-
Heliyon Feb 2024Polluted water contains a variety of toxic compounds that tend to affect human health. Farmers have recently looked at runoff wastewater as a source of irrigation water...
Polluted water contains a variety of toxic compounds that tend to affect human health. Farmers have recently looked at runoff wastewater as a source of irrigation water because it comes at no cost and is a more efficient alternative to potable water due to the high demand but limited supply. This present study assesses the quality and suitability of water sources used for irrigation at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology vegetable farmlands. The study specifically investigated the quality of water used for irrigation with the following parameters: pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, chloride, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, oil and grease, fluoride, nitrate, nitrite, sulphate, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sodium adsorption potential, alkalinity, conductivity, phosphate, , fecal and total coliforms. The results revealed that the water contained moderate levels of chloride and could be good for plant growth. The total coliform counts range from 2.1 × 10 to 4.15 × 10 MPN/100 mL, suggesting a relatively high microbial load in the irrigation water. The results also suggested that the sodium absorption ratio was very low and may not affect the quality of water for irrigation purposes. Fe levels far exceed the 5 mg/L maximum acceptable limits recommended by the WHO and FAO for the irrigation of vegetables. The high Fe concentration could discolor the leaves of some plants, especially foliage leaves. However, the levels of Cd were within the WHO maximum permissible limit of 0.01 mg/L.
PubMed: 38356531
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24913 -
Water Research Apr 2024Given their ecological importance, bioindicators are used for the assessment of the health of river ecosystems. This study explored the fungal compositions and the...
Given their ecological importance, bioindicators are used for the assessment of the health of river ecosystems. This study explored the fungal compositions and the potential of fungal taxa as bioindicators for indicating the water quality of the Mekong River, as the use of fungal indicators of the Mekong River was not previously well characterized. The Mekong River exhibited dynamic variations in both physicochemical/hydrochemical properties and fungal communities according to seasons and locations. The results revealed the dominance of alkaline earth metal ions and weak acids in the water. The magnesium-bicarbonate water type was found in the dry season, but the water became the chloride-calcium type or mixed type of magnesium-bicarbonate and chloride-calcium in the rainy season at downstream sites. Fungal composition analysis revealed the dominance of Chytridiomycota in the dry season and intermediate periods, and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota in the rainy season. The fungal communities were influenced by stochastic and deterministic assembly processes, mainly homogeneous selection, heterogeneous selection, and dispersal limitation. The extent of environmental filtering implied that some fungal taxa were affected by environmental conditions, suggesting the possibility of identifying certain fungal taxa suitable for being bioindicators of water quality. Subsequently, machine learning with recursive feature elimination identified specific fungal bins mostly consisting of Agaricomycetes (mainly Polyporales, Agaricales, and Auriculariales), Dothideomycetes (mainly Pleosporales), Saccharomycetes (mainly Saccharomycetales), Chytridiomycota, and Rozellomycota as bioindicators that could predict ambient and irrigation water quality with high selectivity and sensitivity. These results thus promote the use of fungal indicators to assess the health of the river.
Topics: Water Quality; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Biomarkers; Mycobiome; Calcium; Bicarbonates; Chlorides; Magnesium; Biodiversity; Seasons
PubMed: 38340699
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121252 -
Animal Nutrition (Zhongguo Xu Mu Shou... Mar 2024Understanding how different livestock species and breeds respond to consumption of brackish water could improve usage of this resource. Therefore, Angora, Boer, and...
Effects of the concentration and nature of total dissolved solids in drinking water on feed intake, nutrient digestion, energy balance, methane emission, ruminal fermentation, and blood constituents in different breeds of young goats and hair sheep.
Understanding how different livestock species and breeds respond to consumption of brackish water could improve usage of this resource. Therefore, Angora, Boer, and Spanish goat doelings and Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix ewe lambs (6 animals per animal type [AT]; initial age = 296 ± 2.1 days) consuming water with varying concentrations of minerals of a natural brackish water source (BR) and sodium chloride (NaCl; SL) were used to determine effects on water and feed intake, nutrient digestion, heat energy, methane emission, ruminal fluid conditions, and blood constituent concentrations. There were 6 simultaneous 6 (water treatments [WT]) × 6 (AT) Latin squares with 3-wk periods. The WT were fresh (FR), BR alone (100-BR), a similar total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration as 100-BR via NaCl addition to FR (100-SL), BR with concentrations of all minerals increased by approximately 50% (150-BR), a similar TDS level as 150-BR by NaCl addition to FR (150-SL), and a similar 150 TDS level achieved by addition of a 1:1 mixture of BR minerals and NaCl to 100-BR (150-BR/SL). Concentrations (mg/kg) in BR were 4928 TDS, 85.9 bicarbonate, 224.9 calcium, 1175 chloride, 60.5 magnesium, 4.59 potassium, 1387 sodium, 1962 sulfate, and 8.3 boron, and TDS in other WT were 209, 5684, 7508, 8309, and 7319 mg/kg for FR, 100-SL, 150-BR, 150-SL, and 150-BR/SL, respectively. There were very few significant effects of WT or AT × WT interactions, although AT had numerous effects. Water intake was affected by AT ( = 0.02) and WT ( = 0.04), with greater water intake for 150-SL than for FR, 100-BR, 100-SL, and 150-BR. Dry matter intake among AT was lowest ( < 0.05) for Angora. Digestion of organic matter and neutral detergent fiber and heat energy differed among AT ( < 0.05), but nitrogen digestion and ruminal methane emission were similar among AT. Blood aldosterone concentration was higher ( < 0.05) for FR than for other WT. In conclusion, all AT seemed resilient to these WT regardless of mineral source and concentrations, with TDS less than 8300 mg/kg, which did not influence nutrient utilization, ruminal fermentation, energy balance, or blood constituent levels.
PubMed: 38333574
DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2023.10.002 -
Biodiversity Data Journal 2023Baseline haematological and biochemical blood parameters in healthy wild birds are key to managing wild populations and to saving critically ill individuals. This...
Baseline haematological and biochemical blood parameters in healthy wild birds are key to managing wild populations and to saving critically ill individuals. This knowledge is crucial for the care, rehabilitation and the release of birds after treatment in wildlife rescue centres. Plasma levels provide valuable information for the evaluation of the physical condition of animals. The objective of this study was to obtain reference values of some basic biochemical blood parameters of wild common ravens (). Between 2020 and 2023, we took blood samples from the wild population of common ravens in Bulgaria (n = 36). We determined the values of 18 parameters - alanine transaminase (ALT, U/I), albumin (g/l), alkaline phosphatase (ALP, U/I), amylase (U/I), aspartate transaminase (AST, U/I), calcium (mmol/l), chloride (mmol/l), cholesterol (mmol/l), creatine kinase (CK, U/I), creatinine (μmol/l), blood glucose (mmol/l), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, U/I), magnesium (mmol/l), phosphorus (mmol/l), total bilirubin (μmol/l), total protein (g/l), triglycerides (TG, mmol/l) and uric acid (μmol/l). We made a comparative analysis including the regions in which the groups were sampled and the time of year. Most of the presented results were comparable to published values of other species from the Corvidae family and some were higher (ALP, amylase, AST, CK, total protein and uric acid levels). Most of these could be explained by the capture- and handling stress. This is the first report in official literary sources presenting some basic biochemical blood parameters of healthy wild common ravens in Bulgaria. The results may be of use to scientists, veterinarians and other researchers in rescue and rehabilitation centres and they can provide the basis for further studies with regards to animal welfare and health assessment of the species.
PubMed: 38327363
DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.11.e103271 -
Biodiversity Data Journal 2023Vultures play a very important role in ecosystems by feeding on dead animals and preventing the spread of pathogens. In the mid-20 century in Bulgaria, all species of...
Vultures play a very important role in ecosystems by feeding on dead animals and preventing the spread of pathogens. In the mid-20 century in Bulgaria, all species of vultures experienced a rapid population decline and conservation measures include captive breeding and release via adaptation aviaries. Knowledge of the baseline blood biochemical parameters is crucial for the care, rehabilitation and prior to the release of endangered birds of prey. Plasma levels provide valuable information for the evaluation of the physical condition of animals. Between 2020 and 2022, we took blood samples from captive Bearded, Griffon, Cinereous and Egyptian Vultures in Bulgaria (n = 118). We determined the values of 18 parameters - alanine transaminase, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, aspartate transaminase, calcium, chloride, cholesterol, creatine kinase, creatinine, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, magnesium, phosphorus, total bilirubin, total protein, triglycerides and uric acid. This research determined the mean blood biochemical indices for aviary Bearded, Griffon, Cinereous and Egyptian Vultures in Bulgaria and compared the values amongst the four vulture species, to serve in determining clinical pathology and nutrition for scavenger birds of different species, age groups and genders in the country. The results of this study suggested that there are significant differences between many of the indicators of the four vulture species. There are fewer differences in the indicators of different ages of birds of a given species and almost no differences are found between the two sexes of a species. These values could be used by scientists, veterinary pathologists, wildlife rehabilitation centres and other researchers. Furthermore, the use of such parameters in assessing population health may enable conservationists to further research environmental conditions affecting the vultures' reproduction and survival.
PubMed: 38327317
DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.11.e97164 -
ACS Chemical Biology Feb 2024β-Hairpin peptides with RNA-binding sequences mimicking the central two β-strands of the RNA recognition motif (RRM) protein domain have been observed to bind in a 2:1...
β-Hairpin peptides with RNA-binding sequences mimicking the central two β-strands of the RNA recognition motif (RRM) protein domain have been observed to bind in a 2:1 fashion to a series of RNA homooligonucleotides in aqueous solution (PBS buffer, pH 7.40) with binding energies (-27 to -35 kJ mol) similar to those of full-size protein RRMs. The peptides display mild selectivities with respect to the binding of the different homooligomers. Binding studies in 500 mM magnesium chloride suggest that the complex formation is not predominantly driven by Coulombic attraction. These peptides represent a starting point for further studies of non-Coulombic binding of RNA by peptides and proteins, which is important in the context of contemporary biology, potential therapeutic applications, and prebiotic peptide-RNA interactions.
Topics: RNA Recognition Motif; RNA; Peptides; Protein Binding
PubMed: 38314708
DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00694 -
Journal of the Science of Food and... Jul 2024The increasing attention toward frozen soy-based foods has sparked interest. Variations exist in the quality and structure of soymilk gels induced by different salt...
BACKGROUND
The increasing attention toward frozen soy-based foods has sparked interest. Variations exist in the quality and structure of soymilk gels induced by different salt ions, leading to diverse changes post-freezing. This study compared and analyzed the effects of calcium chloride (CC), magnesium chloride (MC) and calcium sulfate (CS) on the quality characteristics and protein structure changes of soymilk gels (CC-S, MC-S and CS-S) before and after freezing, and clarified the mechanisms of freezing on soymilk gel.
RESULTS
The formation rate of soymilk gel is influenced by the type of salt ions. In comparison to CS and MC, soymilk gel induced by CC exhibited the fastest formation rate, highest gel hardness, lowest moisture content, and smaller gel pores. However, freezing treatment deteriorated the quality of soymilk gel induced by different salt ions, leading to a decline in textural properties (hardness and chewiness). Among these, the textual state of CC-induced soymilk gel remained optimal, exhibiting the least apparent damage and minimal cooking loss. Freezing treatments prompt a transition of soymilk gel secondary structure from β-turns to β-sheets, disrupting the protein's tertiary structure. Furthermore, freezing treatments also fostered the crosslinking between soymilk gel protein, increasing the content of disulfide bonds.
CONCLUSION
The quality of frozen soymilk gel is influenced by the rate of gel formation induced by salt ions. After freezing, soymilk gel with faster gelation rates exhibited a greater tendency for the transformation of protein-water interactions into protein-protein interactions. They showed a higher degree of disulfide bond formation, resulting in a more tightly knit and firm frozen gel network structure with denser and more uniformly distributed pores. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Topics: Soy Milk; Freezing; Gels; Soybean Proteins; Food Handling; Magnesium Chloride; Calcium Chloride; Ions
PubMed: 38308594
DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13354 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Oral biofilms, comprising hundreds of bacteria and other microorganisms on oral mucosal and dental surfaces, play a central role in oral health and disease dynamics. , a...
Oral biofilms, comprising hundreds of bacteria and other microorganisms on oral mucosal and dental surfaces, play a central role in oral health and disease dynamics. , a key constituent of these biofilms, contributes significantly to the formation of which, serving as an early colonizer and microcolony scaffold. The interaction between and the orally predominant mucin, MUC5B, is pivotal in biofilm development, yet the mechanism underlying MUC5B degradation remains poorly understood. This study introduces MdpS (Mucin Degrading Protease from ), a protease that extensively hydrolyses MUC5B and offers an insight into its evolutionary conservation, physicochemical properties, and substrate- and amino acid specificity. MdpS exhibits high sequence conservation within the species and also explicitly among early biofilm colonizing streptococci. It is a calcium or magnesium dependent serine protease with strict physicochemical preferences, including narrow pH and temperature tolerance, and high sensitivity to increasing concentrations of sodium chloride and reducing agents. Furthermore, MdpS primarily hydrolyzes proteins with O-glycans, but also shows activity toward immunoglobulins IgA1/2 and IgM, suggesting potential immunomodulatory effects. Significantly, MdpS extensively degrades MUC5B in the N- and C-terminal domains, emphasizing its role in mucin degradation, with implications for carbon and nitrogen sequestration for or oral biofilm cross-feeding. Moreover, depending on substrate glycosylation, the amino acids serine, threonine or cysteine triggers the enzymatic action. Understanding the interplay between and MUC5B, facilitated by MdpS, has significant implications for the management of a healthy eubiotic oral microenvironment, offering potential targets for interventions aimed at modulating oral biofilm composition and succession. Additionally, since MdpS does not rely on O-glycan removal prior to extensive peptide backbone hydrolysis, the MdpS data challenges the current model of MUC5B degradation. These findings emphasize the necessity for further research in this field.
PubMed: 38304711
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1340109 -
Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports Mar 2024Cadmium (Cd) contamination presents a significant challenge in global agriculture. This study explores the efficacy of chemical induction, specifically using sodium...
Cadmium (Cd) contamination presents a significant challenge in global agriculture. This study explores the efficacy of chemical induction, specifically using sodium chloride (NaCl), to limit Cd uptake in tobacco () and assesses its impact on essential divalent metal ions (DMIs). We conducted a comprehensive analysis encompassing ion absorption, root histology, and biochemistry to understand the influence of this method. Our results revealed that NaCl induction led to a notable 30 % decrease in Cd absorption, while maintaining minimal impact on zinc (Zn) uptake. Intriguingly, the absence of essential DMIs, such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and Zn, was found to diminish the plant's capacity to absorb Cd. Furthermore, moderate NaCl induction resulted in an increased diameter of the root stele and enhanced lignin content, indicating a restriction of Cd absorption through the apoplastic pathway. Conversely, a compensatory absorption mechanism via the symplastic pathway appeared to be activated in the absence of essential elements. These findings highlight the potential of chemical induction as a strategy to mitigate agricultural Cd risks, offering insights into the complex interplay between plant ion transport pathways and metal uptake regulation.
PubMed: 38288283
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101641 -
Water Research Mar 2024Flow electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) is a highly promising desalination technique known for its exceptional electrosorption capacity, making it suitable for...
Flow electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) is a highly promising desalination technique known for its exceptional electrosorption capacity, making it suitable for efficient salt separation in high salinity water. However, the unsatisfactory charge transfer process between the flow electrode and current collector severely curtails the salt separation and enrichment performance of the FCDI device. To address this issue, three-dimensional titanium mesh (3D-TM) was proposed as a novel current collector for FCDI device, which significantly amplifies the charge transfer area and exhibits excellent salt separation performance. The 3D-TM current collector promotes the electron transfer, charge percolation, and ion migration processes through the electroconvection generated by the turbulence effect on the flow electrode. In the specific case of the 20-mesh 3D-TM, which is composed of 12 stacking layers of titanium mesh, the remarkable average salt removal rate and charge efficiency were achieved 5.06 μmol cm min and 92.9 % under an appropriate applied voltage of 2.0 V, respectively. Dramatically, the desalination performance maintained above 76.4 % over 100 desalination cycles at 2.0 V, demonstrating the exceptional cyclic stability of the 3D-TM FCDI cell. In the seawater desalination, the 3D-TM FCDI cell exhibited an impressive salt removal efficiency of 97.5 % (from 34.2 g L to 0.84 g L) for 1 L East China seawater at 2.0 V for 24 h. For lithium-ion enrichment, the FCDI continuous desalting system achieved an astonishing concentration of 17.3 g L for Li ions enrichment from an initial concentration of 1.30 g L, obtaining the average salt treating rate of 23.6 g mh and charge efficiency of 80.0 %. Moreover, the lithium-sodium ions and lithium-magnesium ions enrichments were both conducted, yielding an enriched concentration of 10.4 g L and 7.30 g L for Li ions, respectively. These findings highlight the enormous potential of FCDI technology in industrial engineering applications, further establishing it as a highly viable solution.
Topics: Titanium; Salinity; Lithium; Water Purification; Sodium Chloride; Electrodes; Water; Ions
PubMed: 38277832
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121147