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Fenugreeks (Trigonella L. spp.), are well-known herbs belonging to the family Fabaceae, whose fresh and dried leaves have nutritional and medicinal value. In the present study, the content of phytochemical traits (essential oil, diosgenin, trigonelline, total phenol, total flavonoid, total saponins, and total tannins), bitterness value, pigments (chlorophyll, carotenoid, β-carotene, and anthocyanin), vitamins (group B vitamins and ascorbic acid), minerals, and antioxidant activity of thirty cultivated populations belonging to ten Trigonella species were evaluated. The species and populations were significantly different in all studied parameters. A significant positive and negative correlation (p < 0.05) was also observed between the studied parameters. In total, T. teheranica, T. elliptica, and T. foenum-graecum were distinguished as superior species. The results showed that fenugreeks leaves can be considered as a valuable source of food and phytochemical compounds. The obtained data can be help to expand the inventory of wild and cultivated Trigonella species for further exploitation of rich chemotypes in the new foods and specific applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In current investigation, the effect of the breads enriched with red pepper powder at different concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%) on colour parameters, antioxidant activity, total phenolics, flavonoids, phenolic components, minerals and sensory properties was revealed. While the brightness results of the breads L* decreased, there was a significant increase in the a* and b* values. As the concentration of the pepper powder added to bread dough increased, a significant increase was observed in bioactive compounds such as total phenol, antioxidant activity and flavonoids in the bread. It was determined that bread enriched with 1% red pepper powder received the highest sensory scores compared to other breads. The phenolic compound amounts of the breads showed some changes based on the pepper concentrations. Protein amounts of the wheat bread fortified with red pepper powder were specified to be between 9.32 (0.5%) and 9.79% (control). Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) quantities of the breads were assessed to be between 745.27 mg kg−1 (0.5%) and 846.69 mg kg−1 (2.0%) to 2266.63 mg kg−1 (control) and 2907.38 mg kg−1 (2.0%), respectively. The flavour, smell, colour and texture values of the pepper bread samples varied depending on the added pepper concentration. As a result, the most liked formulation by the consumers was the pepper bread with 1.0% added, followed by 1.5%, 2.0%, 0.5% in decreasing order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study primarily investigated the variations in stable isotope ratios and elemental fingerprints in tea leaves, which are influenced by multiple factors such as tea cultivars, plant parts, geographical areas, and harvest times. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in isotope and elemental profiles among tea cultivars. By employing advanced statistical methods, such as principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA), we achieved 100% accuracy in classifying tea cultivars. Additionally, different parts of the tea plant and geographical areas exhibited substantial impacts on the concentrations of stable isotopes and elements. The variation in harvest times further indicated the regulation of isotope fractionation and element accumulation. The variations in carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O) isotopes among different tea tree parts illuminated the pathways of nutrient transport within the plant. Overall, plant parts were identified as the most crucial factor affecting tea quality, followed by geographical areas and tea cultivars. These findings provide scientific evidence for tea classification and quality control, while also enhancing the understanding of the nutritional metabolism mechanisms in tea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, increased attention has been paid to the raw materials of plants as a source of biologically active substances. Black rosehip (Rosa pimpinellifolia L.) fruits could be a good resource for potential functional components in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Also, drying can influence the composition of heat-sensitive phytochemicals. However, less attention is given to comparing black rosehip bioactive compounds particularly compositions of fatty acid, amino acids, and phenolic content in fresh and dried fruits. So in this study, the amino acid constituents (by amino acid analyzer), fatty acids (by GC–MS), mineral elements (by atomic absorption spectrometer), antioxidant (by DPPH) and phenolic compounds (by HPLC) present in fresh and dried fruits of black rosehip naturally grown in Iran were comprehensively investigated. The results showed that dried fruits had a lower level moisture by 51.55%, and a higher level of total phenolic compounds and total sugar by 786.20 mg GAE/100 g and 15.77 g/100 g, respectively. Chlorogenic acid and gallic acid were the major phenolic compounds (109.3 mg/g). Whilst, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and arachidic acid (85.34%) were the most dominant fatty acids. The most dominant amino acids were glutamic acid, phenylalanine, and arginine (29.41 g/100 g). Also, Fe and Mn as micro-elements were the most dominant elements. In general, the results illustrated the potentials and differences of black rosehip fruits grown in the Arasbaran region as promising resources for food sources, pharmaceutics, cosmetics, and breeding programs. Also, these findings confirm that black rosehip fruits contain significant amounts of secondary metabolites that may positively affect human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than one billion people face malnourishment worldwide and majority of them are from Asia and Africa. The nutrition insecurity challenges in the third world countries could be addressed by considering entomophagy as an alternative to increase nutritional intake and meet the increasing nutrient demands of growing populations. Crickets are the most consumed orthopteran in the world and are good sources of protein and other essential nutrients. This study was conducted to identify the edible crickets and their nutritional composition in two regions of Nigeria. The edible crickets found in the study areas are Brachytrupes membranaceus Drury 1770, Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer 1773, Teleogryllus commodus Walker 1869, Teleogryllus sp. and Scapsipedus icipe Hugel and Tanga 2018. The values of moisture in the crickets ranged from 66.34 g/100 g in Teleogryllus sp. to 76.79 g/100 g in B. membranaceus. The ash in the crickets ranged from 0.63 g/100 g in B. membranaceus to 2.35 g/100 g in G. bimaculatus. The crude protein in the crickets ranged from 16.34 g/100 g in S. icipe to 23.38 g/100 g in T. commodus. The crude protein was significantly higher in T. commodus when compared with the other crickets (p < 0.05). Among the amino acids analysed, tryptophan, valine, and methionine were significantly higher in Teleogryllus sp. than the other crickets (p < 0.05). Calcium and phosphorus contents were highest in T. commodus but only calcium was significantly higher than in the other crickets (p < 0.05). Iron ranged from 0.05 µg/100 g in G. bimaculatus to 0.10 µg/100 g in S. icipe. Magnesium contents ranged from 0.05 µg/100 g in S. icipe to 0.34 µg/100 g in B. membranaceus. The crickets analysed were rich in protein, amino acids, and other essential nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, the effects of different roasting techniques on the oil content, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, phenolic components, fatty acid and mineral contents of mahaleb seeds, which can be used instead of vanilla, were investigated spectrophotometric and chromatographic systems. The oil quantities of the mahaleb seeds were assessed to be between 30.34% (control) to 34.08% (conventional oven). The total phenolic and flavonoid quantities were assigned to be between 34.37 (control) and 46.61 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE/)/100 g (microwave) to 82.62 (conventional oven) and 94.21 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/100 g (microwave), respectively. Antioxidant capacity values of untreated and roasted mahaleb seeds were assessed to be between 1.89 (control) and 2.03 mmol Trolox equivalent (TE) kg−1 (conventional oven). L* values of mahaleb seeds were established to be between 53.04 and 83.40, and a decrease was observed in L* values after heat treatment. Caffeic acid and rutin values of the mahaleb seeds were established between 344.84 (oven) and 641.86 (control) to 18.53 (control) and 146.52 mg/100 g (oven), respectively. The dominant fatty acids of the mahaleb oils were oleic, linoleic and palmitic acids. Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) quantities of the mahaleb seeds were established to be between 4988.11 (control) and 5280.93 mg kg−1 (oven) to 8025.94 (oven) and 8462.66 mg kg−1 (microwave), respectively. The roasting process had an effect on the bioactive components, fatty acids and element contents of mahaleb seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the apparent paradox between the critical emphasis on melodrama’s mobility across place, time and media, and its founding in material, embodied formal components: the combination of music, drama, and theatre in the nineteenth century. This article finds that an early melodrama, Isaac Pocock’s 1818 stage adaptation of Walter Scott’s Rob Roy, used elemental qualities to establish its melodramatic form. Drawing on theories of the elements and of theatre by Timothy Morton and Matthew Wagner, and on contemporary geological writing by James Hutton, the first section formulates the historical and theoretical relationships that exist between the theatre, geology and the elements. The second and third sections examine how the formal characteristics of Pocock’s play – set, song and characterisation – enact the elements’ strange enveloping movements. The play’s elemental form, I discover, facilitates the mediation of its characters and concepts beyond its own borders, into wider popular culture. But, at other moments, the play insists on marking the contours of its own aesthetic and material bounds. I argue that this dramaturgy, that trembles between elementality and human embodiment, sustains melodrama’s transmediality, transtemporality, and its endurance over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PM2.5 and PM10 particles were characterized in terms of morphology (size and shape) and surface elemental composition at two different (traffic and industrial) locations in urban region of India and further linked to different morphological defining parameters. The overall PM2.5 and PM10 showed significant daily variability indicating higher PM10 as compared to PM2.5. PM2.5/PM10 ratio was found to be 0.58 ± 0.10 indicating the abundance of PM2.5. Soot aggregates, aluminosilicates, and brochosomes particles were classified based on morphology, aspect ratio (AR), and surface elemental composition of single particles. The linear regression analysis indicates the significant correlation between area equivalent (Daeq) and feret diameter (Dfd) (R2 0.86–0.98). Higher aspect ratio (1.48 ± 0.87–1.43 ± 0.50) was noted at traffic site as compared to industrial site (1.33 ± 0.58–1.29 ± 0.30), while circularity showed the opposite trend. Fractal dimension (Df) of soot aggregates estimated by the soot parameters method (SPM) were found to be 1.70, 1.72, and 1.88, mainly attributed to vehicular emissions, biomass, and industrial emission/coal burning, respectively. This further inferred that freshly emitted soot particles exhibited lacey in nature with spherical shape (Df 1.70) at traffic site, while at industrial location, they were different with compact shapes (Df 1.88) due to particle aging processes. This study inferred the synoptic changes in mass, chemical characteristics, and morphology of aerosol particles which provide the new insights into individual atmospheric particle and their dynamic nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honeydew honey is produced by bees (Apis mellifera) foraging and collecting secretions produced by certain types of aphids on various parts of plants. In addition to exhibiting organoleptic characteristics that distinguish them from nectar honey, these honeys are known for their functional properties, such as strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Despite their importance, they remain poorly characterized in comparison with flower honeys, as most studies on this subject are not only carried out on too few samples but also still focused on traditional chemical–physical parameters, such as specific rotation, major sugars, or melissopalynological information. Since mass spectrometry has consistently been a primary tool for the characterization and authentication of honeys, this review will focus on the application of these methods to the characterization of the minor fraction of honeydew honey. More specifically, this review will attempt to highlight what progress has been made so far in identifying markers of the authenticity of the botanical and/or geographical origin of honeydew honeys by mass spectrometry-based approaches. Furthermore, strategies devoted to the determination of contaminants and toxins in honeydew honeys will be addressed. Such analyses represent a valuable tool for establishing the level of food safety associated with these products. A critical analysis of the presented studies will identify their limitations and critical issues, thereby describing the current state of research on the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey represents the reflection of the surrounding environment and it is used as a biomarker for pollutants in the environment. It is noteworthy and necessary that the food be free of heavy metals and toxic compounds. In this research, a comprehensive survey of essential and non-essential elements along with heavy metals was carried out for honey samples collected from honey-rich areas in Iraqi Kurdistan region. The biochemical properties of honey and 20 elements were studied. The honey samples showed pH values ranged between (3.66 – 7.05 ), acidity (9 – 35 meq/kg), moisture percent (12-16.1% ), conductance ( 0.203 – 1.063 mS/m), diastase enzyme activity ( 11.1 - 65 IU), HMF (1.46 – 48 ) and the average of sugar content ( 3.14, 27.2, 39.2, and 77.8) for sucrose, glucose, fructose and total sugar percentage, respectively. The mean values of the analyzed elements (Pb, Sb, As, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr, V, Ti, Mg, Al, Sr, Ba, Cd, Se, Mo and Be) were (0.050, 0.037, 0.005, 0.916, 1.096, 0.257, 0.034, 6.977, 1.232, 2.309, 1.355, 0.033, 0.0, 74.803, 61.565, 1.300, 0.178, 0.008, 0.366 and 0.039 mg/kg), respectively. A single sample from Erbil governorate showed a high quantity of aluminum, and the highest value for Pb was found in honey samples from Sulaymaniyah governorate. Additionally, the highest concentration of all the other important nutrients was detected in Sulaymaniyah honey samples. The final findings demonstrated that the honey from Kurdistan region is not contaminated with heavy metals (HM) and contains sufficient essential nutrients that are necessary to human health, supporting the high quality of the region’s honey [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research objective was to examine the influence of the first third of the lactation stage on 18 mineral elements in Alpine goat milk. The research was carried out on 20 goats of the French-Alpine breed, which were on average 5 years old and in the fourth lactation. The goats were monitored on the 30th and the 90th day of lactation. Their milk was analysed for chemical composition by the infrared spectroscopy. By means of inductively coupled plasma (ICP), a total of 18 minerals were analysed (Ca, P, K, Na, K, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Se, Mn, Mo, Co, Cr, Ni, Cd, Pb, As and Hg). The period of milk sampling in the first third of lactation significantly influenced the changes in concentrations of Na, Se, Mo, Cr, Ni and As. Significantly higher concentrations of Na and As were determined in milk sampled on the 90th day, while lower concentrations of Se, Mo, Cr and Ni were determined in milk sampled on the 30th day of the first third of lactation. Analysis of the correlation coefficients between the investigated trace elements and the selected toxic elements in Alpine goat milk showed a significantly positive correlation between Ca:Mg, Ca:P, Ca:Co, Ca:Ni, Ca:Mo; Mg:P, Fe:As, Pb:Cd and P:Ni. In the first third of lactation, Alpine goat milk contained a very low concentration of heavy metals. The described changes indicate that Alpine goat milk is rich in essential elements, while the concentration of toxic elements is very low in the first third of lactation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are serious pathogens in pistachio orchards and nurseries. Unfortunately, in most orchards, regular monitoring and correct use of integrated nematode management methods are not done. Nematode damage, along with the salinity and alkalinity of the soil in most pistachio orchards and unprincipled fertilization, has caused a significant decrease in pistachio production per hectare. Chemical nematicides for control lead to environmental pollution and seriously threaten human health. Therefore, finding low-risk methods to manage root-knot nematodes is a priority. Soil and bio solarization, soil amendments using organic fertilizers such as cow, poultry manure, and agricultural fermentation waste have shown convincing results. Following the observation of different levels of nematode control using mineral and chemical fertilizers, the present study was designed. So, the effect of different sulfur concentrations and application time on the control of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica, and its effect on growth factors of pistachio plants were surveyed. Materials and Methods: The experimental treatments were different sulfur concentrations (zero, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg of soil) and two application methods of sulfur (first time, simultaneous planting of pistachio seedlings with sulfur and nematode treatments and second time, planting of pistachio seedlings after 45 days of sulfur application and nematode inoculation) in four pistachio cultivars (Akbari, Qazvini, Badami Reez Zarand and Sefid Pistachio Nogh). The pure population of root-knot nematode was propagated on Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Mobil. The number of two secondstage juveniles was considered for inoculating each gram of soil. The pathogenicity indexes of nematode, including the number of second-stage juveniles per 300 grams of soil, the number of galls, and egg masses per gram of root, were calculated after two months of planting. Growth factors, including green leaf weight, fresh and dry weight of root and stem, root volume, stem and root length, stem diameter, and SPAD index, were also measured in all experimental treatments. The experiment was carried out in a factorial, completely randomized design with 12 replicates. SAS software version 9 was used for data analysis. Means were compared using Duncan's test. Results: A low population of second-stage juveniles was observed in all cultivars at 50 mg/kg sulfur concentration. A significant decrease in gall and egg mass indexes was observed at the second time compared to the first sulfur application. Except for the Akbari cultivar, the nematode reproduction factor showed a significant reduction at 50 mg/kg. In the absence of nematodes in the Akbari cultivar, the concentration of 150 mg/kg of sulfur increased the stem fresh weight by 40% compared to the control. Regardless of the concentration, the first time showed better results on the SPAD in three Akbari, Qazvini, and Badami cultivars. In the presence of nematode and the second time, the concentration of 50 mg/kg of sulfur for the Qazvini cultivar caused a 68% increase in the stem fresh weight, 32% in the stem length, and 22% in the stem diameter and the same conditions, for Qazvini and Sefid Pistachio Nogh, had the greatest effect on the leaf weight. The concentration of 50 mg/kg of sulfur and the second time for Qazvini and Sefid pistachio Nogh cultivars had the highest effect on the green leaf weight compared to the control in the presence of nematodes. Discussion: In this research, apart from the Akbari cultivar, the largest decrease was observed in the soil covered with plastic in three other cultivars. According to the results of this research, using a concentration of 50 mg/kg of sulfur, covering the soil surface, and planting pistachio seeds after 45 days can significantly reduce the root-knot nematode population. This finding can be used in pistachio nurseries. For further studies, it is suggested to use sulfur fertilizers and their mixture with biological agents compatible with salty and alkaline soils of pistachio planting areas to reduce the population of root-knot nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some physicochemical characteristics and elemental composition of refined sunflower oil, as well as linseed oil added to it, were investigated; linseed oil and olive oil; truffle oil and rosemary oil. Fatty acid analysis shows substantial increases in monounsaturated fatty acids with the addition of truffle and rosemary oils (up to about 78 %). With the same supplements, a significant oxidative stability over 20 hours was also observed. High concentrations of chlorophyll were found with the addition of rosemary oils and oils of linseed oil and olive oil. ß-carotene was affected three to six times in all supplements compared to the commonly refined oil. Eight elements (Mg, Cr, Mn, Zn, Ni, As, Pd and Cd) were analyzed in the studied oils, no presence of toxic elements As and Cd (< 0.02 mg kg-1), lead was up to 0.04 mg kg-1. The remaining elements vary in different concentrations depending on the additive oils used. The fluorescence spectra of the tested samples were obtained for excitation wavelengths of 380 nm, and the fluorescence maxima allowed to determine the relationship between the optical and chemical properties of the samples. In addition, infrared spectroscopic experiments (ATR and transmittance) were used to investigate the fatty acid profile of the analyzed oil samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to explore the overall association between trace elements and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its types in humans. A total of 5101 participants' blood samples from the 2011–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included. Biochemical data were collected from laboratory tests conducted at mobile screening centers. After assessing linearity, weighted logistic regression estimated the association between trace elements and various CVD types. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and quantile-based g-computation (Qgcomp) evaluated the overall relationship between biological trace elements and CVD types. After fully adjusting for confounding factors, the odds ratios of overall CVD morbidity corresponding to the second, third, and fourth quartiles of higher selenium (Se) concentration were 0.711 (95% CI, 0.529–0.956, p = 0.024), 0.734 (95% CI, 0.546–0.987, p = 0.041), and 0.738 (95% CI, 0.554–0.983, p = 0.038), respectively. Moreover, an increase in the concentration of copper (Cu) was associated with an increased risk of stroke (95% CI, 1.012–1.094, p = 0.01), heart failure (95% CI, 1.001–1.095, p = 0.046), and heart attack (95% CI, 1.001–1.083, p = 0.046). As the concentration of trace elements in the body increased, there was a significant positive association between Cu and CVD prevalence. On the other hand, Se and zinc were negatively associated with CVD prevalence. A nonlinear relationship between Se and CVD was found, and an appropriate Se intake may reduce the risk of CVD. Cu levels positively correlated with CVD risk. However, prospective cohort studies are warranted to confirm the causal effects of the micronutrients on CVD and its types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the amounts of some elements and water-soluble vitamins in Rhus coriaria L. (Sumac) samples grown in different regions were analyzed by ICP-OES and HPLC, respectively. The maximum amount of Na, K, Mg, and P was determined in the sumac samples of Kadana, Sheladize, Maraş, and Derishke regions, respectively. The richest regions in terms of trace elements such as Zn, Cu, Fe, Se, Mn, Cr, Mo, Ni, and B were Charput, Derishke, Ranya, Charput, Ranya, Derishke, Elazığ, Derishke, and Kadana, respectively. The highest amount of As, Cd, Pb, and Hg in sumac samples were determined in Kadana, Kadana, Trawanish, and Charput regions, respectively, while the lowest amounts were determined in Maraş, Sheladize, Elazig, and Trawanish regions sumac samples. Since target hazard coefficient (THQ) and total target hazard coefficient (TTHQ) values calculated for minor, toxic and heavy metals investigated in sumac samples are well below one; therefore, they do not pose a health risk. From the result obtained, sumac is a good food additive spice in terms of water-soluble vitamins except ascorbic acid. The amounts of ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, nicotine amide, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folic acid, and cyanocobalamin in sumac samples varied between 78.90–36.57, 173.57–61.11, 518.4–182.3, 314.0–105.6, 1292.1–788.7, 779.2–301.7, 385.8–133.4, 826.2–473.1, and 192.6–73.9 µg/g dw, respectively. Differences in the amount of elements and water-soluble vitamins among sumac samples from different regions may be due to geographical and ecological reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate a new event of accelerated environmental change that was recorded during the late Barremian in the pelagic Subbetic Basin (Western Tethys). Two pelagic sections have been studied using a multi-proxy approach based on C-isotope stratigraphy and a high-resolution quantitative study of nannofossil assemblages, along with major and trace elements and biomarkers. Our results provide a detailed biostratigraphy and C-isotope stratigraphy, and outline the paleoenvironmental conditions recorded during the early stages of the Taxy Episode. A disturbance has been identified in the C-isotope record, called the IFeNE (Intra-Feradianus negative C-excursion), which is coeval with environmental and biotic changes that predate the well-known ISNE (Intra-Sarasini negative C-excursion). The combined analysis of nannofossil associations, C-isotopes, major and trace elements, and biomarker distributions indicates a separate episode of warming heralding the ISNE, resulting in the acceleration of the hydrological cycle and a consequent increase in continental inputs and the fertilization of surface waters. The origin of the Taxy Episode (the IFeNE and ISNE) has been related to orbital factors (high-eccentricity cycles), and to a global increase in volcanism, probably related to the early phases of the Ontong Java Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: When resources are extracted and used by society, they are not necessarily lost for future generations. Therefore, recent publications on impact assessment of abiotic resource use in life cycle assessment focus on a decreased accessibility of resources due to dissipation, rather than depletion. In a previous study, dissipation was defined as a function of the global change in accessible stock due to human actions, and the global amount of the accessible stock, assuming a very long-term time perspective (more than 500 years). In this paper, a short-term time perspective (25 years) is adopted. Methods: The same generic characterization model is used, but different choices are outlined to derive characterization factors for a short-term perspective (25 years). To illustrate how the short term might be approached, a preliminary set of characterization factors is developed, based on assumptions and estimates. Results: The problem of resource use is defined as follows: the decrease of accessibility on a global level of primary and/or secondary elements over the short term due to the net result of compromising actions (i.e., emissions, dissipation in the technosphere, occupation in use, and exploration for new stocks). Characterization factors are derived based on assumptions, like the following: the accessible stock is based on present estimates of accessible stocks in the environment and the technosphere; estimates of accessible stocks in the technosphere are based on past extractions and generic recycling rates; all flows that are presently not recycled are assumed to be inaccessible. Finally, weighting between elements and the functions they have for the present society is based on the added value of the economic sector that is affected due to the decreased accessibility. Discussion and conclusion: A preliminary set of characterization factors is proposed for 55 elements. They assess the impact of the present use of resources on the decreased accessibility in the short term due to emissions and dissipation in the technosphere. However, calculation of impact category scores is still hampered by a lack of appropriate data for dissipative flows in life cycle inventory databases. The presented calculations are based on several simplifications and proxies. A more detailed distinction of dissipative flows and estimates of stocks in the technosphere may be possible based on (dynamic) SFA modelling of elements in different applications. To derive a more mature set of characterization factors, it is recommended to use the presented model as a basis and further elaborate or replace the proxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Safety culture is a critical determinant of organisational performance, particularly in high-risk industries especially in oil and gas. Understanding stakeholder preferences is essential for developing effective strategies that enhance safety culture. This study utilised the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritise stakeholder preferences, identifying key elements of safety culture in Malaysia's oil and gas sector. This study employed a structured methodology to evaluate safety culture within the oil and gas industry, focusing on 18 sub-elements across three key domains: psychological, behavioural, and situational factors. A diverse sample of industry experts was recruited using purposeful and snowball sampling to ensure a comprehensive representation of stakeholder views. The AHP framework was applied to analyse the data, utilizing structured questionnaires and multicriteria decision-making techniques to prioritize the identified safety culture elements. The AHP analysis identified distinct priorities among different professional groups within the oil and gas sector. Safety and Health Practitioners emphasized practical elements such as safety rules and management commitment, while academicians prioritized knowledge and training. Management personnel highlighted the importance of safety ownership and communication, whereas policymakers focused on broader, policy-oriented aspects. The findings suggest that safety culture improvement initiatives should be tailored to address the specific needs and priorities of each professional group. A nuanced understanding of stakeholder preferences is crucial for developing comprehensive strategies that integrate observable behaviours, situational conditions, and psychological factors, ultimately fostering a robust safety culture in the oil and gas industry.

This is one of a series of papers that aims to give an explicit upper bound on the proportion of elements of order a product of two primes in finite symmetric groups. This one presents such a bound for the elements as the product of two distinct odd primes.

Abstract Recently, increased attention has been paid to the raw materials of plants as a source of biologically active substances. Black rosehip (Rosa pimpinellifolia L.) fruits could be a good resource for potential functional components in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Also, drying can influence the composition of heat-sensitive phytochemicals. However, less attention is given to comparing black rosehip bioactive compounds particularly compositions of fatty acid, amino acids, and phenolic content in fresh and dried fruits. So in this study, the amino acid constituents (by amino acid analyzer), fatty acids (by GC–MS), mineral elements (by atomic absorption spectrometer), antioxidant (by DPPH) and phenolic compounds (by HPLC) present in fresh and dried fruits of black rosehip naturally grown in Iran were comprehensively investigated. The results showed that dried fruits had a lower level moisture by 51.55%, and a higher level of total phenolic compounds and total sugar by 786.20 mg GAE/100 g and 15.77 g/100 g, respectively. Chlorogenic acid and gallic acid were the major phenolic compounds (109.3 mg/g). Whilst, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and arachidic acid (85.34%) were the most dominant fatty acids. The most dominant amino acids were glutamic acid, phenylalanine, and arginine (29.41 g/100 g). Also, Fe and Mn as micro-elements were the most dominant elements. In general, the results illustrated the potentials and differences of black rosehip fruits grown in the Arasbaran region as promising resources for food sources, pharmaceutics, cosmetics, and breeding programs. Also, these findings confirm that black rosehip fruits contain significant amounts of secondary metabolites that may positively affect human health.

Objective--This paper aims to investigate the relationship between smart city elements and performance from the community's perspective in Petaling Jaya City. Methodology--This paper adopted PLS-SEM techniques, and 128 respondents were collected through questionnaire surveys. PLS-SEM is required to determine the reliability and validity of the model in terms of measurement and structural model. Findings - The results found that our model is reliable and valid regarding measurement and structural model. Our Rsquare values achieve satisfactory results, where two of the three dependent variables acquire a moderate benchmark. The hypotheses results show that only a few of the Smart City Elements significantly affect Smart City Performance. Novelty - Novelty in this research is identified when we can refer to the understanding of the needs of the Smart City model from the community's perspective. The Smart City concept created by the government undoubtedly sustains the city towards a better and more progressive life. In this study, we have evaluated the value of the Smart City concept from the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to determine how the date palm cultivar Khastawi responded to experimental treatments by applying microelements via spraying at quantities of 1 g L⁻¹ and 0 g L⁻¹, and applying a quantity of GA3 and salicylic acid at 100 mg L⁻¹, 200 mg L⁻¹, and 0 mg L⁻¹. The outcomes demonstrated that applying microelement spray (1 g L⁻¹) had a substantial impact on the attributes under study, amounting to (0.88 mg g⁻¹, 11.51%, 0.31%, 1.70%, 167.61 mg kg⁻¹, 59.34 mg kg⁻¹, 60.72 mg kg⁻¹) for the traits (total chlorophyll, carbohydrates, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, manganese), respectively. On the other hand, gibberellin spraying had no significant effect on any of the response measurements. However, applying a salicylic acid (SA) spray significantly affected the characteristics under investigation (carbohydrates, phosphorus, iron, zinc, manganese). The concentration of 200 mg L⁻¹ revealed the highest values for these characteristics (11.67%, 0.55%, 162.23 mg g⁻¹, 66.93 mg kg⁻¹, 63.73 mg kg⁻¹). The substantial influence was revealed by the two-way interactions between the research components according to the type of trait and the interaction factors. Conversely, the three-way interaction among the research components became significant for every attribute under investigation except elements Mn and N.

As technology and many users develop, communication between institutions and society needs to be humane and communicate directly with the public. One of the most prominent modern technologies for communication in advertising design and digital marketing is the visual elements embodied in emojis (emojis), memes (memes) and asylum for influencers, the visual elements have a powerful influence by connecting society on different platforms, It reflects real feelings without direct contact status, expressing people's condition and helping to build virtual communication status between others and becoming a reflection of the trending state of any event. Its use in marketing has become an expressive force of the product and brand in the absence of direct communication and its spread has helped the incursion of social platforms and the use of many applications. The research aims to study the visual elements in the communication process as a means of expressing the trend and its influence in marketing for digital advertising and to provide some graphic and appropriate design solutions for digital design with the power of visual elements. The problem of research is to study the spread of visual elements and how to employ visual elements as an expression of tendency in digital advertising design, Research limits on digital advertising in the period 2018- 2023. The research follows the descriptive curriculum followed by analytical study and then the designs of the researcher's work.

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni originated in South America, but has gained popularity due to the concentration of sweet steviol glycosides present in its leaves. Stevia is also currently grown on other continents in many countries characterised with warm climate. This research aimed to determine whether different irrigation practices might have a significant influence on the yield and composition of the leaves of stevia plants grown in Poland, in cooler climate than native regions for stevia plants. Stevia plants were grown with four different irrigation regimes: irrigation twice a week, irrigation once a week, irrigation only during times of the drought and not irrigated at all. It was determined that different irrigation regimes have substantial effects on the yield, biometric characteristics and chemical composition of stevia leaves, but none of the irrigation regimes were clearly supreme to the others. Yield of stevia plants that were irrigated once a week or only during the drought times was the highest (2.42–2.58 kg per square meter). Stevia plants that were not irrigated were characterised with the lowest height and lateral width (47.61 and 25.35 cm). Leaves of un-irrigated stevia contained the greatest dry mass content (30.47%) and highest concentration of phenolic compounds (337.88 mg per 100 g of fresh stevia leaves). Stevia plants that were irrigated once or twice a week were characterised with a lower concentration of chlorophylls or carotenoids at the time of the harvest (1.20–1.24 and 2.54–2.58 mg per gram of fresh stevia leaves), but stevia plants that were not irrigated contained a greater amount of chlorophyll and carotenoids (1.58 and 3.17 mg per gram of fresh stevia leaves). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Alkaptonuria is rare autosomal recessive disease. It results from a homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase gene mutation. A major challenge for AKU researchers is the lack of a consistent approach for monitoring illness severity or therapy success. This study investigated blood minerals, hematological and biochemical characteristics, human TNF-alpha, and human Interleukin-10 in the Al-Karak region of southern Jordan. Method: The study comprised ten people with AKU, ten carriers, and ten controls. Each participant's fasted blood was drawn twice (with and without EDTA) in the morning so that mineral levels, hematological and biochemical parameters, TNF-alpha, and human IL-10 could be analyzed. Results: AKU patients and carriers had no abnormalities in hematological parameters (HCT, RBC, MCV, WBC, PLT, RDW-CV, and MPV) compared to controls, but HB, MCH, and MCHC were at the lower border of the normal range with no significant change, indicating mild anemia. In addition, female AKU patients and carriers had far higher lymphocyte counts than controls. Biochemical analysis (creatinine, urea, glucose, albumin, total protein, ALT, AST, Alkaline phosphatase, Bilirubin total, and uric acid) and elemental analysis (K, Na, Fe, Mg, Ca, PO4, Zn, Cl, Cu, Ionized Ca++, and Se) were normal regardless of gender. TNF-alpha levels were significantly higher in AKU patients and carriers than controls, but IL-10 levels were significantly lower, regardless of participant group or gender. Conclusion: The findings of this study could serve as a springboard for further illness research, particularly in rare conditions like AKU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oil amounts of raw and roasted mustard seeds were reported between 12.05 (control) and 16.30% (oven). Total phenolic and flavonoid amounts of untreated (control) and roasted mustard seeds were recorded to be between 473.90 (control) and 569.96 mgGAE/100 g (oven) to 345.48 (control) and 479.76 mg/100 g (microwave), respectively. Antioxidant capacity results of untreated and roasted mustard seeds were determined to be between 6.71 (oven) and 6.97 mmol/kg (control). Total phenolic and flavonoid amounts of oven-roasted seeds were higher than those of control and microwave-roasted seeds. L* values of mustard seeds varied between 35.04 and 65.52. Heat treatment caused a decrease in L* values. The lowest L* value was observed in the sample dried in conventional oven. The quantitative values of gallic and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids of mustard seeds were recorded to be between 8.47 (control) and 117.31 mg/100 g (microwave) to 2.16 (control) and 11.79 mg/100 g (microwave), respectively. Erucic acid values of the oils extracted from raw and roasted mustard seeds were reported between 41.38 (control) and 42.81% (microwave). Oleic and linoleic acid amounts of mustard oils differed between 26.06 (microwave) and 26.90% (control) and between 13.08 (oven) and 13.98% (control), respectively. The oven roasting system had the most effect on the element and protein contents of the seeds, followed by the microwave in decreasing order. As with the bioactive components of the seeds, the amounts of phenolic constituents of roasted mustard seeds increased significantly compared to the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dirinaria picta is a lichen species known for its tolerance to air pollution and its ability to accumulate pollutants in its thallus, making it a suitable bioindicator in urban areas. This study aims to assess the response of lichens to air pollution by examining their morphological characteristics, analyzing the presence of magnetic grains, and identifying the origin of elements in their tissues. Samples were collected from three locations in Bandung area which represent polluted areas, namely Juanda Street (JD) and Kebon Kawung (KK), and Padalarang Street (PD) and one location which represent as a control area with low pollution levels, namely Curug Cimahi (CC). Lichen microstructure scanning was performed using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and the presence of elements was detected through Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The SEM analysis revealed that samples from areas with higher air pollution levels exhibited obvious damage to their thallus, characterized by a more porous structure and the presence of cuboidal particles. Conversely, samples from control area showed a more compact structure. The EDS observations identified 14 elements present in the lichen tissues, ranked in descending order of abundance: C>Ca>O>Pb>Cu>Mn>Zn>Fe>Cr>Al>Cl>Se>Cd>K. The composition and quantity of these elements in lichen tissues were influenced by the level of air pollution generated by the number of vehicles passing through the area. The more vehicles, the higher the level of air pollution, resulting in greater stress for the D. picta population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anbar Journal of Agricultural Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Urban road dust (URD) is one of the most important non-point sources of pollution in agglomerations. The aim of this study was to assess the seasonal toxic effects of URD runoff in two regions of Poland. The concentrations of elements in URD and leachate were studied. The impact of pollutants in URD runoff on water organisms was evaluated using Daphtoxkit F and Rotoxkit F (LC50). The acute toxicity tests for crustaceans and rotifers were selected as the response of these taxa reflects the impact on zooplankton, a key component of aquatic ecosystem and the basis of most food webs. The concentrations of elements were found to vary depending on the site, although URD samples collected in Katowice agglomeration (Upper Silesia) had higher values of elements (Mn, Cu, Zn, As) compared to Wrocław (Lower Silesia). The concentrations of Mn, Zn, As, Cr, and Mg in water-soluble fraction of URD were higher in summer and winter in the Upper Silesia region due to rainwater runoff resulting from traffic, industries, post-industrial waste, and the presence of old heating systems. When comparing the content of elements in the water-soluble fraction between seasons, Zn, As, Cr, and Al concentrations were slightly higher in winter. The highest mortality of Daphnia magna and Brachiouns calyciflorus was observed in URD from both agglomerations in winter. However, the mortality is likely due to the concentration of elements or/and the coexistence of an unknown compound or a synergistic effect of the studied elements. This study highlights the alarming seasonal sources of elements in URD runoff, which will directly enter the food chain and affect the entire ecosystem, and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural vitality is the life force expressed by a combination of endogenous dynamics and external influences. Exploring the complex relationship between rural functions, elements and flows could achieve sustainable rural development. This study constructed a theoretical framework guided by the four functions of production, living, ecology and culture with the support of mobile big data. Furthermore, the network centrality of villages was estimated to reflect the intensity of urban-rural social mobility ties. The results indicated marked spatial disparities in rural vitality, and the coupling of ecological-cultural vitality has a high degree of coherence. Four rural vitality grades were identified: high level (38, 14.08%), medium-high level (66, 24.44%), medium-low level (110, 40.74%) and low level (56, 20.74%), covering 270 administrative village units. The flow intensity of social linkage elements is consistent with rural vitality and the socioeconomic spillover effect of urban centers on neighboring villages was noticeable. Topographic complexity negatively affected the living function, mainly in the T1 and T2 terrain gradients; the rural ecological function was not fully correlated with urban adjacency, and proximity could lead to adverse effects such as urban sprawl and resource destruction. The application of this study is to explore the importance of "flow" by utilizing mobile big data to refine the evaluation unit to the village scale. Accelerating the construction of network coverage and information interconnection and promoting the elemental flow of people, transportation and information between urban and rural areas are important ways to enhance rural vitality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of different cooking techniques on broccoli moisture, total phenolic, total flavonoid, and radical scavenging capacity results, polyphenol contents, and their quantitative values was investigated. The total phenolic quantities of fresh and cooked broccoli samples were assessed to be between 36.32 (conventional boiling) and 423.39 mg GAE/100 g (microwave heating). The radical scavenging activities of the broccoli samples were reported between 2.55 (conventional boiling) and 4.99 mmol/kg (microwave heating). In addition, catechin and rutin quantities of the fresh and cooked broccoli samples were measured to be between 2.24 (conventional boiling) and 54.48 mg/100 g (microwave heating), and between 0.55 (conventional boiling) and 16.33 mg/100 g (microwave heating), respectively. The most abundant elements in fresh and cooked broccoli samples were K, Ca, P, S, and Mg. The results showed some changes depending on cooking techniques compared to the control. The bioactive properties of broccoli samples cooked by means of conventional boiling, boiling in vacuum bag, and high-pressure boiling were established to be lower compared to the fresh sample. Catechin, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, rutin, and gallic acid were the key phenolic compounds of fresh and cooked broccoli samples. The phenolic components of broccoli were significantly affected by the applied cooking techniques. The highest protein in broccoli samples was determined in the broccoli sample cooked by boiling in a vacuum bag. There were statistically significant changes among the mineral results of broccoli cooked with different cooking methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate how dietary modifications with pomegranate seed oil (PSO) and bitter melon aqueous extract (BME) affect mineral content in the spleen of rats both under normal physiological conditions and with coexisting mammary tumorigenesis. The diet of Sprague-Dawley female rats was supplemented either with PSO or with BME, or with a combination for 21 weeks. A chemical carcinogen (7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene) was applied intragastrically to induce mammary tumors. In the spleen of rats, the selected elements were determined with a quadrupole mass spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma ionization (ICP-MS). ANOVA was used to evaluate differences in elemental composition among experimental groups. Multivariate statistical methods were used to discover whether some subtle dependencies exist between experimental factors and thus influence the element content. Experimental factors affected the splenic levels of macroelements, except for potassium. Both diet modification and the cancerogenic process resulted in significant changes in the content of Fe, Se, Co, Cr, Ni, Al, Sr, Pb, Cd, B, and Tl in rat spleen. Chemometric analysis revealed the greatest impact of the ongoing carcinogenic process on the mineral composition of the spleen. The obtained results may contribute to a better understanding of peripheral immune organ functioning, especially during the neoplastic process, and thus may help develop anticancer prevention and treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, PM2.5 was sampled at Dunkerque, a medium-sized city located in northern France. The mean concentration of PM2.5 during the sampling period was 12.6 ± 9.5 μg·m−3. Samples were analyzed for elemental and organic carbon (EC/OC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), humic-like substances (HULIS-C), water-soluble inorganic ions, and major and trace elements. The origin and the variations of species concentrations were examined using elemental enrichment factors, bivariate polar plot representations, and diagnostic concentration ratios. Secondary inorganic ions were the most abundant species (36% of PM2.5), followed by OC (12.5% of PM2.5). Secondary organic carbon (SOC) concentrations were estimated to account for 52% of OC. A good correlation between SOC and WSOC indicated that secondary formation processes significantly contribute to the WSOC concentrations. HULIS-C also represents almost 50% of WSOC. The determination of diagnostic ratios revealed the influence of anthropogenic emission sources such as integrated steelworks and fuel oil combustion. The clustering of 72 h air masses backward trajectories data evidenced that higher concentrations of PM2.5, OC, and secondary inorganic aerosols were recorded when air masses came from north-eastern Europe and the French continental sector, showing the considerable impact of long-range transport on the air quality in northern France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luca Pacioli (ca. 1447–1517) is widely considered a central figure in the Italian Renaissance, particularly in the history of practical mathematics. The perspectival representations of geometrical bodies that Leonardo da Vinci drew for Pacioli's Compendium de divina proportione are, in turn, often singled out to illustrate the relationships between the visual arts and mathematics in the late fifteenth century. Yet despite increasing scholarly attention, the philosophical framework of Pacioli's works deserves to be further explored. This paper discusses how Pacioli ably developed his arguments on regular geometrical bodies by relying on a predominantly Aristotelian philosophical framework. In this way, Pacioli established correlations among the quantitative, material, and formal properties of regular geometrical bodies, concluding with the visualisation of their (geometrically defined) form at the level of the intellect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the foliar chelated forms of Mg and Fe, on grape yield and mineral status of the shoots of vine cultivar Cardinal. Field trials were organized using a random block system with three variants, including a control (Variant I), each replicated three times. Foliar fertilizers were applied at a concentration of 0.5% on four occasions throughout the vegetation period: before and after blooming, during buckshot berry stage, and at the verasion stage. Over the ivestigation of three years, the application of foliar Mg and Fe fertilizers significantly influenced grape yield. The variant treated with Fe (VFe) demonstrated a higher average yield of 14.87 t/ha. Furthermore, a noticeable impact of foliar fertilizers on the concentration of analyzed elements in grapevine shoots was observed. Over the three-year period, the average content of macro elements, including nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and iron, was higher in the treated variants compared to the control. Additionally, results from shoot tissue analysis confirmed the existence of an antagonistic relationship between magnesium and potassium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on the elemental analysis of road dust in Guwahati, the largest city of Assam and the largest metropolis of Northeast India during the Diwali festival. Road dust samples were collected on pre-Diwali (PD), the Day after Diwali (DaD), and one week after Diwali (WaD) from two sites (Lankeshwar; LKW and Patharquarry; PTQ). Three composite samples were collected from 3 points at each site. The elemental concentration was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The concentrations of Ba and Sr increased by 1.6 and 1.7 times, respectively, after Diwali. Among other firework-related elements (FREs), Mg, Al, K, and Cu increased at LKW following Diwali (both DaD and WaD), whereas Mg, Al, and K increased in DaD dust at PTQ. The average concentration of Traffic Related Elements (TREs) at PTQ was significantly higher than at LKW (p < 0.05; 75.40 mg/kg vs 63.96 mg/kg). Cd had the highest enrichment (EF), followed by Ni and Zn. EF for Cd, Ni, and Zn ranged from high to extremely high enrichment. Ni and Cd exhibited moderate contamination (CF). The ecological risk (ER) values for Cd at LKW and PTQ were 54.32 and 56.71, respectively, indicating a moderate ER. Pearson's correlation was performed to study the relationship between elements, while PCA analysis was used to identify the main sources of these elements. Although the health hazard indices presently do not suggest any immediate danger, hazard quotient (HQ) values for ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure were higher for children than adults. In children, the contribution of HQing to HI (total risk) was the highest, accounting for more than 65% of all elements. There is no apparent lifetime cancer risk due to road dust exposure through inhalation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determinate the content of some elements in a specific dairy product, mozzarella, in a particular area of western Slovakia and to evaluate the estimation of the risk to the consumers based on the contribution to the provisional tolerable weekly intake. The consumption of mozzarella can contribute to the intake of important elements in the diet, such as calcium and magnesium, along with others. The contents of some toxic and trace elements were low and have not exceeded the permitted limit. In addition, the contribution to PTWI was found to be very low, which means that the consumption of mozzarella possesses no risk to humans. It is concluded that the data obtained in this study can help as a valuable addition to methodological and scientific material in the field of food safety of dairy products and their positive impact on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Filipino Millennials constitute one third of the country's population. This study sought to determine the following: the profile of Millennial respondents from selected Lasallian Institutions in the Philippines; their concept of spirituality based on the four general elements/indicators of spirituality (meaning and purpose, relatedness/connectedness, beliefs and belief systems, expressions); the significant difference in their concept of spirituality when grouped according to specific items that comprise the profile and the political, cultural and socio-economic issues that the Millennials consider to have a connection with their concept and experience of spirituality. A self-constructed questionnaire was designed to accomplish the objectives of the study. There had been 1,185 Millennial participants. Results showed that the over-all concept of spirituality has a qualitative interpretation of very strong concept of spirituality. When individual over-all means of each element were compared, the highest was on beliefs and belief systems and the lowest mean was on the area of expressions of spirituality. It has been established that there is a significant difference when means were compared according to gender, religious denomination, type of elementary school attended, membership in school organization/s, religious and social activities with the family, time spent in using gadgets and family income. There is no significant difference when means were compared according to age, living condition and type of high school attended. The top 5 social issues important to the Millennials are: peace and order, human rights, education, environment and marriage and family life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates preservice teachers' knowledge of elements and rationale for Nature of Science (NOS). Skill gap is established in the literature on pedagogical practices of preservice as well as novice teachers of science, reflecting deficiency in their professional training and eventual classroom practice. Examining preservice teachers' knowledge in these aspects (elements & rationale) of NOS through a quasi-experiment of one-group pretest and post-test design was done. Instructional intervention over two years along with assignments and presentation with researchers as moderators on the science pedagogy module (History of Science and Philosophy of Science) serves as stimuli over the period. Three research questions and two hypotheses were raised to guide this study. One hundred and thirty-six (112 Life Science and 24 Physical Science) preservice teachers were the participants. Element of NOS (ENOS) and Rationale for NOS (RNOS) were the instruments. Reliability of the instruments yielded Cronbach alpha values of .83, .91 and .86 across dimensions of clarity, coherence and relevance by fifteen experienced science educators. Data was analysed using t-test and ANCOVA. The study found the intervention to effectively improve the knowledge of elements and rationale for NOS. Better prepared teachers (More Knowledge Order [MKO] have the potential to improved Zone of Proximal Development [ZPD] in learners) by implication have the competence to guide learners for qualitative and effective learning. The instruments in this study is recommended for foundational training of preservice teachers on NOS for enhanced instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidation potential (OP), reflecting the redox activities of particle matter (PM), is considered an optimal measure to explain the biological effects of PM exposure. However, the size resolution of the relationship between OP and chemical composition in PM, especially how the relationship changes after respiratory exposure, has not been well investigated. In this study, size-resolved indoor PM10 samples were collected from a waste recycling plant from November to December 2021 using an Anderson eight-stage cascade impactor. OP, measured by a dithiothreitol (DTT) assay (defined as OPDTT), and elements, determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in size-resolved PM, were determined to check their relationships and the related human exposure risk. The results indicated that compared with PM0.4 and PM0.4–2.1, PM2.1–10 contributed the most to total OPDTT and its bound elements contributed the most to potential health risks, both before and after respiratory exposure. The association between OPDTT and the elements varied with PM size. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the PM0.4- and PM0.4–2.1-bound elements were moderate-to-strongly positively correlated with OPvDTT (r: 0.60–0.90). No significant correlation or dose–response relationship was found in PM2.1–10. After respiratory exposure, several PM0.4- and PM0.4–2.1-bound elements had a moderate-to-strongly positive correlation with deposition fluxes of OP (defined as OPFlux) (0.69–0.90). A generalized linear model analysis showed that the interquartile range (IQR) increase in the PM-bound elements (ng h−1) was associated with a 41.7–58.1% increase in OPFlux. Our study is a special case that enriches the knowledge of the association between OPDTT and the chemical composition of PM of different sizes, especially after respiratory exposure, but the generalizability of the findings to other settings or types of PM may be limited. The associations among OPDTT, other chemical compositions of PM, and human exposure risk merit further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of South Architecture / Nanfang Jianzhu is the property of South Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)