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Amidst these growing sustainability concerns, producing NH4+ via electrochemical NO3− reduction reaction (NO3RR) emerges as a promising alternative to the conventional Haber-Bosch process. In a pioneering approach, this study introduces Ru incorporation into Co3O4 lattices at the nanoscale and further couples it with electroreduction conditioning (ERC) treatment as a strategy to enhance metal oxide reducibility and induce oxygen vacancies, advancing NH4+ production from NO3RR. Here, supported by a suite of ex situ and in situ characterization measurements, the findings reveal that Ru enrichment promotes Co species reduction and oxygen vacancy formation. Further, as evidenced by the theoretical calculations, Ru integration lowers the energy barrier for oxygen vacancy formation, thereby facilitating a more energy-efficient NO3RR-to-NH4+ pathway. Optimal catalytic activity is realized with a Ru loading of 10 at.% (named 10Ru/Co3O4), achieving a high NH4+ production rate (98 nmol s−1 cm−2), selectivity (97.5%) and current density (≈100 mA cm−2) at −1.0 V vs RHE. The findings not only provide insights into defect engineering via the incorporation of secondary sites but also lay the groundwork for innovative catalyst design aimed at improving NH4+ yield from NO3RR. This research contributes to the ongoing efforts to develop sustainable electrochemical processes for nitrogen cycle management.

The insufficient taking into account of groundwater as a basis for implementing protection measures for coastal wetlands can be related to the damage they are increasingly exposed to. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the pertinence of combining hydrogeological tools with assessment of pollutant fluxes and stable isotopes of O, H and N, as well as groundwater time-tracers to identify past and present pollution sources resulting from human activities and threatening shallow groundwater-dependent ecosystems. A survey combining physico-chemical parameters, major ions, environmental isotopes (18O, 2H, 15N and 3H), with emerging organic contaminants including pesticides and trace elements, associated with a land use analysis, was carried out in southern Italy, including groundwater, surface water and lagoon water samples. Results show pollution of the shallow groundwater and the connected lagoon from both agricultural and domestic sources. The N-isotopes highlight nitrate sources as coming from the soil and associated with the use of manure-type fertilizers related to the historical agricultural context of the area involving high-productivity olive groves. Analysis of EOCs has revealed the presence of 8 pesticides, half of which have been banned for two decades and two considered as pollutant legacies (atrazine and simazine), as well as 15 molecules, including pharmaceuticals and stimulants, identified in areas with human regular presence, including rapidly degradable compounds (caffeine and ibuprofen). Results show that agricultural pollution in the area is associated with the legacy of intensive olive growing in the past, highlighting the storage capacity of the aquifer, while domestic pollution is sporadic and associated with regular human presence without efficient modern sanitation systems. Moreover, results demonstrate the urgent need to consider groundwater as a vector of pollution to coastal ecosystems and the impact of pollutant legacies in planning manage

Nitrate pollution in groundwater is a serious problem worldwide, as its concentration in many areas exceeds the WHO-defined drinking water standard (50 mg/L). Hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria (HOB) are a group of microorganisms capable of producing single-cell protein (SCP) using hydrogen and oxygen. Furthermore, HOB can utilize various nitrogen sources, including nitrate. This study developed a novel hybrid biological-inorganic (HBI) system that coupled a new submersible water electrolysis system driven by renewable electricity with HOB fermentation for in-situ nitrate recovery from polluted groundwater and simultaneously upcycling it together with CO2 into single-cell protein. The performance of the novel HBI system was first evaluated in terms of bacterial growth and nitrate removal efficiency. With 5 V voltage applied and the initial nitrate concentration of 100 mg/L, the nitrate removal efficiency of 85.52% and raw of 47.71% (with a broad amino acid spectrum) were obtained. Besides, the HBI system was affected by the applied voltages and initial nitrogen concentrations. The water electrolysis with 3 and 4 V cannot provide sufficient H2 for HOB and the removal of nitrate was 57.12% and 59.22% at 180 h, while it reached 65.14% and 65.42% at 5 and 6 V, respectively. The nitrate removal efficiency reached 58.40% and 50.72% within 180 h with 200 and 300 mg/L initial nitrate concentrations. respectively. Moreover, a larger anion exchange membrane area promoted nitrate removal. The monitored of the determination of different forms of nitrogen indicated that around 60% of the recovered nitrate was assimilated into cells, and 40% was bio-converted to N2. The results demonstrate a potentially sustainable method for remediating nitrate contaminant in groundwater, upcycling waste nitrogen, CO2 sequestration and valorization of renewable electricity into food or feed.

Winter cover crops (WCCs) are promising best management practices for reducing nitrogen and sediment pollution and increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in agricultural fields. Although previous watershed studies assessed water quality benefits of growing WCCs in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the SOC sequestration impacts remain largely unknown. Here, we designed six WCC scenarios in the Tuckahoe Watershed (TW) to understand potential synergies or tradeoffs between multiple impacts of WCCs. Besides corroborating the nitrate reduction benefits of WCCs that have been reported in previous studies, our results also demonstrated comparable reduction in sediment. We also found that the six WCC scenarios can sequester 0.45–0.92 MgC ha−1 yr−1, with early-planted WCCs having more than 70% SOC sequestration benefits compared with their late-planted counterparts. With a linear extrapolation to all the cropland in Maryland, WCCs hold potential to contribute 2.1–4.4% toward Maryland's 2030 Greenhouse Gases reduction goal. Additionally, we showed that WCCs can noticeably increase evapotranspiration and decrease water yield and streamflow, potentially impacting aquatic ecosystem health and water supply. Overall, this study highlights the synergistic water quality and SOC sequestration benefits of WCCs in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Meanwhile, sustainable adoption of WCCs into existing crop rotations will also require careful assessment of their impact on water availability.

Nitrate, the form of nitrogen often associated with kelp growth, is typically low in summer during periods of high macroalgal growth. More ephemeral, regenerated forms of nitrogen, such as ammonium and urea, are much less studied as sources of nitrogen for kelps, despite the relatively high concentrations of regenerated nitrogen found in the Southern California Bight, where kelps are common. To assess how nitrogen uptake by kelps varies by species and nitrogen form in southern California, USA, we measured uptake rates of nitrate, ammonium, and urea by Macrocystis pyrifera and Eisenia arborea individuals from four regions characterized by differences in nitrogen availability-Orange County, San Pedro, eastern Santa Catalina Island, and western Santa Catalina Island-during the summers of 2021 and 2022. Seawater samples collected at each location showed that overall nitrogen availability was low, but ammonium and urea were often more abundant than nitrate. We also quantified the internal %nitrogen of each kelp blade collected, which was positively associated with ambient environmental nitrogen concentrations at the time of collection. We observed that both kelp species readily took up nitrate, ammonium, and urea, with M. pyrifera taking up nitrate and ammonium more efficiently than E. arborea. Urea uptake efficiency for both species increased as internal percent nitrogen decreased. Our results indicate that lesser-studied, more ephemeral forms of nitrogen can readily be taken up by these kelps, with possible upregulation of urea uptake as nitrogen availability declines.

Landbouwminister Femke Wiersma weet niet waarom de nitraatcommissie van de Europese Unie nog niet heeft gestemd over het al dan niet toelaten van dierlijke mest als kunstmestvervanger, oftewel renure. Toch heeft ze goede hoop in een positief oordeel.

In 1987 werd de Meststoffenwet in Nederland geïntroduceerd met het oog op het verbeteren van de kwaliteit van bodem, water en lucht door het verminderen van stikstof- en fosforemissies door bemesting. Sinds 1996 dient de Meststoffenwet ook als de Nederlandse uitvoering van de Europese Nitraatrichtlijn. Volgens de wet is de minister verplicht om minstens eens in de vijf jaar een verslag aan de Tweede Kamer te presenteren over de effectiviteit en impact van deze wet in de praktijk. De laatste uitgebreide evaluatie vond plaats in 2016. Als onderdeel van de evaluatie is het essentieel om te rapporteren over de huidige en voorgaande toestand van en trends in de waterkwaliteit met betrekking tot nutriënten afkomstig uit de landbouw. Deze Kennisnotitie biedt een overzicht van de resultaten van bestaande waterkwaliteits-meetnetten gericht op nutriënten in landbouwgebieden. Deze informatie kan worden gebruikt om de effectiviteit van het mestbeleid te beoordelen.

Minister Wiersma (LVVN) stuurt de Tweede Kamer de uitkomsten van 5 onderzoeken voor de evaluatie van de Meststoffenwet 2024. De resultaten van de onderzoeken worden gebruikt voor het nog op te stellen 8e actieprogramma Nitraatrichtlijn dat op 1 januari 2026 van toepassing zal zijn. De minister geeft aan hoe zij resultaten van de onderzoeken wil gebruiken bij het opstellen van dat actieprogramma.

In deze brief informeert Femke Marije Wiersma de Voorzitter van de Tweede Kamer over diverse zaken in relatie tot de voortgang van haar aanpak van de mestmarkt zoals gemeld in haar brief van 13 september jl. (Kamerstuk 33037, nr. 559). Mevrouw Wiersma informeert over de routekaart om te komen tot beleidskeuzes over grondgebondenheid, over de eerste indicatieve accenten van de brede beëindigingsregeling, over de uitvoering van de motie Van Campen en Grinwis over een onderzoek naar de effecten van het wetsvoorstel mestproductieplafonds, de stand van zaken van de adviesaanvraag met betrekking tot de actualisatie van de excretieforfaits landbouwhuisdieren en haar toezegging in verband met de hoeveelheid stikstof aanwezig in beginvoorraad mest. Aanvullend maakt ze gebruik van de gelegenheid de Voorzitter te informeren over een rapport dat is opgesteld vanuit het project Koeien en Kansen: ‘Gevolgen van de afbouw van de derogatie voor de melkveehouderij’.

De LTO-vakgroep Akkerbouw en Vollegrondsgroente wil dat het ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur de Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) ertoe aanzet een kaartlaag te maken waarop gewastelers kunnen zien waar en in welk jaar een rustgewas is geteeld. Dit om problemen met het niet voldoen aan de rustgewassenregeling te voorkomen.

Gewassen hebben meststoffen als fosfor en stikstof nodig om te groeien. Daarom bemesten landbouwbedrijven hun grond. De meststoffen spoelen deels uit naar het grondwater en het oppervlaktewater. De Europese Nitraatrichtlijn stelt eisen aan de uitspoeling van meststoffen, met name aan nitraat (een belangrijke vorm van stikstof in water).

Nitrate contamination in groundwater, driven by nitrogen intensive cropping practices and low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), poses a significant risk to water quality in California's Central Valley. This study presents the calibration of a vadose zone crop model to simulate nitrate (NO3-N) leaching in response to a best management practice (BMP), consisting of High Frequency Low Concentration (HFLC) fertilizer applications, aimed at improving NUE in a 57-ha commercial almond orchard in Modesto, CA. Using a comprehensive dataset from landscape monitoring and vadose zone observations, a novel approach is taken to optimize soil hydraulic parameters, root solute uptake parameters, and atmospheric boundary conditions. The water balance is calibrated separately from model parameters by comparing ensemble estimates of precipitation and evapotranspiration (ET) from multiple sources with measured changes in soil moisture storage. Simulations are validated using groundwater NO3-N concentrations measured from a dense network of 20 monitoring wells installed in the orchard. Results indicate that simulated leaching concentrations and travel times are most sensitive to changes in the water balance driven by uncertainties in the measurement of ET and precipitation. Observed heterogeneity of NO3-N in groundwater was explained by sub-orchard scale spatial variability in NUE and cycles of orchard-block tree replantings. Soil-type heterogeneity affected modeled solute travel times but did not significantly affect measured NO3-N groundwater concentrations. Simulations indicated the BMP can reduce NO3-N leaching concentrations by up to 40%, with observable benefits in groundwater expected over a 10-year period due to slow solute movement in the vadose zone and mixing in groundwater.

Nitrate and bacterial groundwater pollution from dairy farms and surrounding croplands is a large and growing problem not only for surrounding ecosystems, but also for the health of the cattle consuming this untreated water if present at high enough levels. Point-of-use filtration methods could provide a low-cost means of removing such contaminants to within acceptable levels, but experimentation is needed to identify acceptable media and optimal treatment designs.This thesis is divided into four main chapters; the first chapter presents an introduction to the issue, pollutant health implications, and existing treatment options within a comprehensive literature review. The second chapter aims to assess the prevalence of nitrate and bacteria levels in dairy cattle water troughs throughout several dairy farms in central California. The purpose of the second chapter is to determine whether contaminant levels are within recommended levels as well as to identify the predominant source of each contamination to inform future design aspects of a treatment system. The third chapter aims to assess different commercially available, natural media for their ability to remove nitrate and bacteria through various column filtration and batch adsorption experiments. The fourth chapter outlines preliminary field-scale experiments conducted to assess removal potential at higher flow rates as well as identifies ways to further optimize for contaminant removal. While there are no set regulations for levels of either pollutant for dairy cattle water consumption, the general recommendation of 44 ppm NO3- was exceeded in 47% of the 62 troughs, and 89% of the 44 troughs analyzed for bacterial levels exceeded the recommended 15 CFU/100 mL total coliform count for adult cattle. These results suggest a significant portion of troughs would benefit from nitrate and bacteria reduction, and when alternative water sources are unavailable, column filtration may provide a sufficient treatment option.

Nitrate pollution in aquatic systems is a significant issue on global and national scales. Contamination from anthropogenic sources, including the heavy application of synthetic fertilizer, has led to a heavy nitrogen load in soil, resulting in significant accumulation of nitrate in groundwater. The mobility of the nitrate ion and its toxic effects on humans pose a threat to the natural environment and to public health. Traditional treatment techniques either physically separate the ion without chemically altering the species, or introduce toxic heavy metals, resulting in costly post-treatment methods. Furthermore, nitrate can be converted to ammonia, which is a valuable chemical precursor. A viable approach to reducing nitrate is to use ultraviolet (UV) technology to convert the nitrate to other nitrogen species, including nitrogen gas and ammonia. The goal of this dissertation is to investigate novel photochemical reduction techniques to effectively reduce nitrate to other nitrogen species and optimize the reaction conditions to control the speciation of products. First, synthetic TiO2 nanocrystals with surface-grafted diethylene-glycol (DEG) ligands were investigated for their reduction performance. Under Medium-Pressure UV (MP-UV) irradiation, the nanocrystals exhibited tremendous performance for nitrate removal kinetics compared to standard or traditional TiO2. Furthermore, the nitrogenous product speciation was analyzed, and ammonium formation was observed. The synthesis temperature was investigated and revealed that higher synthesis temperature improved the yield of ammonium. Second, the effect of chloride and bicarbonate, two common ionic intermediates in groundwater, were evaluated for their effects on MP-UV reduction of nitrate in the presence of formate. Chloride and bicarbonate both had nominal effects on system performance, highlighting the robustness of MP-UV photoreduction. Furthermore, kinetic modeling provided insight into the photochemical reductio

Background & aims: Long-term effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (long COVID) develop in a substantial number of people following an acute COVID-19 episode. Red beetroot juice may have positive effects on multiple pathways involved in long COVID. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the impact of beetroot juice supplementation on physical function, gut microbiota, and systemic inflammation in adults with long COVID. Methods: A single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial was conducted to test the effects of 14 days of beetroot juice supplementation, rich in nitrates and betalains, on functional and biological outcomes in adults aged between 20 and 60 years with long COVID. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive either daily oral supplementation with 200 mL beetroot juice (∼600 mg nitrate) or placebo (∼60 mg nitrate) for 14 days. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to day 14 in a fatigue resistance test. Secondary outcomes included the distance walked on the 6-min walk test, handgrip strength, and flow-mediated dilation. Secondary endpoints also included changes from baseline in circulating inflammatory mediators and metagenomic and fecal water metabolomic profiles. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models were built to evaluate the differences in biological variables associated with the interventions. Results: Thirty-one participants were randomized in the study. Twenty-five of them (median (interquartile range) age 40 (10), 14 [56 %] women), received either beetroot juice (15) or placebo (10) and completed the study. At 14 days, fatigue resistance significantly improved from baseline (mean difference [standard error]: +21.8 [3.7] s; p < 0.001) with no significant differences between intervention groups. A significant increase from baseline in the distance walked on the 6-min walk test was observed (mean difference [standard error]: +30.0 [9.4] m; p =&

In 1987 werd de Meststoffenwet in Nederland geïntroduceerd met het oog op het verbeteren van de kwaliteit van bodem, water en lucht door het verminderen van stikstof- en fosforemissies door bemesting. Sinds 1996 dient de Meststoffenwet ook als de Nederlandse uitvoering van de Europese Nitraatrichtlijn. Volgens de wet is de minister verplicht om minstens eens in de vijf jaar een verslag aan de Tweede Kamer te presenteren over de effectiviteit en impact van deze wet in de praktijk. De laatste uitgebreide evaluatie vond plaats in 2016. Als onderdeel van de evaluatie is het essentieel om te rapporteren over de huidige en voorgaande toestand van en trends in de waterkwaliteit met betrekking tot nutriënten afkomstig uit de landbouw. Deze Kennisnotitie biedt een overzicht van de resultaten van bestaande waterkwaliteits-meetnetten gericht op nutriënten in landbouwgebieden. Deze informatie kan worden gebruikt om de effectiviteit van het mestbeleid te beoordelen.

An overview is presented of research on the hydrogeochemical aspects of groundwater resources in the Netherlands conducted since the early nineteenth century. The earliest studies investigated groundwater as a resource for drinking water. The first systematic, national study was in 1868 and was motivated by the cholera epidemics at that time. At the beginning of the twentieth century, research for drinking water production was institutionalised at national level. Since the 1960s, the range of organisations involved in hydrogeochemical research has broadened. Societal motives are also identified: shallow, biogenic methane as fossil fuel (already researched since the 1890s); groundwater contamination; freshening/salinisation of aquifers; ecohydrology and nature conservation; aquifer thermal energy storage; national and regional groundwater monitoring for policy evaluation; impact of climate change and weather variability; and occurrence of brackish groundwater and brines in the deeper subsurface. The last-mentioned has been driven by a series of motives ranging from water supply for recreational spas and mineral water production to subsurface disposal of radioactive waste. There have been two major scientific drivers: the introduction of techniques for using isotopes as tracers, and geochemical computer modelling. Another recent development has been the increasing capabilities in analytical chemistry in relation to the contamination of groundwater with emerging pollutants. Many of the motives for research emerged in the 1980s. Overall, the societal and associated technical motives turn out to be more important than the scientific motives for hydrogeochemical research on groundwater in the Netherlands. Once a research motive has emerged, it commonly tends to remain.

Castellaniella species have been isolated from a variety of mixed-waste environments including the nitrate and multiple metal-contaminated subsurface at the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR). Previous studies examining microbial community composition and nitrate removal at ORR during biostimulation efforts reported increased abundances of members of the Castellaniella genus concurrent with increased denitrification rates. Thus, we asked how genomic and abiotic factors control the Castellaniella biogeography at the site to understand how these factors may influence nitrate transformation in an anthropogenically impacted setting. We report the isolation and characterization of several Castellaniella strains from the ORR subsurface. Five of these isolates match at 100% identity (at the 16S rRNA gene V4 region) to two Castellaniella amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), ASV1 and ASV2, that have persisted in the ORR subsurface for at least 2 decades. However, ASV2 has consistently higher relative abundance in samples taken from the site and was also the dominant blooming denitrifier population during a prior biostimulation effort. We found that the ASV2 representative strain has greater resistance to mixed metal stress than the ASV1 representative strains. We attribute this resistance, in part, to the large number of unique heavy metal resistance genes identified on a genomic island in the ASV2 representative genome. Additionally, we suggest that the relatively lower fitness of ASV1 may be connected to the loss of the nitrous oxide reductase (nos) operon (and associated nitrous oxide reductase activity) due to the insertion at this genomic locus of a mobile genetic element carrying copper resistance genes. This study demonstrates the value of integrating genomic, environmental, and phenotypic data to characterize the biogeography of key microorganisms in contaminated sites.

This document describes the content, purpose, methods and uses of the nutrient concentration data set for the UC Santa Barbara North Campus Open Space (NCOS) Restoration Project. Nutrient concentrations have been taken as one way to assess the value of the newly established wetland and understand the impact that storms have on the system.

Introduction: Nitrate and nitrite are naturally occurring in both plant- and animal-sourced foods, are used as additives in the processing of meat, and are found in water. There is growing evidence that they exhibit a spectrum of health effects, depending on the dietary source. The aim of the study was to examine source-dependent associations between dietary intakes of nitrate/nitrite and both all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Methods: In 52,247 participants of the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Study, associations between source-dependent nitrate and nitrite intakes––calculated using comprehensive food composition and national drinking water quality monitoring databases––and all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related, and cancer-related mortality over 27 years were examined using restricted cubic splines within Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, and dietary confounders. Analyses were stratified by factors hypothesised to influence the formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds (namely, smoking and dietary intakes of vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, and polyphenols). Results: Plant-sourced nitrate intake was inversely associated with all-cause mortality [HRQ5vsQ1: 0.83 (0.80, 0.87)] while higher risks of all-cause mortality were seen for higher intakes of naturally occurring animal-sourced nitrate [1.09 (1.04, 1.14)], additive permitted meat-sourced nitrate [1.19 (1.14, 1.25)], and tap water-sourced nitrate [1.19 (1.14, 1.25)]. Similar source-dependent associations were seen for nitrite and for CVD-related and cancer-related mortality except that naturally occurring animal-sourced nitrate and tap water-sourced nitrate were not associated with cancer-related mortality and additive permitted meat-sourced nitrate was not associated with CVD-related mortality. No clear patterns emerged in stratified analyses. Conclusion: Nitrate/nitrite from plant sources are inversely associated while those from naturally occurring animal-s

Increasing nitrogen depositions adversely affect European landscapes, including habitats within the Natura2000 network. Critical loads for nitrogen deposition have been established to quantify the loss of habitat quality. When the nitrogen deposition rises above a habitat-specific critical load, the quality of the focal habitat is expected to be negatively influenced. Here, we investigate how the quality of habitat types is affected beyond the critical load. We calculated response curves for 60 terrestrial habitat types in the Netherlands to the estimated nitrogen deposition (EMEP-data). The curves for habitat types are based on the occurrence of their characteristic plant species in North-Western Europe (plot data from the European Vegetation Archive). The estimated response curves were corrected for soil type, mean annual temperature and annual precipitation. Evaluation was carried out by expert judgement, and by comparison with gradient deposition field studies. For 39 habitats the response to nitrogen deposition was judged to be reliable by five experts, while out of the 41 habitat types for which field studies were available, 25 showed a good agreement. Some of the curves showed a steep decline in quality and some a more gradual decline with increasing nitrogen deposition. We compared the response curves with both the empirical and modelled critical loads. For 41 curves, we found a decline already starting below the critical load.

Aromatic compounds persist as hazardous contaminants in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, needing rapid and effective remediation strategies. This study evaluated toluene and benzene biodegradation under sulfate and nitrate-reducing conditions in column experiments, utilizing aquifer sediments from a contaminated site. Over a period of 36 weeks, four glass columns were operated simultaneously in an alternating flow-batch regime. Each column received either nitrate or sulfate as an electron acceptor while being exposed to different substrate compositions in varied exposure orders. A redox dependent contaminant removal efficiency was observed, with toluene removal efficiency at 81% under sulfate and 55% under nitrate-reducing conditions, and benzene removal efficiency approximately at 44% and 59%, respectively, within 4–6 weeks. The rapid removal under anaerobic conditions was attributed to the alternating flow-batch regime, allowing biomass growth in batch mode, and applying selection pressure to non-specific biodegraders during flow regime. Toluene removal remained unaffected by benzene's presence but exhibited slight inhibition in the presence of an aromatic mixture composed of BTEX, indene, indane, and naphthalene. Benzene removal efficiency dropped to 8% in the presence of toluene but remained unaffected by the mixture. Pre-exposure to a single compound enhanced breakdown efficiency when further faced with a more complex mixture. Additionally, beta-diversity analysis conducted on the four columns revealed distinct microbial community clustering between sulfate and nitrate-reducing conditions, emphasizing the determining role of redox conditions. Findings of this study can be used to develop more effective pollution cleanup strategies, specifically targeting parameters like redox conditions, substrate interactions, and pollution history, thus improving our ability to mitigate contamination across diverse environments.

Nitric oxide (NO) in human milk may have important functions in lactation and infant health. This longitudinal pilot cohort study investigated the total nitrite and nitrate (NOx) concentration in human milk and maternal saliva during the first 60 days postpartum. Additionally, we explored the association between selected breastfeeding variables and milk and saliva NOx concentration. Human milk and maternal saliva samples were collected on days 2, 5, 14, 30, and 60 postpartum and analyzed for NOx concentration. Breastfeeding data were collected through self-assessed questions. Data analyses were performed using mixed models. The concentration of NOx in milk was significantly higher during the first 30 days compared to day 60, and there was a positive association between milk and saliva NOx concentrations throughout the entire study period. In absolute numbers, partially breastfeeding mothers had a lower concentration of NOx in milk on day 2 compared to exclusively breastfeeding mothers (8 vs. 15.1 mu M, respectively). Partially breastfeeding mothers reported a later start of secretory activation and fewer mothers in this group started breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. Due to the small numbers, these differences could not be statistically evaluated. Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of NO in lactation success and breastfeeding outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Green leafy vegetables (GLV) contain inorganic nitrate, an anion with potential prebiotic effects on the oral microbiome. However, it remains unclear whether GLV and pharmacological supplementation [potassium nitrate (PN)] with a nitrate salt induce similar effects on the oral microbiome. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the effect of GLV with PN supplementation on the oral microbiome composition and salivary biomarkers in individuals with high blood pressure. METHODS: Seventy individuals were randomly allocated to 3 different groups to follow a 5-wk dietary intervention. Group 1 consumed 300 mg/d of nitrate in form of GLV. Group 2 consumed pills with 300 mg/d of PN and low-nitrate vegetables. Group 3 consumed pills with potassium chloride (placebo: PLAC) and low-nitrate vegetables. The oral microbiome composition and salivary biomarkers of oral health were analyzed before and after the dietary intervention. RESULTS: The GLV and PN groups showed similar microbial changes, probably nitrate-dependent, including an increase in the abundance of Neisseria, Capnocytophaga, Campylobacter species, and a decrease in Veillonella, Megasphaera, Actinomyces, and Eubacterium species after the treatment. Increased abundance of Rothia species, and reduced abundance of Streptococcus, Prevotella, Actinomyces, and Mogibacterium species were observed in the GLV group, which could be nitrate-independent. GLV and PN treatments increased salivary pH, but only GLV treatment showed an increase in the salivary buffering capacity and a reduction of lactate. CONCLUSION: The combination of nitrate-dependent and nitrate-independent microbial changes in the GLV group has a stronger effect to potentially improve oral health biomarkers compared with PN.

Urea-based fertilizers (urea and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN)) are susceptible to nitrate (NO3-) leaching, ammonia (NH3-) volatilization, and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission losses, resulting in low fertilizer nitrogen (N) efficiency and presenting a risk to human and environmental health. Nitrogen stabilizer products containing the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) and the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP) can enhance wheat yield and optimize fertilizer efficiency while mitigating N losses. However, their high price hinders wider adoption by farmers. This study examined the efficacy of potentially cost-effective, double inhibitor (DI) formulations in decreasing N losses and improving crop N efficiency. Specifically, the study assessed the impacts of ARMU Advanced (ARMU-Adv) formulations (i.e., NBPT: DMPP ratios of 1:1 and 1:0.5) at mitigating N losses and improving wheat biomass yield and N efficiency. A no-inhibitor and a no-fertilizer (control) treatment were included for comparison. Results showed that the ARMU-Adv formulations were effective at reducing NH3 volatilization and N2O emission and improving shoot N uptake and apparent N recovery (ANR) relative to untreated fertilizers. Overall, the ARMU-Adv formulations were more effective with urea than with UAN in reducing NH3 volatilization and enhancing shoot N uptake and ANR, whereas inhibitor-treated UAN showed greater efficacy in mitigating N2O losses relative to urea. These findings demonstrate the potential of ARMU-Adv formulations to reduce N losses and enhance yield and N efficiency in wheat-based cropping systems.

BACKGROUND: Green leafy vegetables (GLV) contain inorganic nitrate, an anion with potential prebiotic effects on the oral microbiome. However, it remains unclear whether GLV and pharmacological supplementation [potassium nitrate (PN)] with a nitrate salt induce similar effects on the oral microbiome. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the effect of GLV with PN supplementation on the oral microbiome composition and salivary biomarkers in individuals with high blood pressure. METHODS: Seventy individuals were randomly allocated to 3 different groups to follow a 5-wk dietary intervention. Group 1 consumed 300 mg/d of nitrate in form of GLV. Group 2 consumed pills with 300 mg/d of PN and low-nitrate vegetables. Group 3 consumed pills with potassium chloride (placebo: PLAC) and low-nitrate vegetables. The oral microbiome composition and salivary biomarkers of oral health were analyzed before and after the dietary intervention. RESULTS: The GLV and PN groups showed similar microbial changes, probably nitrate-dependent, including an increase in the abundance of Neisseria, Capnocytophaga, Campylobacter species, and a decrease in Veillonella, Megasphaera, Actinomyces, and Eubacterium species after the treatment. Increased abundance of Rothia species, and reduced abundance of Streptococcus, Prevotella, Actinomyces, and Mogibacterium species were observed in the GLV group, which could be nitrate-independent. GLV and PN treatments increased salivary pH, but only GLV treatment showed an increase in the salivary buffering capacity and a reduction of lactate. CONCLUSION: The combination of nitrate-dependent and nitrate-independent microbial changes in the GLV group has a stronger effect to potentially improve oral health biomarkers compared with PN.

Constructed wetlands and constructed floating wetlands are widely used for nitrogen (N) removal from surface water to combat eutrophication in freshwaters. Two main N removal pathways in freshwaters are plant biomass N uptake and denitrification, i.e. transformation of nitrate (NO3-) to nitrous oxide (N2O) or nitrogen gas (N2) by different microbes possessing nirK, nirS, nosZI, and nosZII genes. In this study, we tested woodchips-based floating beds (WFBs) as a nature-based and environment-friendly method to remove nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) from water. Moreover, we tested whether WFBs could support the growth of three selected plant species and the abundance of microbes on plant roots and woodchips as a proxy for WFBs' denitrification potential. We conducted a greenhouse experiment for 90 days and measured NO3-N removal rates from water in WFBs mesocosms during five sampling occasions. Plant biomass production, biomass N uptake, and plant morphology related to N uptake and abundance of denitrifying organisms were measured at the end of the experiment. NO3-N removal rates were 29.17 +/- 11.07, 28.18 +/- 12.62, 25.28 +/- 9.90, and 22.16 +/- 7.79 mg L-1 d-1 m-2 (mean +/- standard deviation) in Glyceria maxima, Juncus effusus, Filipendula ulmaria, and unplanted WFBs treatments, respectively for whole experimental period. N content in above- and belowground biomass of studied species ranged between 0.98 - 1.15 and 1.09 - 1.28 (% dry weight), respectively. Plant relative biomass production was 215 +/- 61, 67 +/- 18, and 7 +/- 17 (% dry weight) for G. maxima, J. effusus and F. ulmaria, respectively. Denitrifiers were detected both on plant roots and woodchips, indicating WFBs' denitrification potential. Our study highlights that WFBs could be applied to enhance NO3-N removal from surface water through plant biomass uptake and denitrification processes. Future studies should consider the long-term in situ application of WFBs for NO3-N removal from water.

Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) is crucial in numerous infant physiological processes, includingcardiovascular health and organ protection. Breast milk is the primary source of NO for infants. Nitriteand nitrate are surrogate markers for NO production. The relationship between nitrite and nitrateconcentrations in maternal breast milk and saliva and breastfeeding outcomes is poorly investigated. Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) is crucial in numerous infant physiological processes, includingcardiovascular health and organ protection. Breast milk is the primary source of NO for infants. Nitriteand nitrate are surrogate markers for NO production. The relationship between nitrite and nitrateconcentrations in maternal breast milk and saliva and breastfeeding outcomes is poorly investigated. Methods: Data for this longitudinal cohort study was obtained from a pilot study conducted in Dalarna,Sweden, from 2021 to 2022. The Cayman colometric test kit determined nitrite/nitrate concentrationsin milk and saliva samples. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Friedman'stest for change over time, and the Mann-Whitney U test to compare breastfeeding status. Results: Twenty-five mothers provided breast milk and saliva samples. Median nitrite/nitrate concentrationsin breast milk decreased significantly until day 60 postpartum, but no statistically significantchanges were observed in nitrite/nitrate concentrations in saliva. Additionally, no statisticallysignificant differences were found between mothers who exclusively breastfed and those who partiallyor did not breastfeed in either sample type. Conclusions: Our study showed that early breast milk contains higher nitrite/nitrate concentrationsthan mature milk. Further extended and larger studies are required to evaluate the association withbreastfeeding outcomes.

Syfte. Syftet med studien var att utreda om rödbetsjuice ger en akut blodtryckssänkning 150 minuter efter intag samt om denna eventuella effekt skiljer sig mellan kvinnor och män. Metod och material. I studien inkluderades 27 deltagare som intog rödbetsjuice med 830 mg nitrater alternativt placebodryck. Samtliga deltagare var självrapporterat fria från kända kardiovaskulära sjukdomar, diabetes samt hypertoni. Blodtrycket togs innan samt 150 minuter efter intag av dryck. Resultat. Intag av rödbetsjuice gav en signifikant sänkning av det systoliska blodtrycket. Ingen sänkning kunde påvisas varken av det diastoliska blodtrycket för hela populationen eller separat i grupperna kvinnor respektive män som intog rödbetsjuice. Diskussion. Studien visade att rödbetsjuice kan sänka det systoliska blodtrycket, vilket föreslås bero på nitrater i rödbetsjuice som leder till bildning av kväveoxid. Studien hade flera begränsningar som kan ha påverkat resultaten såsom deltagarnas måltider och farmakologiska behandlingar. Jämfört med tidigare forskning visade denna studie både liknande och avvikande resultat. Slutsats. Arbetet visade att rödbetsjuice kan ge en akut sänkning av det systoliska blodtrycket men det krävs vidare forskning för att utreda om denna blodtryckssänkande effekt skiljer sig mellan kvinnor och män., Aim. This study aimed to examine if beetroot juice induces an acute blood pressure reduction 150 minutes after consumption and if this potential effect differs between genders. Methods. Twenty-seven participants consumed beetroot juice with 830 mg nitrates or a placebo. All participants were self-reported free of known cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and hypertension. Blood pressure was measured before and 150 minutes after ingestion. Results. Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly after consuming beetroot juice. There was no decrease observed in diastolic blood pressure for the total population nor in groups of women or men who ingested beetroot juice. Discussion. The study demonstrated that beetroot juice can lower systolic blood pressure, which is suggested to be due to the nitrates in beetroot juice leading to the formation of nitric oxide. The aim was achieved, but the study had several limitations that could have affected the results, such as participants' meals and pharmacological treatments. Compared to previous research, this study showed both similar and divergent results. Conclusion. The study showed that beetroot juice may acutely lower systolic blood pressure, but further research is needed to ascertain gender-specific effects.

Nitric oxide (NO) in human milk may have important functions in lactation and infant health. This longitudinal pilot cohort study investigated the total nitrite and nitrate (NOx) concentration in human milk and maternal saliva during the first 60 days postpartum. Additionally, we explored the association between selected breastfeeding variables and milk and saliva NOx concentration. Human milk and maternal saliva samples were collected on days 2, 5, 14, 30, and 60 postpartum and analyzed for NOx concentration. Breastfeeding data were collected through self-assessed questions. Data analyses were performed using mixed models. The concentration of NOx in milk was significantly higher during the first 30 days compared to day 60, and there was a positive association between milk and saliva NOx concentrations throughout the entire study period. In absolute numbers, partially breastfeeding mothers had a lower concentration of NOx in milk on day 2 compared to exclusively breastfeeding mothers (8 vs. 15.1 mu M, respectively). Partially breastfeeding mothers reported a later start of secretory activation and fewer mothers in this group started breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. Due to the small numbers, these differences could not be statistically evaluated. Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of NO in lactation success and breastfeeding outcomes.

This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of microalgal biomass production and nutrient removal from recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) water (RASW) with low phosphate concentration. For this purpose, Nannochloropsis oculata, Pavlova gyrans, Tetraselmis suecica, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and their consortium were cultivated in RASW and RASW supplemented with vitamins (+V). Among them, N. oculata showed the maximum biomass production of 0.4 g/L in RASW. Vitamins supplementation significantly increased the growth of T. suecica from 0.16 g/L in RASW to 0.33 g/L in RASW + V. Additionally, T. suecica showed the highest nitrate (NO3–N) removal efficiency of 80.88 ± 2.08 % in RASW and 83.82 ± 2.08 % in RASW + V. Accordingly, T. suecica was selected for scaling up study of microalgal cultivation in RASW and RASW supplemented with nitrate (RASW + N) in 4-L airlift photobioreactors. Nitrate supplementation enhanced the growth of T. suecica up to 2.2-fold (day 15). The fatty acid nutritional indices in T. suecica cultivated in RASW and RASW + N showed optimal polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)/saturated fatty acid (SFAs), omega-6 fatty acid (n-6)/omega-3 fatty acid (n-3), indices of atherogenicity (IA), and thrombogenicity (IT)). Overall, the findings of this study revealed that despite low phosphate concentration, marine microalgae can grow in RASW and relatively reduce the concentration of nitrate. Furthermore, the microalgal biomass cultivated in RASW consisting of pigments and optimal fatty acid nutritional profile can be used as fish feed, thus contributing to a circular bioeconomy., Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-04-22 (hanlid);Funder: DIGIRAS (4400T-0806);Full text license: CC BY

Nitric oxide (NO) in human milk may have important functions in lactation and infant health. This longitudinal pilot cohort study investigated the total nitrite and nitrate (NOx) concentration in human milk and maternal saliva during the first 60 days postpartum. Additionally, we explored the association between selected breastfeeding variables and milk and saliva NOx concentration. Human milk and maternal saliva samples were collected on days 2, 5, 14, 30, and 60 postpartum and analyzed for NOx concentration. Breastfeeding data were collected through self-assessed questions. Data analyses were performed using mixed models. The concentration of NOx in milk was significantly higher during the first 30 days compared to day 60, and there was a positive association between milk and saliva NOx concentrations throughout the entire study period. In absolute numbers, partially breastfeeding mothers had a lower concentration of NOx in milk on day 2 compared to exclusively breastfeeding mothers (8 vs. 15.1 mu M, respectively). Partially breastfeeding mothers reported a later start of secretory activation and fewer mothers in this group started breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. Due to the small numbers, these differences could not be statistically evaluated. Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of NO in lactation success and breastfeeding outcomes.

Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (HDPs) represent a global clinical challenge, affecting 5-10% of women and leading to complications for both maternal well-being and fetal development. At the heart of these complications is endothelial dysfunction, with oxidative stress emerging as a pivotal causative factor. The reduction in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is a vital indicator of this dysfunction, culminating in blood pressure dysregulation. In the therapeutic context, although antihypertensive medications are commonly used, they come with inherent concerns related to maternal-fetal safety, and a percentage of women do not respond to these therapies. Therefore, alternative strategies that directly address the pathophysiology of HDPs are required. This article focuses on the potential of the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway, abundantly present in dark leafy greens and beetroot, as an alternative approach to treating HDPs. The objective of this review is to discuss the prospective antioxidant role of nitrate. We hope our discussion paves the way for using nitrate to improve endothelial dysfunction and control oxidative stress, offering a potential therapy for managing HDPs.

BACKGROUND: Green leafy vegetables (GLV) contain inorganic nitrate, an anion with potential prebiotic effects on the oral microbiome. However, it remains unclear whether GLV and pharmacological supplementation [potassium nitrate (PN)] with a nitrate salt induce similar effects on the oral microbiome. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the effect of GLV with PN supplementation on the oral microbiome composition and salivary biomarkers in individuals with high blood pressure. METHODS: Seventy individuals were randomly allocated to 3 different groups to follow a 5-wk dietary intervention. Group 1 consumed 300 mg/d of nitrate in form of GLV. Group 2 consumed pills with 300 mg/d of PN and low-nitrate vegetables. Group 3 consumed pills with potassium chloride (placebo: PLAC) and low-nitrate vegetables. The oral microbiome composition and salivary biomarkers of oral health were analyzed before and after the dietary intervention. RESULTS: The GLV and PN groups showed similar microbial changes, probably nitrate-dependent, including an increase in the abundance of Neisseria, Capnocytophaga, Campylobacter species, and a decrease in Veillonella, Megasphaera, Actinomyces, and Eubacterium species after the treatment. Increased abundance of Rothia species, and reduced abundance of Streptococcus, Prevotella, Actinomyces, and Mogibacterium species were observed in the GLV group, which could be nitrate-independent. GLV and PN treatments increased salivary pH, but only GLV treatment showed an increase in the salivary buffering capacity and a reduction of lactate. CONCLUSION: The combination of nitrate-dependent and nitrate-independent microbial changes in the GLV group has a stronger effect to potentially improve oral health biomarkers compared with PN.

Urea-based fertilizers (urea and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN)) are susceptible to nitrate (NO3-) leaching, ammonia (NH3-) volatilization, and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission losses, resulting in low fertilizer nitrogen (N) efficiency and presenting a risk to human and environmental health. Nitrogen stabilizer products containing the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) and the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP) can enhance wheat yield and optimize fertilizer efficiency while mitigating N losses. However, their high price hinders wider adoption by farmers. This study examined the efficacy of potentially cost-effective, double inhibitor (DI) formulations in decreasing N losses and improving crop N efficiency. Specifically, the study assessed the impacts of ARMU Advanced (ARMU-Adv) formulations (i.e., NBPT: DMPP ratios of 1:1 and 1:0.5) at mitigating N losses and improving wheat biomass yield and N efficiency. A no-inhibitor and a no-fertilizer (control) treatment were included for comparison. Results showed that the ARMU-Adv formulations were effective at reducing NH3 volatilization and N2O emission and improving shoot N uptake and apparent N recovery (ANR) relative to untreated fertilizers. Overall, the ARMU-Adv formulations were more effective with urea than with UAN in reducing NH3 volatilization and enhancing shoot N uptake and ANR, whereas inhibitor-treated UAN showed greater efficacy in mitigating N2O losses relative to urea. These findings demonstrate the potential of ARMU-Adv formulations to reduce N losses and enhance yield and N efficiency in wheat-based cropping systems.

BACKGROUND: Green leafy vegetables (GLV) contain inorganic nitrate, an anion with potential prebiotic effects on the oral microbiome. However, it remains unclear whether GLV and pharmacological supplementation [potassium nitrate (PN)] with a nitrate salt induce similar effects on the oral microbiome. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the effect of GLV with PN supplementation on the oral microbiome composition and salivary biomarkers in individuals with high blood pressure. METHODS: Seventy individuals were randomly allocated to 3 different groups to follow a 5-wk dietary intervention. Group 1 consumed 300 mg/d of nitrate in form of GLV. Group 2 consumed pills with 300 mg/d of PN and low-nitrate vegetables. Group 3 consumed pills with potassium chloride (placebo: PLAC) and low-nitrate vegetables. The oral microbiome composition and salivary biomarkers of oral health were analyzed before and after the dietary intervention. RESULTS: The GLV and PN groups showed similar microbial changes, probably nitrate-dependent, including an increase in the abundance of Neisseria, Capnocytophaga, Campylobacter species, and a decrease in Veillonella, Megasphaera, Actinomyces, and Eubacterium species after the treatment. Increased abundance of Rothia species, and reduced abundance of Streptococcus, Prevotella, Actinomyces, and Mogibacterium species were observed in the GLV group, which could be nitrate-independent. GLV and PN treatments increased salivary pH, but only GLV treatment showed an increase in the salivary buffering capacity and a reduction of lactate. CONCLUSION: The combination of nitrate-dependent and nitrate-independent microbial changes in the GLV group has a stronger effect to potentially improve oral health biomarkers compared with PN.

Nitric oxide (NO) in human milk may have important functions in lactation and infant health. This longitudinal pilot cohort study investigated the total nitrite and nitrate (NOx) concentration in human milk and maternal saliva during the first 60 days postpartum. Additionally, we explored the association between selected breastfeeding variables and milk and saliva NOx concentration. Human milk and maternal saliva samples were collected on days 2, 5, 14, 30, and 60 postpartum and analyzed for NOx concentration. Breastfeeding data were collected through self-assessed questions. Data analyses were performed using mixed models. The concentration of NOx in milk was significantly higher during the first 30 days compared to day 60, and there was a positive association between milk and saliva NOx concentrations throughout the entire study period. In absolute numbers, partially breastfeeding mothers had a lower concentration of NOx in milk on day 2 compared to exclusively breastfeeding mothers (8 vs. 15.1 mu M, respectively). Partially breastfeeding mothers reported a later start of secretory activation and fewer mothers in this group started breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. Due to the small numbers, these differences could not be statistically evaluated. Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of NO in lactation success and breastfeeding outcomes.

This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of microalgal biomass production and nutrient removal from recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) water (RASW) with low phosphate concentration. For this purpose, Nannochloropsis oculata, Pavlova gyrans, Tetraselmis suecica, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and their consortium were cultivated in RASW and RASW supplemented with vitamins (+V). Among them, N. oculata showed the maximum biomass production of 0.4 g/L in RASW. Vitamins supplementation significantly increased the growth of T. suecica from 0.16 g/L in RASW to 0.33 g/L in RASW + V. Additionally, T. suecica showed the highest nitrate (NO3–N) removal efficiency of 80.88 ± 2.08 % in RASW and 83.82 ± 2.08 % in RASW + V. Accordingly, T. suecica was selected for scaling up study of microalgal cultivation in RASW and RASW supplemented with nitrate (RASW + N) in 4-L airlift photobioreactors. Nitrate supplementation enhanced the growth of T. suecica up to 2.2-fold (day 15). The fatty acid nutritional indices in T. suecica cultivated in RASW and RASW + N showed optimal polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)/saturated fatty acid (SFAs), omega-6 fatty acid (n-6)/omega-3 fatty acid (n-3), indices of atherogenicity (IA), and thrombogenicity (IT)). Overall, the findings of this study revealed that despite low phosphate concentration, marine microalgae can grow in RASW and relatively reduce the concentration of nitrate. Furthermore, the microalgal biomass cultivated in RASW consisting of pigments and optimal fatty acid nutritional profile can be used as fish feed, thus contributing to a circular bioeconomy., Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-04-22 (hanlid);Funder: DIGIRAS (4400T-0806);Full text license: CC BY

The number of people living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) globally increased to approximately 507 million in 2021 and continues to rise. Although T2D is largely preventable through a healthy diet, and higher vegetable intakes are recommended for T2D prevention, prior evidence from observational studies is weak and indicates only a marginal inverse association between higher vegetable consumption and T2D risk. Furthermore, potatoes, considered a vegetable in many parts of the world, are linked to a higher risk of T2D. In this thesis, I aimed to explore associations between intakes of 1) vegetables, 2) individual vegetables subgroups, 3) potatoes, and 4) key bioactive components of green leafy and cruciferous vegetables (namely vitamin K1 and nitrate), and both T2D incidence and markers of T2D in two large cohorts: the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Study and the Australian Diabetes, Obesity & Lifestyle Study. My findings indicate strong inverse associations between vegetable intakes––particularly green leafy and cruciferous vegetables––and T2D risk. Additionally, green leafy vegetable intakes were associated with better glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Potatoes, when prepared in a healthy way, were not associated with T2D risk while potato fries/chips were associated with a higher risk of T2D and poorer glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Intakes of both vegetable-derived nitrate and vitamin K1 were each associated with a lower risk of T2D pointing to these compounds as potential candidates explaining the benefit of green leafy and cruciferous vegetables in lowering T2D risk. If observed associations are causal, promoting higher intakes of green leafy and cruciferous vegetables could lower T2D at a population level, potentially due to their high content of nitrate and vitamin K1. Potatoes, when prepared in a healthy way should not increase T2D risk.

Development of robust root systems is a crucial adaptive mechanism for plants, allowing them to thrive in diverse environments. To continuously optimize growth, plants employ complex networks of long and short range signaling pathways to regulate root development in response to the availability of vital macronutrients, such as nitrate and photosynthetically derived sucrose. This study investigates the complex biochemical pathways that govern root growth in Arabidopsis, focusing on the interplay between nitrate and sucrose sensing pathways and the relevant roles of CEP Receptor 1 (CEPR1) and Arabidopsis H+ ATPases 3 and 9 (AHA3 and AHA9). Differential growth analysis revealed that nitrate and sucrose mediated pathways do not function independently; rather, the dynamic regulation of root growth in response to nitrate uptake is dependent on the availability of sucrose. Operating only under conditions with adequate sucrose, CEPR1, AHA3, and AHA9 are crucial for the generation of appropriate responses to variations in nitrate uptake. These findings illuminate the intricate interplay between nutrient sensing pathways in shaping plant root architecture and underscore the sophisticated adaptive strategies plants use for nutrient foraging. This research provides new insights into the regulatory networks controlling root growth and plant responses to environmental stimuli.

Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) is crucial in numerous infant physiological processes, includingcardiovascular health and organ protection. Breast milk is the primary source of NO for infants. Nitriteand nitrate are surrogate markers for NO production. The relationship between nitrite and nitrateconcentrations in maternal breast milk and saliva and breastfeeding outcomes is poorly investigated. Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) is crucial in numerous infant physiological processes, includingcardiovascular health and organ protection. Breast milk is the primary source of NO for infants. Nitriteand nitrate are surrogate markers for NO production. The relationship between nitrite and nitrateconcentrations in maternal breast milk and saliva and breastfeeding outcomes is poorly investigated. Methods: Data for this longitudinal cohort study was obtained from a pilot study conducted in Dalarna,Sweden, from 2021 to 2022. The Cayman colometric test kit determined nitrite/nitrate concentrationsin milk and saliva samples. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Friedman'stest for change over time, and the Mann-Whitney U test to compare breastfeeding status. Results: Twenty-five mothers provided breast milk and saliva samples. Median nitrite/nitrate concentrationsin breast milk decreased significantly until day 60 postpartum, but no statistically significantchanges were observed in nitrite/nitrate concentrations in saliva. Additionally, no statisticallysignificant differences were found between mothers who exclusively breastfed and those who partiallyor did not breastfeed in either sample type. Conclusions: Our study showed that early breast milk contains higher nitrite/nitrate concentrationsthan mature milk. Further extended and larger studies are required to evaluate the association withbreastfeeding outcomes.

Syfte. Syftet med studien var att utreda om rödbetsjuice ger en akut blodtryckssänkning 150 minuter efter intag samt om denna eventuella effekt skiljer sig mellan kvinnor och män. Metod och material. I studien inkluderades 27 deltagare som intog rödbetsjuice med 830 mg nitrater alternativt placebodryck. Samtliga deltagare var självrapporterat fria från kända kardiovaskulära sjukdomar, diabetes samt hypertoni. Blodtrycket togs innan samt 150 minuter efter intag av dryck. Resultat. Intag av rödbetsjuice gav en signifikant sänkning av det systoliska blodtrycket. Ingen sänkning kunde påvisas varken av det diastoliska blodtrycket för hela populationen eller separat i grupperna kvinnor respektive män som intog rödbetsjuice. Diskussion. Studien visade att rödbetsjuice kan sänka det systoliska blodtrycket, vilket föreslås bero på nitrater i rödbetsjuice som leder till bildning av kväveoxid. Studien hade flera begränsningar som kan ha påverkat resultaten såsom deltagarnas måltider och farmakologiska behandlingar. Jämfört med tidigare forskning visade denna studie både liknande och avvikande resultat. Slutsats. Arbetet visade att rödbetsjuice kan ge en akut sänkning av det systoliska blodtrycket men det krävs vidare forskning för att utreda om denna blodtryckssänkande effekt skiljer sig mellan kvinnor och män., Aim. This study aimed to examine if beetroot juice induces an acute blood pressure reduction 150 minutes after consumption and if this potential effect differs between genders. Methods. Twenty-seven participants consumed beetroot juice with 830 mg nitrates or a placebo. All participants were self-reported free of known cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and hypertension. Blood pressure was measured before and 150 minutes after ingestion. Results. Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly after consuming beetroot juice. There was no decrease observed in diastolic blood pressure for the total population nor in groups of women or men who ingested beetroot juice. Discussion. The study demonstrated that beetroot juice can lower systolic blood pressure, which is suggested to be due to the nitrates in beetroot juice leading to the formation of nitric oxide. The aim was achieved, but the study had several limitations that could have affected the results, such as participants' meals and pharmacological treatments. Compared to previous research, this study showed both similar and divergent results. Conclusion. The study showed that beetroot juice may acutely lower systolic blood pressure, but further research is needed to ascertain gender-specific effects.

Nitric oxide (NO) in human milk may have important functions in lactation and infant health. This longitudinal pilot cohort study investigated the total nitrite and nitrate (NOx) concentration in human milk and maternal saliva during the first 60 days postpartum. Additionally, we explored the association between selected breastfeeding variables and milk and saliva NOx concentration. Human milk and maternal saliva samples were collected on days 2, 5, 14, 30, and 60 postpartum and analyzed for NOx concentration. Breastfeeding data were collected through self-assessed questions. Data analyses were performed using mixed models. The concentration of NOx in milk was significantly higher during the first 30 days compared to day 60, and there was a positive association between milk and saliva NOx concentrations throughout the entire study period. In absolute numbers, partially breastfeeding mothers had a lower concentration of NOx in milk on day 2 compared to exclusively breastfeeding mothers (8 vs. 15.1 mu M, respectively). Partially breastfeeding mothers reported a later start of secretory activation and fewer mothers in this group started breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. Due to the small numbers, these differences could not be statistically evaluated. Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of NO in lactation success and breastfeeding outcomes.

High concentrations of NO3̄ in water resources are detrimental to both human health and aquatic ecosystems. Identification of NO3̄ sources and biogeochemical processes is a crucial step in managing and controlling NO3̄ pollution. In this study, land use, hydrochemical data, dual stable isotopic ratios and Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Models (BSIMM) were integrated to identify NO3̄ sources and estimate their proportional contributions to the contamination of the Karaj Urban Aquifer (Iran). Elevated NO3̄ concentrations indicated a severe NO3̄ pollution, with 39 and 52% of groundwater (GW) samples displaying the concentrations of NO3̄ in exceedance of the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 50 mg NO3̄ L−1 in the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. Dual stable isotopes inferred that urban sewage is the main NO3̄ source in the Karaj Plain. The diagram of NO3̄/Cl‾ versus Cl‾ confirmed that municipal sewage is the major source of NO3̄. Results also showed that biogeochemical nitrogen dynamics are mainly influenced by nitrification, while denitrification is minimal. The BSIMM model suggested that NO3̄ originated predominantly from urban sewage (78.2%), followed by soil organic nitrogen (12.2%), and chemical fertilizer (9.5%) in the dry season. In the wet season, the relative contributions of urban sewage, soil nitrogen and chemical fertilizer were 87.5, 6.7, and 5.5%, respectively. The sensitivity analysis for the BSIMM modeling indicates that the isotopic signatures of sewage had the major impact on the overall GW NO3̄ source apportionment. The findings provide important insights for local authorities to support effective and sustainable GW resources management in the Karaj Urban Aquifer. It also demonstrates that employing Bayesian models combined with multi-parameters can improve the accuracy of NO3̄ source identification.

Riverine phytoplankton takes up phosphate, dissolved silicate, and nitrate. We investigated which nutrients are depleted during a Lagrangian sampling in the free-flowing part of the River Elbe in 2023. As part of this study, we tested the hypotheses that nutrient depletion might be caused by (1) above-average phytoplankton biomass or by (2) decreased nutrient load of the river during previous years. Phytoplankton biomass increased up to 350 km in rivers and stopped increasing exactly when soluble reactive phosphorus had been completely consumed, and molar carbon to phosphorus ratios of seston indicated the beginning phosphorus limitation. The concentrations of dissolved silicate and nitrate dropped below the detection limit as well. In contrast to the results from eight previous longitudinal samplings taken in 2018–2022, nitrate exhaustion was detected for the first time in 2023 within the transect. This was caused neither by an above-average phytoplankton biomass nor by a declined overall nutrient load of the river in 2018–2023. Instead, denitrification appears to be the most plausible explanation for the downstream decrease of nitrate and the loss of total nitrogen which was supported by enrichment of nitrate stable isotopes and a decreasing ratio of nitrate 15N/18O.

Chloride (Cl) is traditionally categorized as an antagonist of nitrate (NO3¿) because Cl¿ hinders plant NO3¿ transport and accumulation. However, we have recently defined Cl¿ as a beneficial macronutrient for higher plants, due to specific functions that lead to more efficient use of water, nitrogen (N) and CO2 under optimal N and water supply. When accumulated in leaves at macronutrient levels, Cl¿ promotes growth through osmotic, physiological, metabolic, anatomical and cellular changes that improve plant performance under optimal NO3¿ nutrition. Nitrate over-fertilization in agriculture can adversely affect crop yield and nature, while its deficiency limits plant growth. To study the relationship between Cl¿ nutrition and NO3¿ availability, we have characterized different physiological responses such as growth and yield, N-use efficiency, water status, photosynthesis, leaf anatomy, pigments and antioxidants in tomato plants treated with or without 5 mM Cl¿ salts and increasing NO3¿ treatments (3¿15 mM). First, we have demonstrated that 5 mM Cl¿ application can reduce the use of NO3¿ in the nutrient solution by up to half without detriment to plant growth and yield in tomato and other horticultural plants. Second, Cl¿ application reduced stress symptoms and improved plant growth under low-NO3¿ conditions. The Cl¿-dependent resistance to low-N stress resulted from: more efficient use of the available NO3¿; improved plant osmotic and water status regulation; improved stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate; and better antioxidant response. We proposed that beneficial Cl¿ levels increase the crop ability to grow better with lower NO3¿ requirements and withstand N deficiency, promoting a more sustainable and resilient agriculture.