Harnessing carboxymethyl cellulose and Moringa oleifera seed husks for sustainable treatment of a multi-metal real waste.

This study aimed to evaluate effective treatment strategies for laboratory waste with an initial pH of 1.0, containing Cr, Mn, Co, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Hg, and Pb ions, focusing on flocculation, precipitation, and adsorption techniques. The study utilized microparticles derived from Moringa oleifera seed husks (MS), cryogels of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and hybrid cryogels combining CMC and MS (CMC-MS25 and CMC-MS50) as adsorbents.

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-sugarcane bagasse adsorbents for removal of 17α-ethinylestradiol from aqueous solution and freshwater.

Adsorbents made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and sugarcane bagasse (BG) microparticles were applied for the separation of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) from aqueous solution in batch, and from aqueous solution and freshwater in fixed-bed columns. HPMC chains and BG microparticles were crosslinked by the esterification with citric acid. The adsorbents presented compression modulus values that increased from 208 ± 20 kPa (pure HPMC) to 917 ± 90 kPa, when the content of BG particles added to HPMC was 50 wt% (HPMC50BG).

CTAB-modified carboxymethyl cellulose/bagasse cryogels for the efficient removal of bisphenol A, methylene blue and Cr(VI) ions: Batch and column adsorption studies.

The simultaneous removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from water requires multifunctional adsorbents. Cryogels of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and sugarcane bagasse (BG) were modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelles for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB), Cr(VI) ions and bisphenol A (BPA) separately, in binary or ternary aqueous mixtures. Batch adsorption studies of MB and Cr(VI) and BPA on the CMCBG-CTAB adsorbents indicated removal capacities of 100%, 70% and 95%, respectively.

Hydroponic growth test of maize sprouts to evaluate As, Cd, Cr and Pb translocation from mineral fertilizer and As and Cr speciation.

The present study proposes a maize sprouts hydroponic growth model to evaluate the As, Cd, Cr and Pb translocation from multinutrient fertilizer and to do speciation of As and Cr in this fertilizer and As in parts of plant in order to predict their phytoavailability. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) was employed to speciate As and Cr directly on fertilizer solid sample. Arsenate (As) and a solid solution of FeCrO were the major species identified in the samples.

Dietary zinc deficiency or supplementation during gestation increases breast cancer susceptibility in adult female mice offspring following a J-shaped pattern and through distinct mechanisms.

Zinc is required for fetal development and is involved in key processes associated with breast carcinogenesis. We evaluated whether maternal zinc deficiency or supplementation during gestation influences female offspring susceptibility to breast cancer in adulthood. C57BL/6 mice consumed during gestation control (30 p.

Non-chromatographic method for separation and determination of Fe, Ni and V porphyrins in crude oil.

A method combining ultracentrifugation and cloud point extraction is proposed for the separation and determination of Fe, Ni and V porphyrins in crude oil. An emulsion containing about 200 mg of crude oil, 6% (w v) of Triton X-100™, 1.6% (v v) of chloroform and 0.

A fast degrading PLLA composite with a high content of functionalized octacalcium phosphate mineral phase induces stem cells differentiation.

Octacalcium phosphate (OCP) was synthesized yielding a combination of OCP and hydroxyapatite (HA) with a ratio of 90:10 (OCP/HA). A method was developed to functionalize the surface of the apatite using lauroyl chloride to improve the dispersion of the mineral phase in a poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) polymeric matrix. Infrared spectra and thermal gravimetric analysis confirmed the presence of laurate on the surface of calcium phosphate (CaP) particles.

Analytical Capabilities of the Community Bureau of Reference Protocol to Estimate the Mobility of Nutrients and Toxic Elements from Mineral Fertilizer.

The sequential extraction procedure of the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) was applied to investigate the mobility of potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr, and Pb) and nutrients (P, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) in a multinutrient mineral fertilizer based on phosphate rocks supplemented with 10% (w w) micronutrient mixture (raw material used as a micronutrient source). For both samples, As and Cd were more mobile, whereas Cr remained in the solid residue. A higher mobility of Pb was observed in the micronutrient mixture; however, the high concentration of P (8.

Can in vivo surface dental enamelmicrobiopsies be used to measure remote lead exposure?

Measuring lead in the surface dental enamel (SDE) using biopsies is a rapid, safe, and painless procedure. The dental enamel lead levels (DELLs) decrease from the outermost superficial layer to the inner layer of dental enamel, which becomes crucial for the biopsy depth (BD) measurement. However, whether the origin of lead found in SDE is fully endogenous is not yet established.

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Sponges for the Adsorption of Estrogenic Pollutant.

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) E4M chains are crosslinked with citric acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), resulting in adsorbent sponges (SpE4M), which are impregnated with magnetic nanoparticles (SpE4M-mag) for the adsorption of 17 α-ethinyl estradiol (EE). The characterization of SpE4M and SpE4M-mag characterization includes X-ray microcomputer tomography (Micro-CT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) vibrational spectroscopy, elemental analysis, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). SpE4M and SpE4M-mag present porosities of 72±6 % and 80±7 %, respectively, and outstanding stability in water, in the pH range 4 to 8, and in alcohols, alkanes, and acetone.

Evaluation of calcium alginate beads for Ce, La and Nd preconcentration from groundwater prior to ICP OES analysis.

Analytical methods for the determination of rare earth elements (REE) in natural waters by plasma spectrochemical techniques often require sample preparation procedures for analytes preconcentration as well as for removing matrix constituents, that may interfere on the analytical measurements. In the present work, calcium alginate (CA) beads were used for the first time aiming at Ce, La and Nd preconcentration from groundwater samples for further determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). Test samples were analyzed in batch mode by transferring a 40mL test portion (pH=5±0.

Formation of a pseudotumor in total hip arthroplasty using a tribological metal-polyethylene pair.

The aim here was to report a case of a young adult patient who evolved with tumor formation in the left thigh, 14 years after revision surgery on hip arthroplasty. Davies in 2005 made the first description of this disease in patients undergoing metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty. Over the last decade, however, pseudotumors around metal-on-polyethylene surfaces have become more prevalent.

Strategies to improve the fertility of fresh and frozen donkey semen.

Fertility rates of donkey semen in jennies are lower compared to mares. The aims of this study were to evaluate different sperm cryopreservation methods and insemination strategies to improve the fertility of donkey semen in jennies. Three experiments were performed: (1) the comparison of two freezing methods of donkey semen (conventional method and automated method); (2) the determination of a suitable insemination dose of fresh donkey semen for jennies and mares; and (3) the influence of the semen deposition site on fertility of jennies inseminated with frozen donkey semen.

Ultrasmall cationic superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as nontoxic and efficient MRI contrast agent and magnetic-targeting tool.

Fully dispersible, cationic ultrasmall (7 nm diameter) superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, exhibiting high relaxivity (178 mM(-1)s(-1) in 0.47 T) and no acute or subchronic toxicity in Wistar rats, were studied and their suitability as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging and material for development of new diagnostic and treatment tools demonstrated. After intravenous injection (10 mg/kg body weight), they circulated throughout the vascular system causing no microhemorrhage or thrombus, neither inflammatory processes at the mesentery vascular bed and hepatic sinusoids (leukocyte rolling, adhesion, or migration as evaluated by intravital microscopy), but having been spontaneously concentrated in the liver, spleen, and kidneys, they caused strong negative contrast.

In Vitro Evaluation of Cu, Fe, and Zn Bioaccessibility in the Presence of Babassu Mesocarp.

In vitro gastrointestinal digestion of babassu mesocarp in the absence and presence of milk and lignin was performed to evaluate the bioaccessibility of Cu, Fe, and Zn. Extractions using NaOH solutions (pH 7 and 12) were carried out to evaluate the interactions of Cu(II), Fe(III), and Zn(II) with the extracted compounds and with the washed mesocarp. Studies using reference solutions showed a decrease in the free concentration of the elements in the presence of mesocarp.

Fast emulsion-based method for simultaneous determination of Co, Cu, Pb and Se in crude oil, gasoline and diesel by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

A method for the simultaneous determination of Co, Cu, Pb and Se in crude oil, gasoline and diesel samples using emulsion-based sampling and GF AAS is proposed. 400mg of sample was weighted in volumetric flask following the sequential addition of 125 µL of hexane and 7.5 mL of Triton X-100(®) (20% mv(-1)).

Iron bioavailability of different maize genotypes developed in a breeding program: in vitro and in vivo studies.

The objective of this study was to evaluate iron bioavailability of maize genotypes, and analyze the correlation between in vitro and in vivo methods. Dialysable iron was analyzed in 13 genotypes from which 5 were selected for the biological assay. Mean iron content of the genotypes (n = 13) was 17.

Unraveling the mysterious role of palladium in Feigl bis(dimethylglyoximate)nickel(II) spot tests by means of confocal Raman microscopy.

The acid protection effect promoted by traces of PdCl(2) in [Ni(dmgH)(2)] spot tests was elucidated from confocal Raman microscopy imaging, which revealed the formation of protecting layers of [Pd(dmgH)(2)] closing the extremities of the [Ni(dmgH)(2)] filaments.

Urinary copper excretion before and after oral intake of d-penicillamine in parents of patients with Wilson's disease.

Background: Urinary copper excretion higher than 100 μg/24 h is useful for diagnosing Wilson's disease. d-Penicillamine challenge test may produce higher levels than 1400 μg/24 h, allowing for better diagnostic accuracy. This study investigated whether heterozygotes reach this value and compared copper serum levels, ceruloplasmin, and urinary copper excretion before and after administering d-penicillamine to the parents of Wilson's disease patients.

Influence of microwave heating on fluoride, chloride, nitrate and sulfate concentrations in water.

This paper describes a study about the influence of microwave radiation using closed vessels on fluoride, chloride, nitrate and sulfate concentrations in aqueous media. The experiments were processed by heating water using PFA vessels and a microwave cavity oven, determining the anions by ion chromatography. The influence of the exposure time, the atmospheric composition, the kind of heating (water bath or microwave radiation) and the possible formation of hydrogen peroxide were investigated.

In vivo bioavailability of selenium in enriched Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms.

The in vivo bioavailability of Se was investigated in enriched Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms. A bioavailability study was performed using 64 Wistar male rats separated in 8 groups and fed with different diets: without Se, with mushrooms without Se, with enriched mushrooms containing 0.15, 0.

Association of dental enamel lead levels with risk factors for environmental exposure.

Objective: To analyze household risk factors associated with high lead levels in surface dental enamel.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 160 Brazilian adolescents aged 1418 years living in poor neighborhoods in the city of Bauru, southeastern Brazil, from August to December 2008. Body lead concentrations were assessed in surface dental enamel acid-etch microbiopsies.

An in vitro comparison of nickel and chromium release from brackets.

This study aimed at comparing amounts of nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr) released from brackets from different manufacturers in simulated oral environments. 280 brackets were equally divided into 7 groups according to manufacturer. 6 groups of brackets were stainless steel, and 1 group of brackets was made of a cobalt-chromium alloy with low Ni content (0.

Surface dental enamel lead levels and antisocial behavior in Brazilian adolescents.

Lead poisoning has been reportedly linked to a high risk of learning disabilities, aggression and criminal offenses. To study the association between lead exposure and antisocial/delinquent behavior, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 173 Brazilian youths aged 14-18 and their parents (n=93), living in impoverished neighborhoods of Bauru-SP, with high criminality indices. Self-Reported Delinquency (SRD) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) questionnaires were used to evaluate delinquent/antisocial behavior.

Cloud point extraction to avoid interferences by structured background on determination in plant materials by FAAS.

An analytical procedure based on microwave-assisted digestion with diluted acid and a double cloud point extraction is proposed for nickel determination in plant materials by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Extraction in micellar medium was successfully applied for sample clean up, aiming to remove organic species containing phosphorous that caused spectral interferences by structured background attributed to the formation of PO species in the flame. Cloud point extraction of nickel complexes formed with 1,2-thiazolylazo-2-naphthol was explored for pre-concentration, with enrichment factor estimated as 30, detection limit of 5 µg L-1 (99.