Bone aluminum accumulation in the current era / Acúmulo de alumínio no tecido ósseo na era atual

In the last few years, evidence from the Brazilian Registry of Bone Biopsy (REBRABO) has pointed out a high incidence of aluminum (Al) accumulation in the bones of patients with CKD under dialysis. This surprising finding does not appear to be merely a passive metal accumulation, as prospective data from REBRABO suggest that the presence of Al in bone may be independently associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. This information contrasts with the perception of epidemiologic control of this condition around the world. In this opinion paper, we discussed why the diagnosis of Al accumulation in bone is not reported in other parts of the world. We also discuss a range of possibilities to understand why bone Al accumulation still occurs, not as a classical syndrome with systemic signs of intoxication, as occurred it has in the past.

Nos últimos anos, evidências do Registro Brasileiro de Biópsia óssea (REBRABO) apontaram uma alta incidência de intoxicação por alumínio (Al) no tecido ósseo de pacientes com DRC em diálise. Essa surpreendente informação parece representar não apenas um acúmulo passivo deste metal, visto que dados prospectivos do REBRABO sugerem que a presença de Al no tecido ósseo pode estar independentemente relacionada a eventos cardiovasculares adversos maiores. Essas informações contrastam com a percepção mundial do controle epidemiológico dessa condição. Neste artigo de opinião, discutimos por que o diagnóstico de acúmulo ósseo de Al não é relatado em outras partes do mundo, e também discutimos uma gama de possibilidades para entender por que nós acreditamos que o acúmulo de Al no tecido ósseo ainda ocorre, não como se apresentava no passado, ou seja, como uma síndrome com sinais e sintomas sistêmicos de intoxicação.

Aluminum causes irreversible damage to the development of hippocampal neurons by regulating m6A RNA methylation.

The underlying mechanism of the aluminum (Al) on neurotoxicity remains unclear. We explored whether the impairment of hippocampal neurons induced by developmental Al exposure was associated with the m6A RNA modification in mice. In this study, the pregnant female mice were administered 4 mg/mL aluminum-lactate from gestational day (GD) 6 to postnatal day (PND) 21. On PND 21, 10 offsprings per group were euthanized by exsanguination from the abdominal aorta after deep anesthetization. The other offsprings which treated with aluminum-lactate on maternal generation were divided into two groups and given 0 (PND60a) and 4 mg/mL (PND60b) aluminum-lactate in their drinking water until PND 60. Significant neuronal injuries of hippocampus as well as a reduction in the m6A RNA modification and the expression of methylase were observed at PND 21 and PND 60a mice. The results indicated that Al-induced developmental neurotoxicity could persist into adulthood despite no sustained Al accumulation. m6A RNA modification had a crucial role in developmental neurotoxicity induced by Al. In addition, Al exposure during the embryonic to adult stages can cause more severe nerve damage and decline of m6A RNA modification. Collectively, these results suggest that the mechanism underlying Al-induced neurotoxicity appears to involve m6A RNA modification.

Construction of V2O5@MXene Cathodes toward a High Specific Capacity Aqueous Aluminum-Ion Battery.

Aqueous aluminum-ion batteries (AAIBs) are considered a strong candidate for the new generation of energy storage devices. The lack of suitable cathode materials has been a bottleneck factor hindering the future development of AAIBs. In this work, we design and construct a highly effective cathode with dual morphologies. Two-dimensional (2D) layered MXene materials possessed good conductivity and hydrophilicity, which are used as the substrates to deposit rod-shaped vanadium oxides (V2O5) to form a three-dimensional (3D) cathode. The cathode design provides a strong boost for the rapid electrochemical activities of rod-shaped V2O5 by embedding/extracting both protons (H+) and aluminum-ion (Al3+). As a result, the V2O5@MXene cathode based AAIB delivers an ultrahigh initial specific capacity of 626 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g with a stable cycle performance up to 100 cycles. This work is a breakthrough for the development of cathode materials for AAIBs.

Enhancing methyl violet 2B pollutant removal from wastewater using Al-MOF encapsulated with poly (itaconic acid) grafted crosslinked chitosan composite sponge: Synthesis, characterization, DFT calculation, adsorption optimization via Box-Behnken Design.

In this research, aluminum metal-organic framework encapsulated with poly (itaconic acid) grafted crosslinked chitosan composite sponge (Al-MOF@PIC) was prepared. SEM, FTIR, XPS, XRD, and BET techniques were employed to thoroughly characterize the synthesized material and establish its structure and characteristics. The study discovered that the Al-MOF@PIC is an efficient way to remove dyes, which constitute a significant number of contaminants in industrial wastewater. Subsequently the adsorption of methyl violet 2B (MV-2B) dye, the surface area, pore size, and pore volume of the adsorbent decreased from 1860.68 m2/g, 1.62 nm, and 1.52 cc/g to 1426.45 m2/g, 1.11 nm, and 0.92 cc/g, individually. This modification suggested that a portion of the MV-2B dye had been removed by adsorption over the adsorbent's pores. The excellent adsorption capacity of the material was further confirmed by batch adsorption tests, which displayed a maximum adsorption capability of 646.76 mg/g for the elimination of MV-2B dye. The high adsorption energy of 26.8 kJ/mol designates that chemisorption is primarily responsible for MV-2B dye adsorption against the sponge adsorbent. The Al-MOF@PIC composite sponge demonstrated exceptional reusability over six cycles, demonstrating its strength and durability. The Al-MOF@PIC composite sponge successfully removes MV-2B from water by pore filling, π-π stacking, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions, which are the key mechanisms behind the adsorption of the dye pollutant. Its potential for practical applications is further demonstrated using Box Behnken-design (BBD) to optimize the adsorption consequences.

Mechanisms of biodiversity loss under nitrogen enrichment: unveiling a shift from light competition to cation toxicity.

The primary mechanisms contributing to nitrogen (N) addition induced grassland biodiversity loss, namely light competition and soil cation toxicity, are often examined separately in various studies. However, their relative significance in governing biodiversity loss along N addition gradient remains unclear. We conducted a 4-yr field experiment with five N addition rates (0, 2, 10, 20, and 50 g N m-2 yr-1) and performed a meta-analysis using global data from 239 observations in N-fertilized grassland ecosystems. Results from our field experiment and meta-analysis indicate that both light competition and soil cation (e.g. Mn2+ and Al3+) toxicity contribute to plant diversity loss under N enrichment. The relative importance of these mechanisms varied with N enrichment intensity. Light competition played a more significant role in influencing species richness under low N addition (≤ 10 g m-2 yr-1), while cation toxicity became increasingly dominant in reducing biodiversity under high N addition (>10 g m-2 yr-1). Therefore, a transition from light competition to cation toxicity occurs with increasing N availability. These findings imply that the biodiversity loss along the N gradient is regulated by distinct mechanisms, necessitating the adoption of differential management strategies to mitigate diversity loss under varying intensities of N enrichment.

Joint utilization and harmless elimination of aluminum dross and refined magnesium slag to simultaneously recover metallic aluminum and fusing agent.

Refined magnesium slag and aluminum dross are two typical hazardous solid wastes that contain significant amounts of leachable fusing agent and aluminum droplets encapsulated by dense oxidized films, respectively. This study creatively proposes a safe and green method for the joint utilization of these two wastes. The interfacial reaction behavior revealed that the dense oxidized films of the aluminum droplets were significantly broken by the erosive action of the fusing agent, providing the necessary conditions for the movement of aluminum droplets. Consequently, the aluminum droplets successfully broke free from the oxidized films and separated together with the fusing agent from the dross under the force of supergravity. The recovery ratios of metallic aluminum and fusing agent reached 98.95 % and 98.13 %, while the aluminum and fusing agent contents in the tailings were reduced to 0.82 wt% and 3.71 wt%. The study also discusses the leaching characteristic of the tailings and the scalability for industrial applications of this method in detail. This study not only achieves valuable resource recovery but also reduces the leaching risk and alleviates the land occupation and ecosystem pressure caused by industrial wastes. The tailings can be harmlessly utilized in related fields through subsequent scientific treatment.

Three in one: coordination-induced emission for inherent fluorescent Al-MOF synthesis combined with inner filter effect@aggregation-induced emission mechanisms for designing color tonality and ratiometric sensing platforms.

Three phenomena, namely coordination-induced emission (CIE), aggregation-induced emission (AIE), and inner filter effect (IFE), were incorporated into the design of a ratiometric and color tonality-based biosensor. Blue fluorescent Al-based metal-organic frameworks (FMIL-96) were prepared from non-emissive ligand and aluminum ions via CIE. Interestingly, the addition of tetracycline (TC) led to ratiometric detection and color tonality, as the blue emission at 380 nm was quenched (when excited at 350 nm) due to IFE, while the green-yellowish emission at 525 nm was enhanced due to AIE. Based on that, an ultra-sensitive visual-based color tonality mode with smartphone assistance was developed for detection of TC. The sensor exhibited a linear relationship within a broad range of 2.0 to 85.0 µM TC with a detection limit of 68.0 nM. TC in milk samples was quantified with high accuracy and precision. This integration of smartphone and visual fluorescence in solution is accurate, reliable, cost-effective, and time-saving, providing an alternative strategy for the semi-quantitative determination of TC on-site.

Evaluation of the Protective Effects of Lugol's Solution in Rats Poisoned with Aluminum Phosphide (Rice Tablets).

Aluminum phosphide (AlP) is the main component of rice tablets (a pesticide), which produces phosphine gas (PH3) when exposed to stomach acid. The most important symptoms of PH3 toxicity include, lethargy, tachycardia, hypotension, and cardiac shock. It was shown that Iodine can chemically react with PH3, and the purpose of this study is to investigate the protective effects of Lugol solution in poisoning with rice tablets. Five doses (12, 15, 21, 23, and 25 mg/kg) of AlP were selected, for calculating its lethal dose (LD50). Then, the rats were divided into 4 groups: AlP, Lugol, AlP + Lugol, and Almond oil (as a control). After 4 h, the blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded, and blood samples were obtained for biochemical tests, then liver, lung, kidney, heart, and brain tissues were removed for histopathological examination. The results of the blood pressure showed no significant changes (P > 0.05). In ECG, the PR interval showed a significant decrease in the AlP + Lugol group (P < 0.05). In biochemical tests, LDH, Ca2+, Creatinine, ALP, Mg2+, and K+ represented significant decreases in AlP + Lugol compared to the AlP group (P < 0.05). Also, the administration of Lugol's solution to AlP-poisoned rats resulted in a significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels and a significant increase in catalase activity (P < 0.05). Histopathological evaluation indicates that Lugol improves changes in the lungs, kidneys, brain, and heart. Our results showed that the Lugol solution could reduce tissue damage and oxidative stress in AlP-poisoned rats. We assume that the positive effects of Lugol on pulmonary and cardiac tissues are due to its ability to react directly with PH3.

Removal of acephate and methamidophos from water: Coagulation and adsorptive treatment approaches.

Pesticides has transformed the agricultural industry, primarily by enhancing productivity. However, the indiscriminate use of such compounds can adversely affect human health and disrupt ecosystem balance. Limited knowledge exists regarding the removal of these compounds from water, particularly for organophosphate pesticides when employing conventional treatment technologies. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the removal of acephate (ACE) and methamidophos (MET) - considered priority pesticides in Brazil - from waters with high and low turbidity during the clarification process carried out with aluminum sulfate (AS) and ferric chloride (FC), either alone or combined with powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption. All water samples were submitted to solid phase extraction (SPE C18 cartridges) prior to acephate and methamidophos analysis by HPLC MS/MS. The clarification process with either AS or FC coagulant did not efficiently remove acephate or methamidophos and maximum average removal (27 %) was observed with waters of high turbidity when using ferric chloride as coagulant. Addition of mineral PAC was also ineffective for removing both pesticides. However, the use of vegetable PAC (10 mg/L) resulted in better removal percentages, up to 80%, but only for methamidophos. The limited removal rates were attributed to the high hydrophilicity of acephate and methamidophos, along with their neutral charge at coagulation pH. These factors hinder the interaction of such organophosphorus pesticides with the flocs formed during coagulation as well as with PAC surface.

A bisalicylhydrazone based fluorescent probe for detecting Al3+ with high sensitivity and selectivity and imaging in living cells.

A bisalicylhydrazone based fluorescence probe, bisalicyladehyde benzoylhydrazone (BS-BH), has been designed to detect Al3+. It exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity towards Al3+ in methanol-water media in physiological condition. Large stokes shifts (∼122 nm) and over ∼1000-fold enhanced fluorescence intensity were observed, which was ascribed to the formation of the two relatively independent rigid extended π conjugated systems bridged by biphenyl group when binding with Al3+. A 1:2 binding ratio between BS-BH and Al3+ was shown by Job's plot. Based on the fluorescence titration data, the detection limit was down to 3.50 nM and the association constant was evaluated to be 1.12 × 109 M-2. The plausible fluorescence sensing mechanism of suppressed ESIPT, inhibited PET, activated CHEF and restricted C = N isomerization was confirmed by a variety of spectral experiments and DFT / TD-DFT calculations. The reversibility of recognition of Al3+ for probe BS-BH was validated by adding Na2-EDTA. In addition, the MTT assay showed the good biocompatibility of BS-BH and BS-BH could be used for imaging Al3+ in living cells.

Construction of Fe Nanoparticles Interfacial Layer on Micron Al Surface: Boosting the Efficient Energy Release of High-Energy DAP-4 as a Gradient Catalyst.

The high-energy (H2dabco)[NH4(ClO4)3] (DAP-4) with excellent energetic performance attracts wide attention from researchers. The investigation of its interaction with the Aluminum (Al) is of great importance. However, the higher ignition threshold of DAP-4 and the dense oxide layer (Al2O3) of Al severely limit the energy release efficiency of Al/DAP-4. In this study, a new idea to is first proposed to improve and adjust the thermal decomposition and combustion performance of Al/DAP-4 by constructing a highly dispersed iron (Fe) nanoparticle interfacial layer. It acts as a gradient catalyst to promote the thermal decomposition and combustion of DAP-4 and Al, and it also act as an oxygen transport channel to promote the contact and reaction of oxidizing gases with the internal reactive Al powder. It reduces the thermal decomposition temperature of Al@Fe-3/DAP-4 from 386.30 °C (Al/DAP-4) to 349.48 °C and leads to the vigorous combustion. Theoretical calculations show that Fe nanoparticle interfacial layer can facilitate the transport of oxygen through the established oxygen transport channels, and it can also significantly improve the energetic properties of Al@Fe-3/DAP-4 composites. In conclusion, the new approach is proposed to improve the performance of metal fuel/oxidizer composites by constructing interfacial layers, which is expected to promote their practical applications.

Fluorimetric methods for determination of aluminum in water resources utilizing newly synthesized N,N'-bis(2,5-dihydroxybenzylidene)-4,4'-diamino diphenyl ether.

Industrial waste contaimnation of water sources is a serious environmental problem. As a result, it's critical to identify metallic contamination in water with precision, sensitivity, and accuracy. In acetonitrile, the fluorimetric parameters of N,N-'bis(2,5-dihydroxybenzylidene)-4,4'-diamino diphenyl ether (DHDPE) and aluminum complex were determined. In the acetonitrile medium, the best fluorescence intensity of the DHDPE-Al complex was observed at λex = 280 nm, λem = 391 nm (excitation and emission wavelengths). For optimum complex formation, the ideal pH, duration, and temperature were 4.5, 20 min, and 25 °C, respectively. Within the ranges of 0.027-0.27 and 0.27-2.70 ppm aluminum concentrations, [Al3+]-F.I. Calibration graphs were linear. The fluorimetric aluminum measurement method was applied to diverse water sources using the newly synthesized macro molecular Schiff base DHDPE as the ligand. The aluminum concentration in water inflow to KOSKI (Konya Water and Sewerage Administration) was doubled as a result of the examination when compared to other samples of water.

Clinical Characteristics, Therapeutic Options, and Outcomes in Hyperphosphatemic Tumoral Calcinosis: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review was performed to understand better the myriad presentations, various therapeutic options, response to therapy, and its clinical outcomes in hyperphosphatemic tumoral calcinosis (HTC). Full texts were selected according to strict inclusion criteria. All case reports of HTC wherein baseline phosphate was measured, treatment offered was mentioned, and information on follow-up and response to therapy that were available were included. A total of 43 of 188 eligible studies (N = 63 patients) met the inclusion criteria. A list of desired data was extracted and graded for methodological quality. A total of 63 individuals (Males = 33) were included from the 43 eligible case studies. The median age of the patients was 18 (IQR 8-32) years. The most frequently involved sites were the hip/gluteal region (34/63; 53.9%) followed by the elbow/forearm (26/63; 41.2%), and the shoulder (18/63; 28.5%). Three patients had conjunctival calcific deposits. The mean (SD) phosphate was 6.9 (1.1) mg/dL. Among the subjects, 36/63 (57.1%) underwent surgical excision with some form of medical therapy. Two patients underwent only surgical excision (2.1%). One patient was maintained on follow-up (1.6%) and 24/63 (38.1%) patients were treated with medical measures. The median (IQR) follow-up duration was 3 (1-9) years. Regression or reduction in lesion size was reported in 19/63 (30.2%) subjects; 20/63 (31.7%) showed progression, 24/63 (38.1%) had features of stable disease, and mortality was reported in 3 patients (4.7%). We report for the first time a detailed description of the clinical and therapeutic response of HTC. A combination of medical measures aimed at lowering serum phosphate appears to be the cornerstone of treatment, although clinical responses may vary.

Mitigating aluminum toxicity and promoting plant resilience in acidic soil with Penicillium olsonii TLL1.

Aluminum (Al), prevalent in the crust of the Earth, jeopardizes plant health in acidic soils, hindering root growth and overall development. In this study, we first analysed the Al- and pH- tolerance of the Penicillium olsonii TLL1 strain (POT1; NRRL:68252) and investigated the potential for enhancing plant resilience under Al-rich acidic soil conditions. Our research illustrates the extraordinary tolerance of POT1 to both high Al concentrations and acidic conditions, showcasing its potential to alleviate Al-induced stress in plants. Metabolite analysis revealed that POT1 detoxifies Al through organic acid-dependent chelation mechanisms, significantly reducing Al stress in Arabidopsis and Pak Choi plants. Consequently, plant growth conditions improved, and the Al content in plant tissues decreased. Transcriptome analysis indicated that POT1 treatment downregulates genes associated with Al and oxidative stress such as MATE, ALS3, NIP1-2 and several peroxidases, highlighting its effectiveness in lessening Al-induced damage. Comparative assessments highlight the superior performance of POT1 compared to other Al-tolerant Penicillium species, attributed to its ability to thrive in diverse pH levels and effectively detoxify Al. These findings position POT1 as a promising agent for enhancing crop resilience in Al-compromised acidic soils, offering new avenues for promoting plant health and bolstering food security through increased crop yield and safety.

Selective Xenon Recovery Using Aluminum-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks with Conserved Pore Topology.

Xenon (Xe) is a commercially valuable element found in trace amounts in the off-gas from used nuclear fuel. Recovering Xe from these streams provides a cost-effective means to increase its supply. However, achieving high-purity Xe recovery is challenging due to the need for separation from nearly identical krypton (Kr). Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of crystalline porous materials, show potential to separate Xe and Kr by utilizing differences in their kinetic diameters, allowing for selective separation. In this work, we study the impact of pore aperture and volume on selective Xe recovery using four robust aluminum MOFs: Al-PMOF, Al-PyrMOF, Al-BMOF and MIL-120, all with conserved structural topology. The pore topology in each MOF is dictated by the dimensions of the tetracarboxylate ligand employed, with larger ligands leading to MOFs with increased pore size and volume. Our experimental and computational investigations revealed that MIL-120 exhibits the highest affinity (21.94 kH(Xe) = 21.94 mmol g-1 bar-1) for Xe among all MOFs, while Al-BMOF demonstrates the highest Xe/Kr selectivity of 14.34. We evaluated the potential of both MIL-120 and Al-BMOF for Xe recovery through breakthrough analysis using a mixture of 400 ppm Xe:40 ppm Kr. Our results indicate that due to its larger pore volume, Al-BMOF captured more Xe than MIL-120, demonstrating superior Xe/Kr separation efficiency.

Efficacy and Safety of Combination Therapy With Vaginal and Urethral Erbium-Doped Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (Er:YAG) Laser for Overactive Bladder With Urinary Incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective cohort study with propensity score (PS) matching aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy with vaginal and urethral erbium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser (VEL+UEL) (SP Dynamis; Fotona d.o.o., Ljubljana, Slovenia) in the treatment of overactive bladder with urinary incontinence (OAB-wet). METHODS: The study included female OAB-wet patients aged 65 and above who were already taking OAB medication. Data obtained from electronic medical records were subjected to propensity score matching. All patients received instructions on pelvic floor exercises and were prescribed an appropriate dose of OAB medication. The VEL+UEL group (n=30) underwent three monthly laser sessions, while the control group (n=30) did not receive the treatment. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), three-day urination diary, and Vaginal Health Index Score (VHIS). Medication usage and adverse events were also assessed. Statistical analysis and R code were performed using the AI chatbot GPT-4.0. RESULTS: The VEL+UEL group showed significant improvements in OABSS score, ICIQ-SF score, voided volume, daytime frequency, nocturia, and VHIS after 12 months of treatment (p<0.001). Notably, 13.3% of patients transitioned from OAB-wet to OAB-dry. In contrast, the control group did not exhibit significant changes. Medication use was significantly reduced in the VEL+UEL group compared to the control group (p<0.001). No long-term side effects were reported. CONCLUSION: Combination therapy with VEL+UEL demonstrated efficacy and safety in the treatment of OAB-wet. Improvements in OAB symptoms, voided volume, frequency, nocturia, and vaginal health were observed, with a subset of patients transitioning to OAB-dry. VEL+UEL therapy offers a potential treatment option for OAB-wet, reducing medication use and improving patient outcomes. Further research is warranted to investigate the mechanism, long-term effects, safety, and cost-effectiveness of VEL+UEL therapy.

Dyotropic Rearrangement of an Iron-Aluminium Complex.

Ligand exchange processes at metal complexes underpin their reactivity and catalytic applications. While mechanisms of ligand exchange at single site complexes are well established, occurring through textbook associative, dissociative and interchange mechanisms, those involving heterometallic complexes are less well developed. Here we report the reactions of a well-defined Fe-Al hydride complex with exogeneous ligands (CO and CNR, R = Me, tBu, Xyl = 2,6-Me2C6H3). Based on DFT calculations we suggest that these reactions occur through a dyotropic rearrangement, this involves initial coordination of the exogenous ligand at Al followed by migration to Fe, with simultaneous migration of a hydride ligand from Fe to Al. Such processes are rare for heterometallic complexes. We study the bonding and mechanism of the dyotropic rearrangement through in-depth computational analysis (NBO, IBOs, CLMO analysis, QTAIM, NCIplot, IMGH), shedding new light on how the electronic structure of the heterometallic core responds to the migration of ligands between metal sites. The dyotropic rearrangement fundamentally changes the nature of the hydride ligands, exposing new nucleophilic reactivity as evidenced by insertion reactions with CO2, isocyanates, as well as isocyanides.

The stem cell niche transcription factor ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR 115 participates in aluminum-induced terminal differentiation in Arabidopsis roots.

Aluminum-dependent stoppage of root growth requires the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway including the p53-like transcription factor SUPPRESSOR OF GAMMA RADIATION 1 (SOG1), which promotes terminal differentiation of the root tip in response to Al dependent cell death. Transcriptomic analyses identified Al-induced SOG1-regulated targets as candidate mediators of this growth arrest. Analysis of these factors either as loss-of-function mutants or by overexpression in the als3-1 background shows ERF115, which is a key transcription factor that in other scenarios is rate-limiting for damaged stem cell replenishment, instead participates in transition from an actively growing root to one that has terminally differentiated in response to Al toxicity. This is supported by a loss-of-function erf115 mutant raising the threshold of Al required to promote terminal differentiation of Al hypersensitive als3-1. Consistent with its key role in stoppage of root growth, a putative ERF115 barley ortholog is also upregulated following Al exposure, suggesting a conserved role for this ATR-dependent pathway in Al response. In contrast to other DNA damage agents, these results show that ERF115 and likely related family members are important determinants of terminal differentiation of the root tip following Al exposure and central outputs of the SOG1-mediated pathway in Al response.

The Assessment of Selenium, Aluminum, and Zinc in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

ASD is a complex condition defined by many causes, one of them being excessive concentrations of necessary and harmful chemicals in children. The serum, hair, and nails of children with ASD have lower levels of critical trace elements, according to studies. It is quite obvious that bio elements are involved in physiology and pathophysiology. Thus, this study examined trace element contents in serum samples from children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), specifically zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), and selenium (Se). The study also looked for links between trace element levels and autistic severity. The study included 47 children with autism spectrum disorder, and the Gilliam's Scale was used for severity. The study also included 53 healthy kids with age and gender-matched with those of ASD. For serum trace element analysis, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used. The study found significant decreases in selenium and zinc concentration (OR, 5.25; CI, 1.96 ~ 14.08; p < 0.001) and increases in aluminum level (OR, 39.34; CI, 8.20 ~ 89.45; p < 0.001) in children with ASD compared to the control group. The area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.85 for Se, 0.98 for Al, and 0.7 for Zn showed high sensitivity and specificity for all parameters. Results indicate a strong positive connection between ASD and their levels of selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) (ß, 0.48; CI, 0.280 ~ 0.679; p < 0.001 and ß, 0.31; CI, 0.10 ~ 0.52; p = 0.005). There is a negative correlation between ASD and aluminum (Al) (ß 0.83; CI, 0.71 ~ 0.95; p < 0.001). This element may be a biomarker for autism in youngsters. High odds ratio (OR) values indicate trace element risk in autistic children.

Stepwise extraction of lithium and potassium and recovery of fluoride from aluminum electrolyte wastes through calcification roasting-two-stage leaching.

Aluminum electrolyte is a necessity for aluminum reduction cells; however, its stock is rising every year due to several factors, resulting in the accumulation of solid waste. Currently, it has become a favorable material for the resources of lithium, potassium, and fluoride. In this study, the calcification roasting-two-stage leaching process was introduced to extract lithium and potassium separately from aluminum electrolyte wastes, and the fluoride in the form of CaF2 was recycled. The separation behaviors of lithium and potassium under different conditions were investigated systematically. XRD and SEM-EDS were used to elucidate the phase evolution of the whole process. During calcification roasting-water leaching, the extraction efficiency of potassium was 98.7% under the most suitable roasting parameters, at which the lithium extraction efficiency was 6.6%. The mechanism analysis indicates that CaO combines with fluoride to form CaF2, while Li-containing and K-containing fluorides were transformed into water-insoluble LiAlO2 phase and water-soluble KAlO2 phase, respectively, thereby achieving the separation of two elements by water leaching. In the second acid-leaching stage, the extraction efficiency of lithium was 98.8% from water-leached residue under the most suitable leaching conditions, and CaF2 was obtained with a purity of 98.1%. The present process can provide an environmentally friendly and promising method to recycle aluminum electrolyte wastes and achieve resource utilization.