Highly active reduced graphene oxide supported Ni nanoparticles for C-S coupling reactions.

Air-stable Ni nanoparticles (with particle size ∼ 11 nm) supported on reduced graphene oxide [Ni(0)@RGO] was prepared by a simple and easy procedure. We previously described the Kumada-Corriu C-C cross-coupling reaction between iodo-arenes and Grignard reagents with Ni(0)RGO as a stable and efficient catalyst. This Ni(0)RGO catalyst gave an excellent yield (92%) and good recyclability (up to the 5th cycle). This communication confirms that the catalyst shows superior efficacy for the C-S coupling reaction, similar to that for the Kumada-Corriu C-C cross-coupling reaction. A catalytic experiment with the Ni(0)@RGO recycled material was also performed. HRTEM study of the reused material after the C-S coupling reaction confirmed the retention of the original (fresh) catalyst structure. It is reusable up to the 7th cycle without any activity loss.

Low Protein Intake Irrespective of Source is Associated with Higher Mortality Among Older Community-dwelling Men.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to determine the association between protein intake (overall and by source) and all-cause and cause-specific mortality among older men. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: 5790 ambulatory community-dwelling older men from multicenter Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study. MEASUREMENTS: Total energy and protein intake, and protein intake by source (dairy, non-dairy animal, plant) were assessed using a 69-item food frequency questionnaire. We included up to 10-year follow-up with adjudicated cardiovascular, cancer and other mortality outcomes. We used time-to-event analysis with protein exposures, mortality outcome, and adjusted for possible confounders including age, center, education, race, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, weight, total energy intake (TEI), and comorbidities. Hazard ratios were expressed per each unit=2.9% TEI decrement for all protein intake variables. RESULTS: The mean (SD) baseline age of 5790 men was 73.6 (5.8) y. There were 1611 deaths and 211 drop-outs prior to 10 years, and 3868 men who were alive at the 10-year follow-up. The mean (SD) total protein intake was 64.7 (25.8) g/d, while the mean (SD) intake expressed as percent of total energy intake (%TEI) was 16.1 (2.9) %TEI. Lower protein intake was associated with an increased risk of death, with unadjusted HR=1.11 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.17) and adjusted HR=1.09 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.14) and the associations for protein intake by source were similar. The adjusted HR for cancer mortality was HR=1.13 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.25) while the association for CVD mortality was HR=1.08 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.18). CONCLUSIONS: Low protein intake, irrespective of source, was associated with a modest increase in risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality among older men. Special consideration should be given to level of protein intake among older adults.

Ni nanoparticle supported reduced graphene oxide as a highly active and durable heterogeneous material for coupling reactions.

We report the loading of highly air stable Ni(0) nanoparticles (average particle size = 11 nm) on the surface of a reduced graphene oxide (RGO) material. The material was characterized using different techniques, including Raman spectroscopy, XRD, TEM, SEM, and HRTEM analysis. The Ni(0)@RGO catalyst showed superb efficiency towards Kumada-Corriu C-C cross-coupling reactions, with 92% yield of 4-methoxybiphenyl at 60 °C. The recycled material can be reused up to the 5th cycle after regeneration by calcination, without loss of activity.

Prognostic Performance of Current Stage III Oral Cancer Patients After Curative Intent Resection: Evidence to Support a Revision of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging System.

BACKGROUND: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage III classification of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) represents a heterogeneous group of patients with early local disease with regional metastases (T1N1 and T2N1) and advanced local disease with or without regional metastasis (T3N0 and T3N1). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic heterogeneity in the stage III category. METHODS AND PATIENTS: An international retrospective multicenter study of 1815 patients who were treated for OCSCC from 2003 to 2011. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate models of stage III patients revealed better overall survival (OS; HR 2.12, 95 % CI 1.03-4.15; p = 0.01) and disease-specific survival (DSS; HR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.16-4.12; p = 0.04) rates for patients with T1-2N1/T3N0 disease than for patients with T3N1 disease. The outcomes of patients with T3N1 and stage IVa disease were similar (p = 0.89 and p = 0.78 for OS and DSS, respectively). Modifying stage classification by transferring the T3N1 category to the stage VIa group resulted in a better prognostic performance [Harrell's concordance index, C index 0.76; Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) 4131.6] compared with the AJCC 7th edition staging system (C index 0.65; AIC 4144.9) for OS. When DSS was assessed, the suggested staging system remained the best performing model (C index 0.71; AIC 1061.3) compared with the current AJCC 7th edition staging (C index 0.64; AIC 1066.2). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of T3N1 and stage IVa disease are similar in OCSCC, suggesting that these categories could be combined in future revisions of the nodal staging system to enhance prognostic accuracy.

Incidence and correlates of tuberculosis IGRA conversion among HIV-infected postpartum women.

SETTING: Prevention of maternal-to-child transmission program at a tertiary care hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. The risk of acquiring Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among peripartum human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected women is poorly defined. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of and co-factors for interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) conversion among postpartum HIV-infected women using T-SPOT.TB. DESIGN: We used data and cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a historical cohort of HIV-infected women enrolled at 32 weeks' gestation and followed for 1 year postpartum between 1999 and 2005. RESULTS: Of 89 women initially IGRA-negative during pregnancy, 11 (12.4%) became positive, 53 (59.5%) remained negative and 25 (28.1%) were indeterminate at 1 year postpartum. Mean interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) response among converters increased from ~1 to >50 spot-forming cells/well (P = 0.015). IGRA conversion was significantly associated with partner HIV infection, flush toilets, maternal illness and cough during follow-up, but not maternal CD4 count or HIV viral load. CONCLUSION: The high rates of IGRA conversion seen among HIV-infected postpartum women in our study are similar to those of other groups at high risk for M. tuberculosis infection. This has important implications for M. tuberculosis infection screening strategies and provision of preventive therapy for the health of women and their infants.

Predictive value of interferon-gamma release assays for postpartum active tuberculosis in HIV-1-infected women.

BACKGROUND: Data on the prognostic utility of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) for active tuberculosis (TB) among human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infected individuals are limited. METHODS: Samples from a perinatal cohort of HIV-1-infected women in Kenya, obtained during pregnancy, were tested using T-SPOT®.TB IGRAs to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) responses. IFN-γ (cut-off values of >0, ≥6 and ≥10 spot-forming cells [SFC]/well) and CD4 cell count (cut-off values of <250 and <350 cells/l) were evaluated to determine sensitivity and specificity using a time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve and positive predictive value (PPV) using the Kaplan Meier method for future TB within 1 year postpartum. RESULTS: Of 327 women, 9 developed TB within 1 year postpartum (incidence rate 3.5/100 person-years of follow-up, 95%CI 1.66.7). IFN-γ ≥ 6 SFC/well was associated with an optimal trade-off between sensitivity (78%) and specificity (55%) and a PPV of 5.9%. In women with CD4 cell count of <250 cells/µl, the sensitivity and specificity of IFN- 6 SFC/well were respectively 89% and 63%, and the PPV was 19.2%. CONCLUSION: Among HIV-1 infected women, IFN-γ response (≥6 SFC/well) during pregnancy lacked a high PPV for postpartum TB, but had higher sensitivity and PPV among immunosuppressed women (CD4 cell count of <250 cells/µl).

Lymph node density in oral cavity cancer: results of the International Consortium for Outcomes Research.

BACKGROUND: Lymph node density (LND) has previously been reported to reliably predict recurrence risk and survival in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This multicenter international study was designed to validate the concept of LND in OSCC. METHODS: The study included 4254 patients diagnosed as having OSCC. The median follow-up was 41 months. Five-year overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional control and distant metastasis rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Lymph node density (number of positive lymph nodes/total number of excised lymph nodes) was subjected to multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The OS was 49% for patients with LND0.07 compared with 35% for patients with LND>0.07 (P<0.001). Similarly, the DSS was 60% for patients with LND0.07 compared with 41% for those with LND>0.07 (P<0.001). Lymph node density reliably stratified patients according to their risk of failure within the individual N subgroups (P=0.03). A modified TNM staging system based on LND ratio was consistently superior to the traditional system in estimating survival measures. CONCLUSION: This multi-institutional study validates the reliability and applicability of LND as a predictor of outcomes in OSCC. Lymph node density can potentially assist in identifying patients with poor outcomes and therefore for whom more aggressive adjuvant treatment is needed.

Clinical nodal stage is a significant predictor of outcome in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and pathologically negative neck metastases: results of the international consortium for outcome research.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to study the importance of clinical N classification (cN) in a subgroup of patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and pathologically negative neck nodes (pN-). METHODS: A total of 2,258 patients from 11 cancer centers who underwent neck dissection for OSCC (1990-2011) had pN- disease. The median follow-up was 44 months. 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), disease free survival, local control, locoregional control, and distant metastasis rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. cN classification and tumor, node, metastasis classification system staging variables were subjected to multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 345 patients were preoperatively classified as cN+ and 1,913 were classified as cN-. The 5-year OS and DSS of cN- patients were 73.6 and 82.2 %, respectively. The 5-year OS and DSS of cN+ patients were 64.9 and 76.9 %, respectively (p < 0.0001 each). A cN+ classification was a significant predictor of worse OS (p = 0.03) and DSS (p = 0.016), regardless of treatment, depth of invasion, or extent of neck dissection. cN classification was associated with recurrence-free survival (p = 0.01) and locoregional (neck and primary tumor) control (p = 0.004), but not with local (p = 0.19) and distant (p = 0.06) recurrence rates. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical evidence of neck metastases is an independent predictor of outcome, even in patients with pN- nodes.

Mineralization and toxicity reduction of textile dye neutral red in aqueous phase using BiOCl photocatalysis.

The BiOCl catalyst was prepared by hydrolysis method. The compound was extensively characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, UV-vis measurements and BET surface area. The prepared material had average pore diameter about 6-13 nm. The BET surface area of the sample is about 40 m(2)/g. The photocatalytic degradation and toxicity reduction of textile dye neutral red (NR) was investigated in the presence of as prepared BiOCl. The analysis of (·)OH radical formation was performed by fluorescence technique. The intermediates and the final products of degradation were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-DAD-MS) technology. Decrease in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and dye absorbance of the photodegraded dye solution revealed a complete mineralization of NR into CO(2) and inorganic ions. The recycling experiments confirmed the relative stability of the catalyst. Finally, the luminescent marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri was used to assess the acute toxicity of samples prior to and after the photocatalytic treatment and it was found that toxicity was fully eliminated following photocatalytic degradation.

Chlorine dioxide-facilitated oxidation of the azo dye amaranth.

The oxidation reaction of amaranth (trisodium 2-hydroxy-1-(4-sulfonato-1-naphthylazo)naphthalene-3,6-disulfonate or AM(-)) by chlorine dioxide (ClO(2)) in aqueous conditions was investigated in detail. The major reaction products immediately after decolorization of AM(-) were 1,2-naphthoquinone disulfonate sodium salt and 1,4-napthalenedione. The reaction had first-order dependence on both AM(-) and ClO(2). The rate-limiting step involved the reaction between AM(-) and OH(-) ions. The role of hydroxide ion as a catalyst was established. The second-order rate constant increased with pH, from (19.8 ± 0.9) M(-1) s(-1) at pH 7.0, (97.1 ± 2.3) M(-1) s(-1) at pH 8.0 to (132.5 ± 2.8) M(-1) s(-1) at pH 9.0. In the pH range of 6.0-7.5, the catalytic constant for OH(-) ion was 4.0 × 10(9) M(-2) s(-1). The energy and entropy of activation values for the reaction were 50.0 kJ mol(-1) and -658.7 J K(-1) mol(-1), respectively. A probable reaction mechanism was elucidated and was validated by simulations.

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of amaranth with hypochlorite.

The reaction mechanism of the oxidation of Amaranth dye (2-hydroxy-1-(4-sulfonato-1-naphthylazo) naphthalene-3,6-disulfonate) with hypochlorite under varied pH conditions was elucidated by a kinetic approach. Under excess concentration of oxidant, the reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with respect to Amaranth, and the oxidation was found to occur through two competitive reactions, initiated by hypochlorite and hypochlorous acid. The reaction order with respect to both OCl(-) ion and HOCl was unity. While the latter reaction was fast, the significance of the oxidation paths depended on the relative concentration of the two oxidizing species, which was dictated by the reaction pH. The role of the H(+) ion in the reaction was established. For the hypochlorite ion and hypochlorous acid facilitated reactions, the second-order rate coefficients were 1.9 and 23.2 M(-1) s(-1), respectively. The energy parameters were E(a) = 33.7 kJ mol(-1), ΔH(‡) = 31.2 kJ mol(-1) and ΔS(‡) = -190.6 J K(-1) mol(-1) for the OCl(-) ion-driven oxidation, and E(a) = 26.9 kJ mol(-1), ΔH(‡) = 24.3 kJ mol(-1) and ΔS(‡) = -222.8 J K(-1) mol(-1) for the reaction with HOCl-initiated oxidation. The major oxidation products for both the pathways were 3,4-dihydroxy naphthalene-2,7-disulfonic sodium salt (P(1)), dichloro-1,4-naphthoquione (P(2)) and naphtha(2,3)oxirene-2, 3-dione (P(3)). On the basis of the primary salt effect and other kinetic data, the rate law for the overall reaction and probable reaction mechanism was elucidated. The proposed mechanism was validated by simulations using Simkine-2.

Studies on the O3-initiated disinfection from Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis in aquatic systems.

The kinetics of inactivation of Gram-positive strain, Bacillus subtilis in aquatic systems was investigated as function ozone aeration duration under varied conditions. Oxygen flow was in situ enriched with ozone using ozoniser, with [O(3)] ranging from (0.3 - 9.8) x 10(-5) moles per liter of oxygen. The inactivation kinetics of B. subtilis followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with respect to microbe, under excess [O(3)] conditions. The disinfection kinetics had first order dependence on ozone concentration and the overall second-order rate constant was (7.54 +/- 1.37) x 10(3) M(-1) min(-1). The effect initial temperature and pH of the system on the ozone initiated inactivation of microbe was also explored. Relative to hydroxyl radicals, molecular ozone was found more effective in microbial inactivation. Appropriate mechanism for ozone initiated inactivation is proposed. Ozone aeration significantly decreased the BOD levels of natural and B. subtilis spiked waters.

Kinetics of inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in aqueous solutions by ozone aeration.

The effect of ozonation on the disinfection of Gram-negative strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated as a function of time. Ozone was generated in situ using corona discharge method, with ozone concentrations ranging from (0.29-9.84) x 10(-5) moles L(-1). The microbial inactivation kinetics followed pseudo-first-order kinetics under excess concentration conditions of ozone. With over all second-order constant, k = (4.02 +/- 0.20) x 10(4) M(-1) min(-1), the reaction rate had first-order dependence both on the microbial count and ozone. The influence of temperature and pH on the ozone initiated disinfection of the microbe was also investigated. Molecular ozone is found more effective in disinfection than hydroxyl radicals. Probable mechanism for antimicrobial power of ozone in water systems is discussed. The ozone aeration decreased the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) value of natural and microbe spiked waters significantly.

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of methylene violet by bromate at acidic pH and the dual role of bromide ion.

Methylene violet (MV(+)), a phenazine class of dye during oxidation by the bromate ion under acidic conditions, exhibited complex nonlinear behavior. The intricate kinetics of reaction of methylene violet [3-amino-7-(diethyleamino)-5-phenyl phenazium chloride, MV(+)] with acidic bromate was investigated using the stopped flow technique. Under excess acid and bromate concentration conditions, MV(+) exhibited a very slow reaction initially but a very rapid reaction after an induction time. The reaction had first-order dependence on both H(+) and BrO(3)(-) ions. The overall stoichiometric reaction is 2 MV(+) + 2 BrO(3)(-) + H(2)O --> 2 MP + 2 HON(CH(2)CH(3))(2) + N(2)O + 2 H(+) + 2 Br(-) where MP is the 3,7-dioxo-5-phenyl phenazine. The active roles of various bromo and oxybromo species in the mechanism are discussed. The rapid kinetics of the direct reaction of bromine with MV(+) is also reported. A 19-step mechanism, consistent with the experimental data and validated by simulations using Simkine-2, is proposed.

The impact of endoscopic ultrasonography with fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) on esophageal cancer staging: a survey of thoracic surgeons and gastroenterologists.

SUMMARY: Accurate staging of esophageal cancer is critical to achieving optimal treatment outcomes. End-oscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has emerged as a valuable tool for locoregional staging. However, it is unclear how different physician specialties perceive the benefit of EUS-FNA for esophageal cancer staging, and thus utilize this modality in clinical practice. A survey regarding utilization of EUS-FNA in esophageal cancer was distributed to 211 thoracic surgeons and 251 EUS-capable gastroenterologists. Seventy-six thoracic surgeons (36%) and 78 gastroenterologists (31%) responded to the survey. Most surgeons (75%) use EUS to stage potentially resectable esophageal cancer 75% of the time. Surgeons using EUS less often are less likely to have access to high-quality EUS services than their peers. Fewer surgeons believe EUS is the most accurate test for T and N-staging (84% and 71%, respectively) as compared with gastroenterologists (97% and 96%, P < 0.01 for both). Most endosonographers (68%) decide whether to dilate a malignant esophageal stricture to complete the staging exam on a case-by-case basis. Surgeons disagree as to whether involvement of celiac lymph nodes should preclude esophagectomy in distal esophageal cancer. While most thoracic surgeons have embraced EUS-FNA as the most accurate locoregional staging modality in esophageal cancer, this attitude is not fully reflected in utilization patterns due to a lack of quality EUS services in some centers. Controversial areas that warrant further study include dilation of malignant strictures to facilitate EUS staging, and the implication of involved celiac lymph nodes on management.

Comparison of white light and narrow band high definition images in predicting colon polyp histology, using standard colonoscopes without optical magnification.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Narrow band imaging (NBI) with optical magnification is useful in predicting colon polyp histology. As magnifying endoscopes are not routinely available, we investigated the use of NBI and high definition white light imaging in determining polyp histology, using images obtained with colonoscopes without optical magnification. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Images (white light and NBI) of colon polyps less than 10 mm in diameter were collected prospectively from patients undergoing screening colonoscopy and digitally stored. Two endoscopists later reviewed all images and predicted polyp histology as neoplastic or non-neoplastic using a modified Kudo classification. Comparison was made with histopathology. RESULTS: Separate white light and NBI images of 80 polyps (49 neoplastic, 31 non-neoplastic) from 63 patients were recorded. Mean polyp size was 5.1 +/- 2.1 mm (5.4 +/- 2.2 neoplastic; 4.4 +/- 1.8 non-neoplastic; P = 0.02). In a pooled analysis, NBI correctly predicted neoplastic histology in 93 of 98 images (sensitivity 95 %, positive predictive value [PPV] 94 %) whereas white light did so in 58 of 98 images (sensitivity 59 %, PPV 79 %). NBI correctly predicted non-neoplastic histology in 56 of 62 images (specificity 90 %, negative predictive value [NPV] 92 %) whereas white light did so in 47 of 62 images (specificity 76 %, NPV 54 %). CONCLUSIONS: NBI without optical magnification was more accurate in predicting colon polyp histology compared with white light imaging. Image quality and confidence in histology were significantly higher in the NBI group. NBI without optical magnification may be useful in predicting colon polyp histology.

Macro, minor and toxic elemental uptake and distribution in Hypoxis hemerocallidea, "the African Potato"--an edible medicinal plant.

The elemental uptake and distribution, in various parts of the admired herbal plant, Hypoxis hemerocallidea, the 'African potato' and its ability to accumulate elements in response to the growth soil quality are investigated. The total and exchangeable concentrations of twelve elements in the growth soils and their distribution in the roots, potato bulb and leaves of the plants grown under four different settings were compared. The typical concentrations of the twelve selected elements, in the bulb and leaves of the plant grown in a nursery pot (site 2) were (in microg g(-1)dry weight) Ca (8430 and 27075), Mg (2113 and 1566), Fe (66 and 150), Al (10 and 368), Zn (105 and 6.1), Mn (42 and 51), Cu (7.2 and 20.8), Ba (0.23 and 4.44), Co (0.20 and 0.42), As (2.05 and 24.56), Hg (0.92 and 1.82) and Cr (0.13 and 0.33). Except for Ca, Mg, Zn and Mn, the exchangeable cation concentrations in all the growth soils were low. Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn and As had bioaccumulation factors >1. Fe, Al and Co concentrations were high in the roots with little in the rest of the plant. High concentration of arsenic (approximately 13 microg g(-1) dry weight) with bioaccumulation factors of 7 and 20 were observed in the roots and leaves of the plant respectively (site 2), but the concentration of mercury in bulb was very low (0.92 microg g(-1) dry weight).

Physical characterization of thin semi-porous poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) membranes for tissue engineering.

This study examines physical properties of solvent-cast poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA): poly(ethylene glycol) PEG membranes as a function of PEG molecular weight (MW) and incubation in vitro for 6 weeks. PEGs of MW 400, 1450 and 8000 were used. The morphological, thermal, mechanical and permeability properties of the membranes were studied prior to and after 3 and 6 weeks of incubation in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 37 degrees C. The membranes showed a thickness of about 35+/-5 microm and were found to be semi-porous, with a non-porous surface as well as a porous surface with pore-diameters of 0.5-5 microm. The surface pore size was found to be a function of PEG MW used. All membranes were mechanically strong, with elastic moduli and tensile strength of 150-440 MPa and 7-36 MPa, respectively, all through the 6-week incubation period. The lower-MW PEGs plasticized PLLA based on high initial percent elongation; however, the effect was lost after 3 weeks of incubation in PBS. All membranes except those fabricated with PEG 8000 were impermeable for up to 6 weeks of incubation in PBS. Permeability studies showed that only PLLA:PEG 8000 membranes were permeable to methylene blue after 3 weeks of degradation.

Elemental uptake by seaweed, Plocamium corallorhirza along the Kwazulu-natal coast of Indian Ocean, South Africa.

This study reports the elemental uptake by Plocamium corallorhiza, a Rhodophyta class of coralline alga grown richly along KwaZulu-Natal coastline. The uptake of seven important elements, namely Fe, Mn, As, B, Ti, Zn and Hg, selected based on their abundance in the samples, were investigated for a one-year cycle, from June 2002 to May 2003, at four chosen sites located along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. The sites spread over 150 km from North to South Coast are Zinkwasi, Ballito, Treasure Beach and Park Rynie. P. corallorhiza possess good manganese and arsenic-accumulating ability and has potential to be an excellent indicator for most of the metals studied. A typical P. corallorhiza sample at Park Rynie (winter) recorded Mn (14 ppm), Fe (6.02 ppm), As (8.4 ppm), B (1580 ppb), Zn (234 ppb), Ti (751 ppb) and Hg (15.8 ppb). The general trend found at all sites was a large decrease in iron concentration in spring and summer and increase in winter. Mercury uptake was lowest in winter and autumn at all sites. The highest mercury levels in the seaweeds were recorded during spring or summer.