Search Results (13,372)

Zinc is an essential trace mineral for livestock, but excessive use can contribute to ecotoxicity and antimicrobial resistance. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of different zinc oxide (ZnO) levels in diets for weaned pigs on growth performance, mortality, dietary zinc flow, and environmental impacts. A 6-week feeding trial with 432 weaned pigs assessed three dietary treatments: high ZnO (pharmaceutical levels), intermediate ZnO, and low ZnO (EU recommendation). Growth performance for the growing–finishing period was modeled using the NRC (2012), and dietary Zn intake and fecal Zn excretion were estimated. Environmental impacts were analyzed via life cycle assessment (LCA) using SimaPro LCA software. High ZnO improved growth performance and reduced mortality (p < 0.05), but increased nursery fecal zinc excretion, resulting in a total fecal Zn excretion per pig of 54,125 mg, 59,485 mg, and 106,043 mg for low-, intermediate-, and high-ZnO treatments, respectively. In the nursery phase, high-ZnO treatment had the greatest impact on environmental footprint, increasing freshwater ecotoxicity and marine ecotoxicity indicators by 59.6% and 57.9%, respectively. However, high-ZnO-fed pigs had a greater body weight at the end of the nursery phase and were predicted to achieve a higher growth rate per 130 kg market pig, with fewer days to market and by sparing feed. Therefore, high-ZnO-fed pigs had reduced environmental burdens, including global warming potential, ozone depletion, land use, and mineral resource depletion. These findings demonstrate how livestock nutritionists can apply integrated modeling approaches to link animal performance with environmental outcomes within a One Health framework. Full article

Phosphor-in-glass (PiG) composites are promising materials for applications in various fields of material engineering. There are competing methods of preparation of PiGs which result in materials with different structural and performance characteristics. The glass-crystal composites comprising tellurite-zinc-sodium glass (TZN) and perovskite LaAlO₃ doped with Eu³⁺ (LAO:Eu) are prepared using three distinct methods: remelt, direct-doping and co-sintering, in order to evaluate the impact of the preparation method on the structural, optical and luminescence properties of the novel phosphor-in-glass (PiG) composites. The composites prepared by the remelt and direct-doping method suffer from the decomposition of LAO:Eu and Eu³⁺ ion diffusion into the glass matrix. The highest rate of preservation and luminescence intensity of LAO:Eu is achieved in the composites prepared by the co-sintering method. Unfortunately, the loss of transparency is substantial. This article demonstrates the challenges and tradeoffs that are yet to be resolved in preparation of PiG composites. The preservation of the crystalline phase leads to the lower transparency of the final material. Full article

Silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon nanoparticle-decorated carbon (Si/C) materials are electrodes that can potentially be used in various rechargeable batteries, owing to their inimitable merits, including non-flammability, stability, eco-friendly nature, low cost, outstanding theoretical capacity, and earth abundance. However, SiC has inferior electrical conductivity, volume expansion, a low Li⁺ diffusion rate during charge–discharge, and inevitable repeated formation of a solid–electrolyte interface layer, which hinders its commercial utilization. To address these issues, extensive research has focused on optimizing preparation methods, engineering morphology, doping, and creating composites with other additives (such as carbon materials, metal oxides, nitrides, chalcogenides, polymers, and alloys). Owing to the upsurge in this research arena, providing timely updates on the use of SiC and Si/C for batteries is of great importance. This review summarizes the controlled design of SiC-based and Si/C composites using various methods for rechargeable metal-ion batteries like lithium-ion (LIBs), sodium-ion (SIBs), zinc-air (ZnBs), and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). The experimental and predicted theoretical performance of SiC composites that incorporate various carbon materials, nanocrystals, and non-metal dopants are summarized. In addition, a brief synopsis of the current challenges and prospects is provided to highlight potential research directions for SiC composites in batteries. Full article

Protein-rich foods, such as meats, eggs, nuts, legumes, and dairy foods, can be important sources of micronutrients, especially those micronutrients that tend to be widely under-consumed. The source of dietary protein, animal or plant origin, is therefore a relevant consideration in the transition to healthier and sustainable diets. In this study, 1589 Australian adult diets with higher diet quality and lower environmental impact were isolated from Australian Health Survey data. These diets were primarily differentiated by lower intake of energy-dense/nutrient-poor discretionary foods. These diets were grouped according to the proportion of total protein obtained from animal and plant sources. On average, 55% of protein was from animal sources and 45% was plant derived. As the proportion of animal protein increased, total dietary protein intake also increased, and total energy intake decreased. Diets with between 60 and 80% of protein from animal sources met the greatest number of Estimated Average Requirements (EARs). Furthermore, diets with this ratio of animal protein were closest to benchmarks when assessed as a proportion of EAR met. That said, across all identified “sustainable healthy diets”, calcium, vitamins B6 and A, zinc, and magnesium were at risk of inadequate intake. This evidence suggests that a diet with around 60–80% of total protein coming from animal sources can reduce the risks of inadequate intake of micronutrients in a sustainable diet. Full article

The recycling rate of silage and stretch films is low. The low degree of recycling of polymer films used in agriculture results from the high contamination of films and technological problems in their processing. Material recycling of haylage preservation films is conditioned by the possibility of their effective and cost-effective cleaning. Thus, the study focuses on designing a new generation material for wrapping hay-silage bales that meet the closed-loop material cycle condition while at the same time guaranteeing the desired operating conditions. The developed new generation silage films made it possible to achieve 100% recycling, while this indicator for traditional films did not exceed 50%. The concept is based on the notion of circular economy. The study compared four types of film—one that is commonly used for feed preservation and three types of new generation film. The nanosilver-containing film and the film containing a microbiological additive of zinc provided a high quality of silage and, due to the low contamination, facilitated the recycling of the burdensome waste. The 8% microcellulose film had too little viscosity, which was why it did not cut off the atmospheric air penetration into the bale. Hence, the biodegradable film with the addition of microcellulose does not comply with the technological regime for feed preservation. Full article

Semi-natural grasslands are key biodiversity reservoirs in Mediterranean mountain ecosystems. Grazing pressure may significantly influence plant communities and soil conditions, with potential effects on ecosystem functioning. This study evaluated the impact of grazing intensity on floristic diversity, community structure, and soil physico-chemical and microbiological properties across eight grasslands in the Jbel Bouhachem massif (northern Morocco). Species richness, Shannon diversity, and floristic composition were assessed using PERMANOVA and NMDS ordination. Soil parameters and microbial groups were analyzed through laboratory measurements, with statistical comparisons based on Wilcoxon and t-tests. No significant differences were found in species richness or alpha diversity between grazing intensities, although floristic dispersion was higher under intensive grazing. Soil texture, potassium, iron, zinc, and electrical conductivity differed significantly between treatments. Among microbial groups, only yeasts and molds showed higher abundance under intensive grazing, while sulfite-reducing clostridia were exclusively detected in these plots. These results suggest that grazing intensity has a selective impact on soil properties and microbial communities, while plant diversity remains relatively stable. Full article

Exposure to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in commonly used substances remains a serious public health concern, especially in low-regulation environments. This study assessed and compared the concentrations of five PTEs, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu), in marijuana and Aspen-brand cigarettes consumed in Bauchi, Nigeria. Using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), we analyzed PTE content in both substances after acid digestion and proper calibration. Cigarettes showed higher levels of all tested metals. Cd (3.12 μg/g) and Pb (0.88 μg/g) in cigarettes exceeded WHO limits, while marijuana contained lower levels of Cd (0.645 μg/g) and Pb (0.11 μg/g), with only Cd approaching the level that poses environmental and public health concern. Zn (71.2 μg/g), Cu (64.0 μg/g), and Fe (19.2 μg/g) were also significantly higher in cigarettes (p < 0.01). The high levels of Cd and Pb in cigarettes indicate that smokers are more exposed to harmful PTEs through inhalation than marijuana users, which points to a greater health risk from cigarette use. These findings call for stronger policies and regulations that ensure cleaner agricultural practices and industrial accountability to minimize exposure to harmful PTEs and protect community health in Bauchi. Full article

Background: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a validated oncogenic driver in non-small cell lung cancer and other malignancies, making it a clinically relevant target for small-molecule inhibition. Methods: Here, we report a computational discovery pipeline integrating structure-based virtual screening, machine learning-guided prioritization, molecular dynamics simulations, and binding free energy analysis to identify potential ALK inhibitors from a natural product-derived subset of the ZINC20 database. We trained and benchmarked eleven machine learning models, including tree-based, kernel-based, linear, and neural architectures, on curated bioactivity datasets of ALK inhibitors to capture nuanced structure-activity relationships and prioritize candidates beyond conventional docking metrics. Results: Six compounds were shortlisted based on binding affinity, solubility, bioavailability, and synthetic accessibility. Molecular dynamics simulations over 100 ns revealed stable ligand engagement, with limited conformational fluctuations and consistent retention of the protein’s structural integrity. Key catalytic residues, including GLU105, MET107, and ASP178, displayed minimal fluctuation, while hydrogen bonding and residue interaction analyses confirmed persistent engagement across all ligand-bound complexes. Binding free energy estimates identified ZINC3870414 and ZINC8214398 as top-performing candidates, with ΔG_total values of –46.02 and –46.18 kcal/mol, respectively. Principal component and dynamic network analyses indicated that these compounds restrict conformational sampling and reorganize residue communication pathways, consistent with functional inhibition. Conclusions: These results highlight ZINC3870414 and ZINC8214398 as promising scaffolds for further optimization and support the utility of integrating machine learning with dynamic and network-based metrics in early-stage kinase inhibitor discovery. Full article

The future development of perovskite light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is significantly limited by the poor stability and low brightness of the pure-blue emission in the wavelength range of 460–470 nm. In this study, the Cl/Br element ratio in CsPbCl_xBr_3−x perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) was modulated to precisely control their blue emission in the 428–512 nm spectral region. Then, the undoped CsPbCl₁Br₂ and the ZnCl₂-doped CsPbCl₁Br₂ perovskite NCs were synthesized via the hot-injection method and investigated using variable-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The PL emission peak of the ZnCl₂-doped CsPbCl₁Br₂ perovskite NCs exhibits a blue shift from 475 nm to 460 nm with increasing ZnCl₂ doping concentration. Additionally, the ZnCl₂-doped CsPbCl₁Br₂ perovskite NCs show a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). The variable-temperature PL spectroscopy results show that the ZnCl₂-doped CsPbCl₁Br₂ perovskite NCs have a larger exciton binding energy than the CsPbCl₁Br₂ perovskite NCs, which is indicative of a potentially higher PL intensity. To assess the stability of the perovskite NCs, high-temperature experiments and ultraviolet-irradiation experiments were conducted. The results indicate that zinc doping is beneficial for improving the stability of the perovskite NCs. The ZnCl₂-doped CsPbCl₁Br₂ perovskite NCs were post-treated using didodecylammonium bromide, and after the post-treatment, the PLQY increased to 83%. This is a high PLQY value for perovskite NC-LEDs in the blue spectral range, and it satisfies the requirements of practical display applications. This work thus provides a simple preparation method for pure blue light-emitting materials. Full article

Background/Objectives: Depression is a major global health burden, and previous studies suggest that nutrient deficiencies may contribute to its development. However, research on mineral intake and depression, particularly sodium and potassium, is limited. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in Korea (KNHANES) and the United States (NHANES) to assess associations between various mineral intakes and depression in Korean and American adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study used the KNHANES and NHANES data. Seven minerals were analyzed: sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, and calcium. Depression was defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score of 10 or higher. Associations between mineral intakes and depression were examined using a multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analysis. Results: In KNHANES, 537 participants (4.1%) exhibited depression, whereas 588 participants (6.2%) in NHANES experienced similar conditions. In addition, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus intake in KNHANES demonstrated inverse associations with depression, while in NHANES, potassium, iron, and zinc exhibited comparable trends. Subgroup analyses by sex, obesity status, and age revealed significant differences for several minerals. Conclusions: This study revealed significant associations between mineral intake and depression in both Korean and American adults. These findings suggest that adequate mineral intake may support mental health. Further research is needed to explore these relationships and underlying mechanisms. Full article

The development of robust oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst with fast kinetics and good durability is significant for rechargeable zinc–air batteries (ZABs) but still remains a great challenge. Herein, inspired by the chain-like interconnective porous structure of plant luffa, an ORR catalyst of Co/CoCr₂O₄@ IPCF is fabricated, with Co and CoCr₂O₄ hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) embedding into interconnective porous carbon nanofibers (IPCF). Contributing to CoCr₂O₄ NPs stabilized Co active sites, the resulting ZABs assembled with Co/CoCr₂O₄@IPCF as an air cathode catalyst delivering sustainable cycling stability of 550 h, surpassing that of Co@IPCF based on ZABs (215 h). Also, the Co/CoCr₂O₄@IPCF has a high ORR performance with a half-wave potential (E_1/2) of 0.866 V in alkaline medium. The cycling stability originates from the IPCF carrier and the synergistic effect of Co NPs and CoCr₂O₄ NPs. The chain-like interconnective porous structure of the fibers provides more active sites and facilitates mass transfer to avoid the accumulation of OH⁻ and the exposure of H₂O₂, while the CoCr₂O₄ NPs can serve as a regulator for stabilizing the Co NPs electrochemical performance. Full article

Aluminum (Al) and zinc (Zn) are two of the most widely used metals in industry, and their excessive accumulation in the body has been linked to serious diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and cancer. This highlights the need for effective ways to detect and measure them. In this study, we synthesized the fluorescent chemosensor 1, which contains a Schiff base and a 1,3,4-thiadiazole ring in its structure, and evaluated its fluorescent response in the presence of various metal ions. The chemosensor enabled the selective quantification of Al³⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions through excitations at different wavelengths, yielding differentiated fluorescent emissions. For Al³⁺, excitation at 370 nm generated a strong emission at 480 nm, whereas for Zn²⁺, excitation at 320 nm led to a new small broad emission at 560 nm. We established detection limits of 2.22 × 10⁻⁶ M for Al³⁺ and 1.62 × 10⁻⁵ M for Zn²⁺; their binding stoichiometry was found to be 1:1 for Al³⁺ and 2:1 for Zn²⁺, based on Job’s plot analysis. These results show that chemosensor 1 is a promising tool for detecting Al³⁺ and Zn²⁺. Full article

This paper presents the research results on the synthesis of rhenium catalysts MTO, Re₂O₇/Al₂O₃, and M-Re₂O₇/Al₂O₃ (where M = Ni, Ag, Co, Cu) from rhenium compounds (ammonium perrhenate, perrhenic acid, nickel(II) perrhenate, cobalt(II) perrhenate, zinc perrhenate, silver perrhenate, and copper(II) perrhenate) derived from waste materials. Methyltrioxorhenium (MTO) was obtained from silver perrhenate with a yield of over 80%, whereas when using nickel(II), cobalt(II), and zinc perrhenates, the product was contaminated with tin compounds and the yield did not exceed 17%. The Re₂O₇/Al₂O₃ and M-Re₂O₇/Al₂O₃ catalysts were obtained from the above-mentioned rhenium compounds. Alumina obtained in a calcination process of aluminum nitrate nonahydrate was used as a support. The catalysts were characterized in terms of their chemical and phase composition and physicochemical properties. Catalytic activity in model reactions, such as cyclohexene epoxidation and hex-1-ene homometathesis, was also studied. MTO obtained from silver perrhenate showed >70% activity in the epoxidation reaction, thus surpassing commercial MTO (1.0 mol% MTO, room temperature, and reaction time—2 h). Ag-Re₂O₇/Al₂O₃, Cu-Re₂O₇/Al₂O₃, and H-Re₂O₇/Al₂O₃ catalysts were inactive, while Co-Re₂O₇/Al₂O₃ and Ni-Re₂O₇/Al₂O₃ showed low activity (<43%) in the hex-1-ene homometathesis reaction. Only Re₂O₇/Al₂O₃ catalysts achieved >70% activity in this reaction (2.5 wt% Re, room temperature, and reaction time—2 h). The results indicate the potential of using rhenium compounds derived from waste materials to synthesize active catalysts for chemical processes. Full article

Urban gardening plays diverse social, cultural and economic roles; its further development appears to be worthwhile, provided that soil contamination does not compromise ecosystem services. This study was conducted at a complex of urban gardens in Wroclaw (Poland) where topsoil screening indicated significant spatial differentiation of trace elements content, presumably related to the history of the site. Urbic Technosols cover the reclaimed section of the gardens, where industrial and urban waste materials, such as ash, slag, construction and demolition, and household waste, were used to fill former clay and sand mines. Although the topsoil layers, comprised of transported external soil, exhibited beneficial physicochemical properties and high fertility, they were seriously contaminated with trace elements (up to 1700, 920, 740, 5.1, 7.4, and 5.1 mg kg⁻¹ zinc, lead, copper, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic, respectively). The trace elements were likely transferred from technogenic materials used for mine infilling, which now underlie the thin humus layers of the garden soils. The results suggest that the quality of soils in urban gardens located at reclaimed post-mining sites, while seemingly beneficial for horticulture based on physicochemical soil properties and fertility indices, can be seriously and permanently compromised by soil contamination from inappropriate materials used for site reclamation, thereby affecting soil quality and posing potential health and ecological risks. Full article

This study evaluated the ability of two plants, Phragmites australis and Typha latifolia, to bioaccumulate zinc from industrial effluents in constructed wetlands using ceramsite as a support medium. Two types of experiments were conducted: one with real industrial effluent containing 9.4 mg/L of Zn and another with synthetic effluent containing Zn at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 mg/L. Zinc uptake in plant segments, ceramsite, and its concentration in wastewater were determined using ICP-OES. Both plants removed 97–99% of zinc ions from the industrial effluent, with the highest metal uptake occurring in the roots. In the case of synthetic solutions, Typha latifolia demonstrated higher zinc removal efficiency (95–99% removal) compared to Phragmites australis (74–90%). Typha latifolia also accumulated significantly higher levels of Zn, primarily in the roots. Transfer factor values were calculated to assess zinc translocation within plant tissues. No visual signs of toxicity were observed during the experiment. This phytoremediation approach could represent a sustainable and environmentally friendly method for treating industrial effluents. Full article