Source and level of dietary iron influence semen quality by affecting inflammation, oxidative stress and iron utilization levels in boars

Background Boars fed a mixed form of inorganic and organic iron in excess of the NRC recommended levels still develop anemia,which suggested that the current level and form of iron supplementation in boar diets may be inappropriate.Therefore,56 healthy Topeka E line boars aged 15–21 months were randomly divided into 5 groups:basal diet supplemented with 96 mg/kg ferrous sulfate(FeSO_(4))and 54 mg/kg glycine chelated iron(Gly-Fe,control);80 mg/kg or 115 mg/kg Gly-Fe;80 mg/kg or 115 mg/kg methionine hydroxyl analogue chelated iron(MHA-Fe,from CalimetFe)for 16 weeks.The effects of dietary iron supplementation with different sources and levels on semen quality in boars were investigated.Results 1)Serum Fe and hemoglobin concentrations were not affected by reduced dietary iron levels in the 80 mg/kg or 115 mg/kg Gly-Fe and MHA-Fe groups compared with the control group(P>0.05).2)Serum interleukin-6(IL-6)and sperm malondialdehyde(MDA)levels in the 80 mg/kg or 115 mg/kg MHA-Fe groups were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05),and higher serum superoxide dismutase levels and lower MDA levels in the 115 mg/kg MHA-Fe group(P<0.05).3)Boars in the 80 mg/kg or 115 mg/kg Gly-Fe and MHA-Fe groups had lower serum hepcidin(P<0.01),ferritin(P<0.05),and transferrin receptor(P<0.01)concentrations,and boars in the 115 mg/kg MHA-Fe group had higher seminal plasma Fe concentrations compared with the control group.4)Boars in the 80 mg/kg and 115 mg/kg MHA-Fe groups had lower abnormal sperm rate and in situ oscillating sperm ratio compared to the control group at weeks 12 and/or 16 of the trial.However,the effect of Gly-Fe on improving semen quality in boars was not evident.5)Serum IL-6 level was positively correlated with hepcidin concentration(P<0.05),which in turn was significantly positively correlated with abnormal sperm rate(P<0.05).Furthermore,significant correlations were also found between indicators of iron status and oxidative stress and semen quality parameters.Conclusions Dietary supplementation with 80 mg/kg or 115 mg/kg MHA-Fe did not induce iron deficiency,but rather reduced serum inflammatory levels and hepcidin concentration,alleviated oxidative stress,increased body iron utilization,and improved semen quality in adult boars.

Effects of Iron-zinc Combined Application on Yield and Quality of Tobacco

[Objective] This study aimed to improve the yield and quality of tobacco. [Method] Different proportion combinations of zinc sulfate and iron sulfate were applied to Jiyan 9, and its agronomic traits, field natural incidence, economic characters and chemical composition were compared among different treatments. [Result] Iron-zinc combined application improved the yield and quality of tobacco. Among all the treatments, Treatment 2 （FeSO4 15 kg/hm2 ＋ ZnSO4 10 kg/hm2） and Treatment 5 （FeSO4 15 kg/hm2 ＋ ZnSO4 15 kg/hm2） were the best. [Conclusion] This study will provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of yield and quality of tobacco.

Can Improve Iron Biofortification Antioxidant Response,Yield and Nutritional Quality in Green Bean?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of iron biofortification on antioxidant response, yield and nutritional qualityof green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under greenhouse conditions. Fe was applied using two forms (FeSO4 and Fe-EDDHA) at four doses of application (0, 25, 50 and 100 μm) added under a hydroponic system, and were tested over a period of 40 days. The Fe content was assessed in seeds, as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes, production of H2O2, yield and nutritional quality. The results being obtained indicated that the accumulation of Fe in bean seeds enhanced with the application of Fe-EDDHA at the dose of 25 μm. This demonstrated that low Fe application dose was enough to increase Fe levels in seeds of common bean. In addition, Fe-EDDHA application form at 50 μmol was the best treatment to improve crop yield. Respect to antioxidant system, chelated form of Fe (Fe-EDDHA) was more effective in the activation of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GSH-PX), and a lower content of H2O2 in green bean seeds. Finally, to raise the Fe concentration in bean under biofortification program was a promising strategy in cropping systems in order to increase the ingestion of iron and antioxidant capacity in the general population and provided the benefits that this element offered in human health.

Review of current research and application of ductile cast iron quality monitoring technologies in Chinese foundry industry

There is a long history of studying and making use of ductile cast iron in China.Over the years,the foundrymen in China have carried out a lot of valuable research and development work for measuring parameters and controlling the quality in ductile cast iron production.Many methods,such as rapid metallographic phase,thermal analysis,eutectic expansion ratio,surface tension measurement,melt electrical resistivity,oxygen and sulfur activity measurement,ultrasonic measurement and sound frequency measurement,have been used and have played important roles in Chinese casting production in the past.These methods can be generally classified as liquid testing and solid testing according to the sample state.Based on the analysis of the present situation of these methods applied in the Chinese metal casting industry,the authors consider that there are two difficult technical problems to be currently solved in monitoring ductile iron quality.One is to seek an effective method for quickly evaluating the nodularizing result through on-the-spot sample analysis before the liquid iron is poured into the mould.The other is to find a nondestructive method for accurately identifying casting quality before castings are delivered.

Influence of the Environment on Cassava Quality Traits in Central Rift Valley of Kenya

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Cranzt) is an important food security crop for poor rural communities particularly in Africa. However, little is known about variability of critical root nutritional and quality traits of African cassava germplasm. Cassava roots contain low levels of important micronutrients and its quality can be influenced by the levels of cyanogenic glucosides. Roots from fourteen accessions comprising Kenyan local landraces and improved clones were screened for their nutritional traits including the contents of cyanogenic glycosides, protein and the micro nutrients iron and zinc. Trait stability and the effects of the environment on the expression of the nutritional traits were evaluated using various genotype (G) by environment (E) interaction study models. There were significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences for all the nutritional traits in the three test sites of Baringo, Kericho and Nakuru in Kenya. Contents of cyanogenic glycosides in both roots and leaves, total root proteins, root iron and zinc ranged from 31.8 ppm to 90.8 ppm;20.8 ppm to 154.4 ppm;1.15% to 3.47%;17.81 ppm to 59.69 ppm and 39.39 ppm to 118 ppm, respectively. The sites were also significantly (p ≤ 0.05) different from each other with the highest cyanogenic content in leaves and roots expressed at the Nakuru site. Regression analysis was used to assess genotype response to environments. Regression coefficients (bi) obtained ranged from 0.13 to 2.23 for all traits combined indicating wide variability in quality trait among the test germplasm. Analysis for sensitivity to environmental change SEi2 revealed that cassava genotypes differed in their level of sensitivity. The root cyanide trait had the highest mean SEi2 which indicated that it was the least stable quality trait in the cassava germplasm. This implies that the same cassava genotypes will give food of different quality depending on growing environment. The observed values for protein and mineral contents suggest the potential for improving the nutritive value of local cassava germplasm.

Next Generation Nutrition: Genomic and Molecular Breeding Innovations for Iron and Zinc Biofortification in Rice

Global efforts to address malnutrition and hidden hunger, particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, have intensified, with a focus on enhancing the nutritional content of staple crops like rice. Despite serving as a staple for over half of the world's population, rice falls short in meeting daily nutritional requirements, especially for iron(Fe) and zinc(Zn). Genetic resources, such as wild rice species and specific rice varieties, offer promising avenues for enhancing Fe and Zn content. Additionally, molecular breeding approaches have identified key genes and loci associated with Fe and Zn accumulation in rice grains. This review explores the genetic resources and molecular mechanisms underlying Fe and Zn accumulation in rice grains. The functional genomics involved in Fe uptake, transport, and distribution in rice plants have revealed key genes such as OsFRO1, OsIRT1, and OsNAS3. Similarly, genes associated with Zn uptake and translocation, including OsZIP11 and OsNRAMP1, have been identified. Transgenic approaches, leveraging transporter gene families and genome editing technologies, offer promising avenues for enhancing Fe and Zn content in rice grains. Moreover, strategies for reducing phytic acid(PA) content, a known inhibitor of mineral bioavailability, have been explored, including the identification of low-PA mutants and natural variants. The integration of genomic information, including whole-genome resequencing and pan-genome analyses, provides valuable insights into the genetic basis of micronutrient traits and facilitates targeted breeding efforts. Functional genomics studies have elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying Fe uptake and translocation in rice. Furthermore, transgenic and genome editing techniques have shown promise in enhancing Fe and Zn content in rice grains through the manipulation of key transporter genes. Overall, the integration of multi-omics approaches holds significant promise for addressing global malnutrition and hidden hunger by enhancing the nutritional quality of rice, thereby contributing to improved food and nutritional security worldwide.

Selection of raw materials and control of trace elements for production of high-quality SG iron

During the production of SG iron, the selection of raw materials and control of chemical composition are most important. From the very early days of SG iron production, the effects of trace elements on graphite form and matrix structure have been studied, and the allowable concentration limits for their detrimental influence has been decreased year by year, during the last fifty years. This paper has reviewed some of the suggested SG iron trace elements in the literature and in several Chinese foundries. It was found that for most SG iron castings, rare earth elements are still required to neutralize the harmful effects of trace elements and improve SG iron quality. It also found that the use of high purity and ultra-high purity base iron melts enabled integrated, safety-critical and complicated SG iron castings of varying thickness, and heavy-section, to be produced successfully. These SG iron castings have surprisingly good structures, and their mechanical and dynamic properties are vastly superior to those specified in current international SG iron standards. Further study is required on the effects of using high purity and ultra-high purity base melts on the structure and properties of SG iron.

Multivariable Dynamic Modeling for Molten Iron Quality Using Incremental Random Vector Functional-link Networks

Molten iron temperature as well as Si, P, and S contents is the most essential molten iron quality （MIQ） indices in the blast furnace （BF） ironmaking, which requires strict monitoring during the whole ironmaking production. However, these MIQ parameters are difficult to be directly measured online, and large-time delay exists in off-line analysis through laboratory sampling. Focusing on the practical challenge, a data-driven modeling method was presented for the prediction of MIQ using the improved muhivariable incremental random vector functional-link net- works （M-I-RVFLNs）. Compared with the conventional random vector functional-link networks （RVFLNs） and the online sequential RVFLNs, the M-I-RVFLNs have solved the problem of deciding the optimal number of hidden nodes and overcome the overfitting problems. Moreover, the proposed M I RVFLNs model has exhibited the potential for multivariable prediction of the MIQ and improved the terminal condition for the multiple-input multiple-out- put （MIMO） dynamic system, which is suitable for the BF ironmaking process in practice. Ultimately, industrial experiments and contrastive researches have been conducted on the BF No. 2 in Liuzhou Iron and Steel Group Co. Ltd. of China using the proposed method, and the results demonstrate that the established model produces better estima ting accuracy than other MIQ modeling methods.

Melt Quality Evaluation of Ductile Iron by Pattern Recognition of Thermal Analysis Cooling Curves

The melt quality of ductile iron can be related to the melt＇s thermal analysis cooling curve. The freezing zone of the thermal analysis cooling curve was found to indicate the melt quality of the ductile iron, A comprehensive difference parameter,Ω, of the thermal analysis cooling curves was found to be related to the properties of ductile iron melts such as composition, temperature, and graphite morphology. As .Ω approached O, the thermal analysis cooling curves were found to come together with all the properties indicating melt quality about the same. A database of thermal analysis cooling curves related to the properties of the ductile iron melts was set up as a basis for a method to accurately evaluate the melt quality of ductile iron by pattern recognition of thermal analysis cooling curves. The quality of a ductile iron melt can then be immediately determined by comparing its thermal analysis cooling curve freezing zone shape to those in the database.

Intelligent Multivariable Modeling of Blast Furnace Molten Iron Quality Based on Dynamic AGA-ANN and PCA

Blast furnace （BF） ironmaking process has complex and nonlinear dynamic characteristics. The molten iron temperature （MIT） as well as Si, P and S contents of molten iron is difficult to be directly measured online, and large-time delay exists in offline analysis through laboratory sampling. A nonlinear multivariate intelligent modeling method was proposed for molten iron quality （MIQ） based on principal component analysis （PCA） and dynamic ge- netic neural network. The modeling method used the practical data processed by PCA dimension reduction as inputs of the dynamic artificial neural network （ANN）. A dynamic feedback link was introduced to produce a dynamic neu- ral network on the basis of traditional back propagation ANN. The proposed model improved the dynamic adaptabili- ty of networks and solved the strong fluctuation and resistance problem in a nonlinear dynamic system. Moreover, a new hybrid training method was presented where adaptive genetic algorithms （AGA） and ANN were integrated, which could improve network convergence speed and avoid network into local minima. The proposed method made it easier for operators to understand the inside status of blast furnace and offered real-time and reliable feedback infor- mation for realizing close-loop control for MIQ. Industrial experiments were made through the proposed model based on data collected from a practical steel company. The accuracy could meet the requirements of actual operation.

Low temperature impact strength of heavy section ductile iron castings:effects of microstructure and chemical composition

A foundry research project has been recently initiated at RTIT in order to better understand the fabrication of as-cast heavy section DI parts meeting high impact energy requirements at low temperatures.The experimental castings have the following dimensions 180 mm x 180 mm x 190 mm.The achieved as-cast Charpy impact strengths were as follows:17 J (RT),16 J (-20℃) and 11 J (-40℃).The foundry process,the chemical composition and the microstructure of this experimental casting are compared to the ones of various examples in order to show the detrimental effects of residual elements,microshrinkage and microcarbide on the impact properties.Finally,quality index empirical models (based on casting chemical compositions) are used to analyse the impact tests results.This paper illustrates that an adequate nodule count can contribute to reducing the detrimental effects of the residual elements and microsegregation.

Evaluation and Application of Two High-Iron Transgenic Rice Lines Expressing a Pea Ferritin Gene

A total of 105 transgenic dce lines independently transformed with a pea ferritin gene （Fer） were previously obtained. After seven generations of selfing and β-glucuronidase （GUS） assisted selection, 82 transgenic lines with stable agronomic traits were got. Among the 82 transgenic lines, two high-iron transgenic rice lines Fer34 and Fer65, with the iron contents in the milled rice being 4.82 and 3.46 times of that of the wild type Xiushui 11, respectively were identified. In the two transgenic lines, the exogenous Fer gene was highly expressed, and inherited as a single locus. The transgene had no negative effect on the agronomic traits of rice plant, other mineral nutritional components, appearance quality and eating quality of the milled rice, indicating that these two lines were elite high-iron breeding lines. Furthermore, the practical application and further studies facilitating utilization of the two elite breeding lines were discussed.

Target the neglected VOCs emission from iron and steel industry in China for air quality improvement

Recent years have witnessed significant improvement in China’s air quality.Strict environmental protection measures have led to significant decreases in sulfur dioxide(SO2),nitrogen oxides(NOx),and particulate matter(PM)emissions since 2013.But there is no denying that the air quality in 135 cities is inferior to reaching the Ambient Air Quality Standards(GB 3095–2012)in 2020.In terms of temporal,geographic,and historical aspects,we have analyzed the potential connections between China’s air quality and the iron and steel industry.The non-target volatile organic compounds(VOCs)emissions from iron and steel industry,especially from the iron ore sinter process,may be an underappreciated index imposing a negative effect on the surrounding areas of China.Therefore,we appeal the authorities to pay more attention on VOCs emission from the iron and steel industry and establish new environmental standards.And different iron steel flue gas pollutants will be eliminated concurrently with the promotion and application of new technology.

Breeding and Evaluation of New Iron Yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb) Varieties

[Objective] This study was conducted to develop some new iron yam （Dioscorea opposita） varieties with excellent cooking, eating and nutritional qualities. [Method] The fresh weight per plant, drying rate, dry weight per plant, yield, allan- toin content, water soluble extract content and disease resistance of seven new iron yam cultivars （No.1, No.2, No.4, No.6, No.8, No.9 and No.10） obtained through spaceflight mutation breeding were measured and compared with control （No.11）. Then, the nutrition quality of two elite cultivars No. 6 and No.10 was determined by comparing with the control. [Result] The eight iron yam cultivars ranked in descend- ing order of their fresh weight per plant as follows： No.6（0.255 kg）〉No.10（0.254 kg）〉 No.4（0.242 kg）〉No.9（0.237 kg）〉No.1（0.233 kg）〉No.11（0.206 kg）〉No.2（0.191 kg）〉No.8 （0.157 kg）. There was no significant difference in fresh weight per plant between No.6 and No.10, but extremely significant difference between No.6 and the control, No.10 and the control. The eight iron yam cultivars ranked in descending order of their drying rate as follows： No.2 （32.641%）〉No.10 （32.230%）〉No.9 （28.223%）〉No.6 （25.174%）〉No.8（25.122%）〉No.11 （25.043%）〉No.1 （24.291%）〉No.4（20.234%）. The dry- ing rate of both No.6 and No.10 was higher than that of the control. The eight iron yam cultivars ranked in descending order of their dry weight per plant as follows： No.10（0.082 kg）〉No.9（0.067 kg）〉No.6（0.064 kg）〉No.2（0.062 kg）〉No.1（0.056 kg）〉No.11 （0.052 kg）〉No.4 （0.049 kg）〉No.8 （0.039 kg）. The dry weight per plant of both No.6 and No.10 is higher than that of the control. The eight iron yam cultivars ranked in descending order of their allantoin content as follows No.6 （0.484%）〉No.4 （0.467%）〉 No.10 （0.399%）〉No.ll （0.386%）〉No.9 （0.378%）〉No.8 （0.350%）〉No.2 （0.342）〉No.1 （0.325%）. The allantoin content of No.6 was significantly higher than that of No.10 and the control. There was significant difference in allantoin content between No.6 and No.10, but no significant difference between No 10 and the control. The eight iron yam cultivars ranked in descending order of their extract content as follows No. 6（20.49%）〉No.2（16.01%）〉No.4（15.54%） 〉No. 10（15.35%）〉No. 1 （14.48%）〉No. 11 （14.10%） 〉No.9（13.88%）〉No.8（11.87%）. The extract content of No.6 exhibited extremely sig- nificant difference with that of No.10 and the control, and the extract content of No. 10 was also significantly different from that of the control. The taste of No.10 was dry, soft, floury, sweet and fragrant, better than that of the other seven cultivars. No.6 had the strongest resistance to Gloeosporium pestis and Cylindrosporium dioscoreae. No.10 had a middle resistance to G. pestis and a strong resistance to C. dioscoreae. No.6 and No.10 had higher contents of starch, reducing sugar, pro- tein and ash, lower water content and better nutrition quality than the control. [Conclusion] No.10 can be popularized as a new variety of edible iron yam, and No.6 as a new variety of medicinal iron yam.

Land reclamation pattern of iron mine in Tangshan

Based on the analyses of the character of the exploitation of the iron ore resource and its destruction of eco-environment in Tangshan area, this paper puts forward the patterns of land reclamation which fits for this area. The patterns include the reclamation of ecological agriculture, planting directly on the tailing bin without covering soil, reclamation of mine tailings in the pool, and improvement of the soil quality by using tailings etc. Now, over 700hm^2 land has been reclaimed by taking advantage of the pattern in Tangshan and eight typical reclamation districts have been built. The rates of reclamation exceed 80% and have reached the advanced level of the world. Practice has proved that the eco-environment of the ore area has been greatly improved and the remarkable economic and social benefits have been gained.

Comprehensive comparison of water quality risk and microbial ecology between new and old cast iron pipe distribution systems

The effects of cast iron pipe corrosion onwater quality risk and microbial ecology in drinking water distribution systems(DWDSs)were investigated.It was found that trihalomethane(THMs)concentration and antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs)increased sharply in the old DWDSs.Under the same residual chlorine concentration conditions,the adenosine triphos-phate concentration in the effluent of old DWDSs(Eff-old)was significantly higher than that in the effluent of newDWDSs.Moreover,stronger bioflocculation ability andweaker hy-drophobicity coexisted in the extracellular polymeric substances of Eff-old,meanwhile,iron particles could be well inserted into the structure of the biofilms to enhance the mechanical strength and stability of the biofilms,hence enhancing the formation of THMs.Old DWDSs significantly influenced the microbial community of bulk water and triggered stronger mi-crobial antioxidant systems response,resulting in higher ARGs abundance.Corroded cast iron pipes induced a unique interaction system of biofilms,chlorine,and corrosion prod-ucts.Therefore,as the age of cast iron pipes increases,the fluctuation of water quality and microbial ecology should be paid more attention to maintain the safety of tap water.

A novel approach to enhance decrepitation temperature and reducibility of ultrafine iron ore concentrate pellets

Utilizing ultrafine iron ore concentrate for pellet production can expand domestic iron ore resources in China and promote the utilization of low-grade ores.However,a challenge arises with the low decrepitation temperature and reducibility in the preparation process of ultrafine iron ore concentrate pellets.To address the challenge,a novel approach was proposed,which incorporated straw powder as an additive to enhance pellet porosity,thereby improving the decrepitation temper-ature and reducibility of ultrafine iron ore concentrate pellets.The effect of varying proportions of straw powder(0.0-2.0%)on the characteristics of ultrafine iron ore concentrate pellets was examined.Results indicate that at a 2.0%straw powder ratio,pellet decrepitation temperature notably rises from 380 to 540℃,while the reducibility index escalates from 25.7%to 48.1%.Nevertheless,the addition of straw powder results in diminished drop strength,compressive strength of green pellets,and cold crushing strength of fired pellets.In addition,enhanced pellet reducibility leads to exacerbated reduction swelling index and reduction degradation index.Despite these effects,all parameters remain within an acceptable range.

Review on corrosion and corrosion scale formation upon unlined cast iron pipes in drinking water distribution systems

The qualified finished water from water treatment plants(WTPs) may become discolored and deteriorated during transportation in drinking water distribution systems(DWDSs), which affected tap water quality seriously. This water stability problem often occurs due to pipe corrosion and the destabilization of corrosion scales. This paper provides a comprehensive review of pipe corrosion in DWDSs, including corrosion process, corrosion scale formation, influencing factors and monitoring technologies utilized in DWDSs. In terms of corrosion process, corrosion occurrence, development mechanisms, currently applied assays, and indices used to determine the corrosion possibility are summarized, as well as the chemical and bacterial influences. In terms of scale formation, explanations for the nature of corrosion and scale formation mechanisms are discussed and its typical multilayered structure is illustrated. Furthermore, the influences of water quality and microbial activity on scale transformation are comprehensively discussed. Corrosion-related bacteria at the genus level and their associated corrosion mechanism are also summarized. This review helps deepen the current understanding of pipe corrosion and scale formation in DWDSs, providing guidance for water supply utilities to ensure effective measures to maintain water quality stability and guarantee drinking water safety.

Prediction of blast furnace gas generation based on data quality improvement strategy

The real-time energy flow data obtained in industrial production processes are usually of low quality.It is difficult to accurately predict the short-term energy flow profile by using these field data,which diminishes the effect of industrial big data and artificial intelligence in industrial energy system.The real-time data of blast furnace gas(BFG)generation collected in iron and steel sites are also of low quality.In order to tackle this problem,a three-stage data quality improvement strategy was proposed to predict the BFG generation.In the first stage,correlation principle was used to test the sample set.In the second stage,the original sample set was rectified and updated.In the third stage,Kalman filter was employed to eliminate the noise of the updated sample set.The method was verified by autoregressive integrated moving average model,back propagation neural network model and long short-term memory model.The results show that the prediction model based on the proposed three-stage data quality improvement method performs well.Long short-term memory model has the best prediction performance,with a mean absolute error of 17.85 m3/min,a mean absolute percentage error of 0.21%,and an R squared of 95.17%.

Well water contaminants and colorectal cancer in North Dakota

This study aims to identify common contaminants in well water linked to an increase in colorectal cancer(CRC)incidence rates in North Dakota(ND)counties.County-specific incidence rates for CRC were obtained from the ND Statewide Cancer Registry.Corresponding demographic,agricultural,and geophysical data were obtained from population-based sources.Associations between well water contaminants and CRC incidence were examined for 16 counties in ND with complete well water profiles between 1997-2019.Data were analyzed by multiple linear regression.Iron in well water exhibited a significant positive association with CRC incidence(4.75,P=0.001),and barium exhibited a small,but significant negative association(-0.06907,P=0.01).Residents in counties in ND with prevalent well water usage contaminated with iron may be at higher risk for CRC.