Sewage sludge/biosolids are by-wastes of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. As sources of nutrients (C, N, P) they are widely used in intensive farming where large supplementation of ...organic matter to maintain fertility and enhance crop yields is needed. However, according to the report of European Commission published in 2010, only 39% of produced sewage sludge is recycled into agriculture in the European Union. This situation occurs mainly due to the fact, that the sewage sludge may contain a dangerous volume of different contaminants. For over decades, a great deal of attention has been focused on total concentration of few heavy metals and pathogenic bacteria Salmonella and Escherichia coli. The Sewage Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC) regulates the allowable limits of Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr and Hg and pathogens and allows for recovery of sludge on land under defined sanitary and environmentally sound conditions. In this paper, a review on quality of sewage sludge based on the publications after 2010 has been presented. Nowadays there are several papers focusing on new serious threats to human health and ecosystem occurring in sewage sludge – both chemicals (such as toxic trace elements – Se, Ag, Ti; nanoparticles; polyaromatic hydrocarbons; polychlorinated biphenyl; perfluorinated surfactants, polycyclic musks, siloxanes, pesticides, phenols, sweeteners, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, benzotriazoles) and biological traits (Legionella, Yersinia, Escherichia coli O157:H7).
•Sewage sludge contains organic and inorganic contaminants not regulated by law.•Total content of many compounds (heavy metals) is not a reliable indicator of toxicity.•Regular monitoring is crucial to limit a release of toxic substances to ecosystem.
Although the Jurassic features a considerable accumulation of coal worldwide, only a few tonsteins within coal seams in this coal-forming period have been investigated. This paper presents the ...detailed mineralogical and geochemical compositions of six tonstein layers from the Middle Jurassic Yan'an Formation, Ordos Basin, North China. Based on the typical evidence of the distinct field characteristics occurring as paler thin beds with lateral continuity; conchoidal and flint-like fracture planes; sharp contacts with adjacent coals; and the mineralogical compositions, such as vermicular kaolinite, angular quartz, and euhedral zircon crystals with a single UPb age peak, the intra-seam clay beds of the Yan'an Formation were determined to have been mainly derived from a significant pyroclastic source. However, rounded quartz, muscovite, and detrital zircon grains in the tonsteins reflect minor contribution of terrigenous debris from sediment source regions. Moreover, a line of geochemical features including low TiO2/Al2O3 values, Al2O3/TiO2-Nb/Yb, and Al2O3/TiO2-Zr/TiO2 diagrams; low REY concentrations with high fractionation between light REE and heavy REY (REY, rare earth elements and Y; REE, rare earth elements); and pronounced negative Eu anomalies, suggest that the tonsteins have a felsic (rhyolitic) magma origin. A systematic geochemical analysis of enclosing coals of the tonsteins was also conducted to determine the leaching behavior of the trace elements from the tonsteins into the enclosing coals. The results show that Th, U, Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf tend to be enriched in the overlying and underlying coals and have an enrichment width of up to 30 cm. Similarly, the elevated concentrations of Zn, Rb, Cs, Pb, La, Ce, Pr, and Nd only occur in a relatively narrow zone above and below the tonsteins. The width of the enrichment in the enclosing coals may be mainly related to the properties of the tonsteins, e.g., thickness and original volcanogenic material, the characters of elements including mobility and concentration, and the nature of coals, such as coal rank.
•Six tonsteins were investigated in the Middle Jurassic coal-bearing strata.•All tonsteins of the Yan'an Formation have a felsic felsic (rhyolitic) magma origin.•Elements of Th, U, Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf tend to be enriched in the enclosing coals.•The enrichment zone depends on the properties of the tonstein, element, and coal.
cis-regulatory elements (CREs) encode the genomic blueprints of spatiotemporal gene expression programs enabling highly specialized cell functions. Using single-cell genomics in six maize organs, we ...determined the cis- and trans-regulatory factors defining diverse cell identities and coordinating chromatin organization by profiling transcription factor (TF) combinatorics, identifying TFs with non-cell-autonomous activity, and uncovering TFs underlying higher-order chromatin interactions. Cell-type-specific CREs were enriched for enhancer activity and within unmethylated long terminal repeat retrotransposons. Moreover, we found cell-type-specific CREs are hotspots for phenotype-associated genetic variants and were targeted by selection during modern maize breeding, highlighting the biological implications of this CRE atlas. Through comparison of maize and Arabidopsis thaliana developmental trajectories, we identified TFs and CREs with conserved and divergent chromatin dynamics, showcasing extensive evolution of gene regulatory networks. In addition to this rich dataset, we developed single-cell analysis software, Socrates, which can be used to understand cis-regulatory variation in any species.
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•Human selection and retrotransposons shaped the maize cis-regulatory landscape•Analysis of 92 patterns of single-cell chromatin accessibility from six maize organs•Transcription factors underlying chromatin interactions and non-cell autonomy•Evolution of cis-regulatory dynamics during Z. mays and A. thaliana development
Identification of cis-regulatory dynamics in the maize genome at single-cell and cell-type resolution by single-cell sequencing of assay for transposase accessible chromatin.
We present a combined mineralogical, chemical, and Sr-Nd isotopic study of hydrothermal alteration effects in near-surface Pleistocene rhyolite sampled at two distinct localities from the Los Azufres ...geothermal field (LAGF), Mexico. The alteration mineralogy of the near-surface rocks is dominated by silica polymorph minerals (cristobalite, tridymite, opal, and quartz), and kaolinite, showing an intense silicification in most altered samples. In some samples, alteration minerals berlinite, alunite, opal, and wollastonite, are also present. Sulfur (80–28, 300 μg/g) and LOI (1.36–12.18%) contents were used to indicate the intensity of alteration for the LAGF rock samples. The changes were considered as significant when they exceeded the analytical errors. Two main types of chemical and isotopic effects were documented: (1) small loss of both SiO2 and alkalis represented by one pair of samples, which did not show significant changes in the most major elements, REEs, Nb and Ta negative anomalies, nor in the normalized multiple-element LILE/REE, LILE/HFSE, and REE/HFSE ratio parameters, but indicated significant increase in Al, Fe, Ba, Ga, and Pb; and (2) significant gain of SiO2 accompanied by loss of alkalis for the rest of the rock samples collected from a different site showed significant decrease of most major elements, all REE concentrations and normalized multiple-element ratio parameters as well as changes in numerous trace element concentrations. During this alteration, the size of the Nb and Ta negative anomalies became smaller as a result of the alteration of the second type. Both types of alteration showed significant changes in 87Sr/86Sr, but generally not in 143Nd/144Nd, probably related to the involvement of highly heterogeneous crust in terms of 87Sr/86Sr.
•The first extensive hydrothermal alteration study of near-surface rhyolite•Significant hydrothermal alteration changes of major and trace elements•Changes in multiple element LILE/REE, LILE/HFSE, and REE/HFSE ratio parameters•Opposite changes in 87Sr/86Sr
The fusion-evaporation reaction {sup 244}Pu({sup 48}Ca,3-4n){sup 288,289}114 was studied at the new gas-filled recoil separator TASCA. Thirteen correlated decay chains were observed and assigned to ...the production and decay of {sup 288,289}114. At a compound nucleus excitation energy of E*=39.8-43.9 MeV, the 4n evaporation channel cross section was 9.8{sub -3.1}{sup +3.9} pb. At E*=36.1-39.5 MeV, that of the 3n evaporation channel was 8.0{sub -4.5}{sup +7.4} pb. In one of the 3n evaporation channel decay chains, a previously unobserved {alpha} branch in {sup 281}Ds was observed (probability to be of random origin from background: 0.1%). This {alpha} decay populated the new nucleus {sup 277}Hs, which decayed by spontaneous fission after a lifetime of 4.5 ms.
Breast milk is the recommended source of nutrients for infant growth, but its adequacy to meet infants' mineral and trace element needs is unknown.
We used breast-milk mineral and trace element ...concentrations of Guatemalan mothers at 3 lactation stages to estimate total daily intakes and to determine whether intakes were associated with early infant growth.
In this cross-sectional study, breast-milk samples were collected from Mam-Mayan mothers during transitional (5-17 d, n = 56), early (18-46 d, n = 75), and established (4-6 mo, n = 103) lactation; z scores for weight (WAZ), length (LAZ), and head circumference (HCAZ) were measured. Concentrations of 11 minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, copper, iron, manganese, rubidium, selenium, strontium, and zinc) were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). WHO equations were used to calculate the estimated energy requirement, which was divided by the energy density of breast milk to estimate daily milk volume, and this number was multiplied by breast-milk mineral concentrations to estimate intakes. Principal component analyses identified clusters of minerals; principal components (PCs) were used in regression analyses for anthropometric outcomes.
Estimated breast-milk intakes during established lactation were insufficient to compensate for the lower milk sodium, copper, manganese, and zinc concentrations in male infants and the lower sodium, iron and manganese concentrations in female infants. Estimated intakes of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and selenium were below the Institute of Medicine Adequate Intake for both sexes at all 3 stages of lactation. In early lactation, multiple linear regressions showed that PC1 (calcium, magnesium, potassium, rubidium, and strontium intakes) was positively associated with WAZ, LAZ, and HCAZ. In established lactation, the same PC with sodium added was positively associated with all 3 anthropometric outcomes; a second PC (PC2: zinc, copper, and selenium intakes) was associated with WAZ and LAZ but not HCAZ.
Breast milk may be inadequate in selected minerals and trace elements where higher estimated intakes were associated with greater infant growth.
The essential metals for humans: a brief overview Zoroddu, Maria Antonietta; Aaseth, Jan; Crisponi, Guido ...
Journal of inorganic biochemistry,
June 2019, 2019-06-00, 20190601, Letnik:
195
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The human body needs about 20 essential elements in order to function properly and among them, for certain, 10 are metal elements, though for every metal we do need, there is another one in our body ...we could do without it. Until about 1950 poor attention was given to the so-called “inorganic elements” and while researches on “organic elements” (C, N, O and H) and organic compounds were given high priority, studies on essential inorganic elements were left aside.
Base on current knowledge it is ascertained today that metals such as Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn and Mo are essential elements for life and our body must have appropriate amounts of them.
Here a brief overview to highlight their importance and current knowledge about their essentiality.
The human body needs about 20 essential elements in order to function properly and among them, for certain, 10 are metal elements, such as Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Mo.
Here a brief overview to highlight their importance and current knowledge about their essentiality. Display omitted
•Essential elements for life•Essential metal ions for human body•Bulk and trace essential metal ions•Metals for life and hard and soft chemical character
Selenium, an essential trace element, has been investigated as a potential cancer prevention agent. However, several studies have indicated that selenium supplementation may be associated with an ...increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), although an equivocal relation of this nature requires confirmation.
We examined the association between baseline plasma concentrations of selenium and the prevalence of T2D, as well as whether participant characteristics or intake of other antioxidant nutrients modified this relation.
We conducted cross-sectional analyses of 1727 participants from the Selenium Trial, a randomized clinical trial of selenium supplementation for colorectal adenoma chemoprevention that had data for baseline selenium plasma concentrations, T2D status, and dietary intake. Logistic regression modeling was used to evaluate the associations between plasma selenium concentrations and prevalent T2D, adjusting for confounding factors. Heterogeneity of effect by participant characteristics was evaluated utilizing likelihood-ratio tests.
Mean ± SD plasma selenium concentrations for those with T2D compared with those without T2D were 143.6 ± 28.9 and 138.7 ± 27.2 ng/mL, respectively. After adjustment for confounding, higher plasma selenium concentrations were associated with a higher prevalence of T2D, with ORs (95% CIs) of 1.25 (0.80, 1.95) and 1.77 (1.16, 2.71) for the second and third tertiles of plasma selenium, respectively, compared with the lowest tertile (P-trend = 0.007). No significant effect modification was observed for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, or ethnicity. Increased odds of T2D were seen among those who were in the highest tertile of plasma selenium and the highest category of intake of β-cryptoxanthin (P-trend = 0.03) and lycopene (P-trend = 0.008); however, interaction terms were not significant.
These findings show that higher plasma concentrations of selenium were significantly associated with prevalent T2D among participants in a selenium supplementation trial. Future work is needed to elucidate whether there are individual characteristics, such as blood concentrations of other antioxidants, which may influence this relation.
A persistent problem in the study of garnet geochemistry is that the consideration of major elements alone excludes a wealth of information preserved by trace elements, particularly the rare-earth ...elements (REEs). This is despite the fact that trace elements are generally less vulnerable to diffusive resetting, and are sensitive to a broader spectrum of geochemical interactions involving the entire mineral assemblage, including the growth and/or dissolution of accessory minerals. We outline a technique for the routine acquisition of high-resolution 2D trace element maps by LA-ICP-MS, and introduce an extension of the software package
XMapTools
for rapid processing of LA-ICP-MS data to visualise and interpret compositional zoning patterns. These methods form the basis for investigating the mechanisms controlling geochemical mobility in garnet, which are argued to be largely dependent on the interplay between element fractionation, mineral reactions and partitioning, and the length scales of intergranular transport. Samples from the Peaked Hill shear zone, Reynolds Range, central Australia, exhibit contrasting trace element distributions that can be linked to a detailed sequence of growth and dissolution events. Trace element mapping is thus employed to place garnet evolution in a specific paragenetic context and derive absolute age information by integration with existing U–Pb monazite and Sm–Nd garnet geochronology. Ultimately, the remarkable preservation of original growth zoning and its subtle modification by subsequent re-equilibration is used to ‘see through’ multiple superimposed events, thereby revealing a previously obscure petrological and temporal record of metamorphism, metasomatism, and deformation.
Frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) have been the subject of considerable study since the field's inception. While much of the research into FLPs has centered around small molecule activation for diverse ...stoichiometric and catalytic transformations, intramolecular FLPs also show promise as chelating ligands. The cooperative action of Lewis basic and acidic moieties enables intramolecular FLPs to stabilize low oxidation state centers and (consequently) reactive molecular fragments through a donor‐acceptor approach, making them an attractive ligand class in main group element chemistry. This review outlines the state of FLP chelation to date throughout the p‐block, encompassing primarily groups 13–16.
Frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) have been at the forefront of main group element‐mediated small molecule activation for over 15 years. The utility of intramolecular FLPs as chelating ligands for the stabilization of low oxidation state p‐block elements has been comparatively less explored. This review highlights recent progress in this emerging field and highlights spaces for further development.
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