007). Participants with a COVID-19 history had higher hair zinc levels than the control group, but still below normal. The difference between groups may be explained by the higher proportion of zinc supplementation (62.9% vs 16.0%, p=0.0005). The low supply of trace elements was independent of estimated dietary intake and history of COVID-19. With increasing age of the participants, the selenium content in their hair decreased (β -0.02, CI -0.03 to -0.01, p=0.001). Current findings show the need to improve the nutrition of Ukrainians, as well as to monitor the supply of minerals for the development of optimal nutritional interventions. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: trace elements; zinc; selenium; dietary intake; age; COVID-19

Arabidopsis seedlings respond differentially to nutrient efficacy of three rock meals by regulating root architecture and endogenous auxin homeostasis

BackgroundPlants show developmental plasticity with variations in environmental nutrients. Considering low-cost rock dust has been identified as a potential alternative to artificial fertilizers for more sustainable agriculture, the growth responses of Arabidopsis seedlings on three rock meals (basalt, granite, and marlstone) were examined for the different foraging behavior, biomass accumulation, and root architecture.ResultsCompared to ½ MS medium, basalt and granite meal increased primary root length by 13% and 38%, respectively, but marlstone caused a 66% decrease, and they all drastically reduced initiation and elongation of lateral roots but lengthened root hairs. Simultaneous supply of organic nutrients and trace elements increased fresh weight due to the increased length of primary roots and root hairs. When nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were supplied individually, N proved most effective in improving fresh weight of seedlings growing on basalt and granite, whereas K, followed by P, was most effective for those growing on marlstone. Unexpectedly, the addition of N to marlstone negatively affected seedling growth, which was associated with repressed auxin biosynthesis in roots.ConclusionsOur data indicate that plants can recognize and adapt to complex mineral deficiency by adjusting hormonal homeostasis to achieve environmental sensitivity and developmental plasticity, which provide a basis for ecologically sound and sustainable strategies to maximize the use of natural resources and reduce the production of artificial fertilizers.

Effect of trace element supply on plant growth and mineral nutrition of Cyclopia longifolia Vogel L. a Honeybush tea plant growing on a farmer's field in the Cape fynbos, South Africa

Cyclopia longifolia Vogel L. is endemic to the Cape fynbos, and cultivated for the production of Honeybush tea, a herbal beverage with health benefits and economic potential in the cosmetic and nutraceutical industries. In this study, field plants were supplemented with different levels of Cu, Mo, Mn and Zn using 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mM solutions of Na2MoO4·2H2O and MnSO4·2H2O and 0, 1.0 and 1.5 mM solutions of ZnSO4·7H2O and CuSO4·5H2O in a split-application. Plant shoots were harvested at 300 days after fertilization for biomass determination and analysis of mineral nutrients. The results showed significantly increased shoot dry matter yield of C. longifolia in response to Mn, Cu, Zn and Mo supplementation under field conditions, and was highest at the 1.5 mM level of each applied micronutrient. These results suggest that field fertilization of Cyclopia plants can lead to increased plant growth and greater tea yield, in addition to overcoming nutrient mining from the annual harvests of plant shoots for making tea. Furthermore, supplying Mn, Zn, Cu and Mo to C. longifolia also significantly increased the concentrations and amounts of P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Mn and B in shoots relative to the zero controls, suggesting an increase in tea quality with trace element supplementation. However, the shoot concentrations of N and Fe were markedly reduced with increasing supply of Mn, Cu, Zn and Mo to C. longifolia plants, an indication of mineral-to-mineral antagonism in the plant rhizosphere.

APPLICATION EFFICIENCY OF THE TREATMENT IMPROVED METHOD OF ACUTE ODONTOGENIC PERIOSTITIS IN CHILDREN

The aim of our work – to establish the effectiveness of the improved method of treatmentof acute odontogenic periostitis in children suffering from diffuse non-toxic goiter.Materials and methods. 38 children aged 12-15 years with acute odontogenic periostitisagainst a background of diffuse non-toxic goiter were involved into the treatment andobservation. Pharmacological correction was applied in the complex of generallyaccepted treatment measures, in particular, the appointment of topical probiotic lozengesfor absorption «BioGaia Prodentis» and oral administration of the immunomodulatorydrug «Imupret» against a background of correction of the trace element supply of thechild’s body with the drug «Calcemin advance».The results. The high clinical effectiveness of the proposed method of treatment wasestablished, which was confirmed by the reduction of the treatment period to (5.3±0.26)days against (8.0±0.36) days with the generally accepted method of treatment (p<0.05)and the normalization of all protective components of oral fluid.Conclusion. The proposed method of treatment makes it possible to provide effectively thedental care to children with odontogenic inflammatory diseases, taking into account theetiopathogenetic mechanisms of the formation of the inflammatory process and preventingthe development of possible complications from the dento- maxillofacial system and thechild’s body as a whole.

Multifunctional metal-organic framework with pH-response for co-delivery of prochloraz and siRNA to synergistic control pathogenic fungi

We first report a pH-responsive multifunctional nano pesticide-fertilizer complex based on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) and RNA interference (RNAi) technology for synergistic control of wilt disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani, and promotion of crop growth. Chemical pesticide prochloraz (Pro), biological pesticide small interfering RNA (siRNA), and a plant growth regulator diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6) were loaded in Pro/DA-6 @ZIF-8 @siRNA nanoparticles (Nps). The Nps had a rhombic orthododecahedron structure and a hydrated particle size of 841.7 ± 12.8 nm. SiRNA has good stability due to the protection of the nanocarrier as well as an excellent controlled-release behavior under acidic conditions due to the degradation of coordination bonds. The Nps can be adsorbed and transmitted via pathogenic mycelium to enhance the efficacy of non-invasive pesticides. Compared to Pro technical, siRNA and Pro co-delivered by ZIF-8 had a synergistic inhibitory effect on pathogenic fungi. Due to the slow-release of DA-6 and the supply of trace elements, the Nps significantly promoted rice seedling growth by regulation of key metabolic enzymes, and the nutritional function of Nps as a zinc ion fertilizer was demonstrated. Biological studies further verified that nano-carrier had good biosafety and reduced environmental risks. Therefore, this novel nano pesticide-fertilizer complex has potential applications for the effective management of plant disease to enhance environmental safety.

Ex-situ biological hydrogen methanation in trickle bed reactors: Integration into biogas production facilities

Biological hydrogen methanation (BHM) is a biocatalytic process for biogas upgrading. Integrating ex-situ BHM processes into biogas facilities has the advantage of using inoculum, CO2, and nutrients directly from anaerobic digestion (AD) processes to enhance CH4 productivity. This study investigated the potential of biowaste digestate as an inoculum and digested biowaste reject water as the trickling liquid and nutrient source in thermophilic trickle bed reactors (TBRs). Use of reject water improved H2 conversion efficiency to up to 99 %, thus achieving a H2 loading rate of 10.8 LH2 L Rv-1 d-1 at a gas retention time (GRT) of 1.8 h and CH4 productivity of 2.6 L LRv-1 d-1 implying that reject water contains macronutrients beneficial to enriching hydrogenotrophic methanogens. However, at high H2 loading rates, a trace element supply was necessary to stabilize process performance. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens Methanothermobacter and Methanobacterium were selectively enriched, mainly due to the increased H2 loading rate.

Microbial succession analysis reveals the significance of restoring functional microorganisms during rescue of failed anaerobic digesters by bioaugmentation of nano-biochar-amended digestate

Nano-biochar application was investigated for anaerobic digestion of orange peel waste. The application for methane production focused on the optimization of biochar feedstock, rescue of failed digesters, and microbial succession analysis. It showed that sewage sludge (SS) derived biochar had the highest performance enhancement among the different feedstocks, which could be ascribed to the improvement of electron transfer, interspecies hydrogen transfer, and supply of trace elements. Subsequently, nano SS biochar-amended digestate was evaluated for rescuing failed digesters, and the experimental results indicated its positive roles through gradual bioaugmentation operation. The dynamic analysis of microbial succession indicated the successful application was through the mechanism of restoring partially the functional microbial communities. The major reconstruction of functional microorganisms included bacteria phyla Hydrogenispora (24.5%) and Defluviitoga (18.8%) as well as methanogenic genera of Methanosarcina (41.5%) and Methanobacterium (27.3%). These findings would contribute to rescuing failed anaerobic digesters by bioaugmentation with biochar-amended digestate.

Drosophila melanogaster as a Model Organism to Study Lithium and Boron Bioactivity.

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has become a valuable model organism in nutritional science, which can be applied to elucidate the physiology and the biological function of nutrients, including trace elements. Importantly, the application of chemically defined diets enables the supply of trace elements for nutritional studies under highly standardized dietary conditions. Thus, the bioavailability and bioactivity of trace elements can be systematically monitored in D. melanogaster. Numerous studies have already revealed that central aspects of trace element homeostasis are evolutionary conserved among the fruit fly and mammalian species. While there is sufficient evidence of vital functions of boron (B) in plants, there is also evidence regarding its bioactivity in animals and humans. Lithium (Li) is well known for its role in the therapy of bipolar disorder. Furthermore, recent findings suggest beneficial effects of Li regarding neuroprotection as well as healthy ageing and longevity in D. melanogaster. However, no specific essential function in the animal kingdom has been found for either of the two elements so far. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of Li and B bioactivity in D. melanogaster in the context of health and disease prevention.

Serum and Hair Trace Element and Mineral Levels in Dairy Cows in Relation to Daily Milk Yield.

The objective of the present study was to assess hair and serum trace element and mineral levels in dairy cows in relation to daily milk yield. A total of 70 healthy 5-6-year-old Simmental cows were divided into two groups (n = 35) with high and low daily milk yield using median as a cut-off value. Hair and serum trace element and mineral content was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry. A nearly twofold difference in daily milk yield (43.8 ± 9.7 vs 21.3 ± 7.1 L/day, p < 0.001) was significantly associated with 11% lower hair Cu (p = 0.043) and 35% higher Se levels (p = 0.058) content when compared animals with lower daily milk yield. Serum trace element levels were found to be more tightly associated with milk productivity in dairy cows. Particularly, serum levels of Se and Zn were found to be 73 and 35% higher in cows with higher milk productivity in comparison to animals with lower milk production, respectively. Serum Co levels also tended to increase with higher milk productivity. Serum minerals including Ca, Mg, and P were also found to be higher in highly productive cows by 6%, 14%, and 71%, respectively. The overall regression model based on serum trace element and mineral levels accounted for 38% of daily milk production variability. Generally, improvement of essential trace element and mineral supply, as well as prevention of copper overload in dairy cows, may be considered the potential tool for modulation of milk productivity.

Economic cost\u2013benefit analysis for the agricultural use of sewage sludge treated with lime and fly ash

A tool for calculating the economic and environmental impacts of the use of byproducts of industrial processes that can substitute for perishable resources was presented. This was exemplified by fly ash (the fine fraction of ash originating from coal burned to generate electricity and collected by filtering exhaust gases leaving the furnace), added to soil as a component of sewage sludge stabilized with fly ash and lime (NVS). Application to soil of NVS has potential agricultural and environmental advantages and disadvantages. The costs and benefits of such application were calculated using both a database and expert opinions. The calculations assumed a representative assemblage of soils and crops, with weights assigned to each crop type and soil characteristic. The annual weighted benefits (additional income for the farmer) and costs per hectare reached 324 $/ha and 131 $/ha respectively. Major potential benefits include: Chemical fertilizer replacement, 159 $/ha; Improvement to the soil's physical properties, 75 $/ha; Supply of vital trace elements, 33 $/ha. Major potential costs were: Regulatory limitations on marketing of crops pending proof of absence of risk of heavy metals or radionuclides accumulation in these crops, (17 $/ha and 36 $/ha respectively); Application and incorporation cost, 50 $/ha. The presented estimates of the costs and benefits refer to the array of soils and conditions typical to Israel. It is possible to maximize potential benefits by applying fly ash only to the most suitable agricultural soils while improper use of fly ash will increase the costs incurred from its use.

Sucrose-modified iron nanoparticles for highly efficient microbial production of hyaluronic acid by Streptococcus zooepidemicus

Nanoparticles (NPs) were hypothesized to enhance fermentation processes and assist microorganisms in producing valuable biopolymers. Donors of trace iron, i.e., FeSO4·7H2O, zero-valence iron nanoparticles (Fe NPs), and ferric oxide nanoparticles (α-Fe2O3 NPs), were tested to study the impact on hyaluronic acid (HA) production. The bioprocess with the addition of 30 mg/L Fe NPs produced higher HA than the other groups. However, Fe NPs were limited by the synergistic effect of geomagnetism and high surface energy, resulting in obvious agglomeration behavior. To address this, we developed novel sucrose-modified iron nanoparticles (SM-Fe NPs), which showed effective improvement of dispersion and agglomeration. Concerning the SM-Fe NP additives, an adequate supply of nutrients and trace elements provided sufficient substrates and energy for the reproduction of Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Furthermore, the highest HA production with the addition of 30 mg/L SM-Fe NPs was 0.226 g/L, and the dry weight of the produced HA increased 3.28 times compared with the control group (0.069 g/L). This work significantly improved HA production and presented promising opportunities for industrial production.

Changes of macromineral and trace element concentration in the blood of ewes during lactation period

The aim of the present research was to determine the changes in macromineral and trace element concentrations in ewes’ blood during the lactation period. Thirty-six Travnik pramenka ewes at the average age of 3–5 years were included in research and they were evaluated at three stages of lactation: early stage (40 ± 5 days of lactation), medium stage (80 ± 5 days of lactation) and late stage (120 ± 5 days of lactation). In ewes’ blood concentrations of macroelements (Ca, P, K, Na, Mg) and trace elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mo, Co, Se, Cd, As) were determined. The average concentrations of macroelements and trace elements in the blood of ewes during lactation were mostly within the reference values. Se concentrations in blood were close to the deficient ones, while concentrations of Cd and As were negligible. Concentration of Ca in blood was the lowest in the early lactation stage, higher in the late stage, and the highest in the medium stage (88.25 mg/l, 96.43 mg/l and 103.43 mg/l, respectively). A significant increase in the concentrations of Mg, Co and Cd and a significant decrease in the concentrations of Na, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mo and Se were found in blood with lactation progress. Significant correlations between the studied parameters were found, especially between macroelements (Ca : K, P : Na, K : Na, K : Mg). Positive correlations were found between some macroelements and trace elements (Ca : Co, Ca : Cd, K : Co, Na : Zn, Na : Se) and between trace elements (Fe : Cu, Cu : Zn, Cu : Mo, Cu : Se, Zn : Se, Mo : Se and Co : As). Negative correlations were found between Ca and Cu, Ca and Mo, P and Cd, K and Cu. Obtained results may help in monitoring the nutritional status and health of ewes during the lactation period, providing a clearer idea related to the supply of macrominerals and trace elements to ewes. Besides, results indicated that the environment of the farming area was not polluted with toxic elements.

Radium-228-derived ocean mixing and trace element inputs in the South Atlantic

Abstract. Trace elements (TEs) play important roles as micronutrients in modulating marine productivity in the global ocean. The South Atlantic around 40∘ S is a prominent region of high productivity and a transition zone between the nitrate-depleted subtropical gyre and the iron-limited Southern Ocean. However, the sources and fluxes of trace elements to this region remain unclear. In this study, the distribution of the naturally occurring radioisotope 228Ra in the water column of the South Atlantic (Cape Basin and Argentine Basin) has been investigated along a 40∘ S zonal transect to estimate ocean mixing and trace element supply to the surface ocean. Ra-228 profiles have been used to determine the horizontal and vertical mixing rates in the near-surface open ocean. In the Argentine Basin, horizontal mixing from the continental shelf to the open ocean shows an eddy diffusion of Kx=1.8±1.4 (106 cm2 s−1) and an integrated advection velocity w=0.6±0.3 cm s−1. In the Cape Basin, horizontal mixing is Kx=2.7±0.8 (107 cm2 s−1) and vertical mixing Kz = 1.0–1.7 cm2 s−1 in the upper 600 m layer. Three different approaches (228Ra diffusion, 228Ra advection, and 228Ra/TE ratio) have been applied to estimate the dissolved trace element fluxes from the shelf to the open ocean. These approaches bracket the possible range of off-shelf fluxes from the Argentine Basin margin to be 4–21 (×103) nmol Co m−2 d−1, 8–19 (×104) nmol Fe m−2 d−1 and 2.7–6.3 (×104) nmol Zn m−2 d−1. Off-shelf fluxes from the Cape Basin margin are 4.3–6.2 (×103) nmol Co m−2 d−1, 1.2–3.1 (×104) nmol Fe m−2 d−1, and 0.9–1.2 (×104) nmol Zn m−2 d−1. On average, at 40∘ S in the Atlantic, vertical mixing supplies 0.1–1.2 nmol Co m−2 d−1, 6–9 nmol Fe m−2 d−1, and 5–7 nmol Zn m−2 d−1 to the euphotic zone. Compared with atmospheric dust and continental shelf inputs, vertical mixing is a more important source for supplying dissolved trace elements to the surface 40∘ S Atlantic transect. It is insufficient, however, to provide the trace elements removed by biological uptake, particularly for Fe. Other inputs (e.g. particulate or from winter deep mixing) are required to balance the trace element budgets in this region.

Trace Element Biogeochemistry in the High‐Latitude North Atlantic Ocean: Seasonal Variations and Volcanic Inputs

AbstractWe present dissolved and total dissolvable trace elements for spring and summer cruises in 2010 in the high‐latitude North Atlantic. Surface and full depth data are provided for Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the Iceland and Irminger Basins, and consequences of biological uptake and inputs by the spring Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption are assessed. Ash from Eyjafjallajökull resulted in pronounced increases in Al, Mn, and Zn in surface waters in close proximity to Iceland during the eruption, while 3 months later during the summer cruise levels had returned to more typical values for the region. The apparent seasonal removal ratios of surface trace elements were consistent with biological export. Assessment of supply of trace elements to the surface mixed layer for the region, excluding volcanic inputs, indicated that deep winter mixing was the dominant source, with diffusive mixing being a minor source (between 13.5% [dissolved Cd, DCd] and −2.43% [DZn] of deep winter flux), and atmospheric inputs being an important source only for DAl and DZn (DAl up to 42% and DZn up to 4.2% of deep winter + diffusive fluxes) and typically less than 1% for the other elements. Elemental supply ratios to the surface mixed layer through convection were comparable to apparent removal ratios we calculated between spring and summer. Given that deep mixing dominated nutrient and trace element supply to surface waters, predicted increases in water column stratification in this region may reduce supply, with potential consequences for primary production and the biological carbon pump.

Improvement of coffee grounds high solid thermophilic methane fermentation by co-digestion with in-situ produced waste activated sludge: Performance and stability

The feasibility of in-situ stabilization in the co-digestion of coffee grounds (CG) and waste activated sludge (WAS) was investigated. Two lab-scale thermophilic continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTR), R1 and R2 were operated with substrates that contained different WAS ratios, S1 (WAS% = 20%) and S2 (WAS% = 30%). During the whole process, there was no external supply of ammonia and trace elements. The volatile solid (VS) removal efficiency of R1 and R2 was comparable, and the biogas yield of R1 (0.467 ± 0.100 L/g-VSin) was slightly higher than R2 (0.408 ± 0.020 L/g-VSin). The total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) of R1 and R2 was 482 ± 32 and 884 ± 24 mg/L, respectively. The stoichiometry formulas of co-digestion were established to calculate the theoretical microbial yield coefficients and the requirements of microorganism reproduction. A comparison between the theoretical requirements and experimental values showed that co-digestion with WAS could avoid supply for an external supply of minerals. For the net energy production, R1 and R2 could generate 6342 and 5069 kWh of electricity daily, respectively.

Front Cover: Effects of a Cumulative, Suboptimal Supply of Multiple Trace Elements in Mice: Trace Element Status, Genomic Stability, Inflammation, and Epigenetics

Front Cover: Effects of a Cumulative, Suboptimal Supply of Multiple Trace Elements in Mice: Trace Element Status, Genomic Stability, Inflammation, and Epigenetics