Concentrations of trace minerals within the body are known to impact reproductive processes. Thus, the current study analyzed the effects of using an injectable trace mineral supplement containing selenium, zinc, copper, and manganese during a superovulation protocol on embryo outcomes in donor beef cows and further effects on pregnancy rate in recipient females. We hypothesized that an injectable trace mineral (TM) supplement provided to cows fed to meet known nutrient requirements would increase TM status and influence superovulation, embryo characteristics, and enhance pregnancy rates. Our findings indicate that the injectable TM increased concentration of Se within the liver. However, superovulatory response, embryo production, quality grade, and developmental stage were not influenced by TM status. In addition, embryo treatment did not influence pregnancy rate, gestation length, or calf body weight.

River systems are the most widespread sedimentary environment in many European countries and can be hence used for study of historical development of contamination and for evaluation of the anthropogenic impact influence at the local or regional level. The study of river sediments, however, is complicated by changes of channel morphology and sedimentation dynamics and redeposition of old sediments, whether caused naturally (flood events) or by human impact (land use changes or building of water management structures), which leads to deposition of various sedimentary facies. Identification of sedimentary facies within floodplain fill is hence necessary - character (lithology) of deposited facies influences the spatial distribution of pollutants within floodplains. Suitable sampling sites strategy and chemostratigraphic correlations of depth profiles guarantee a correct interpretation of obtained data. However, in many countries, there are still no legislative tools or universal methodology for contamination assessment respecting natural variability of sedimentary records. Regional contamination during the last centuries and identification of local pollution sources of risk elements (Pb , Zn , Cu , ...) and magnetic particles have been studied in the sediments of the Morava River, in the area between...

English abstract This work focuses on high pressure atoll garnet-bearing metabasites from the central part of Krušné hory Mts. in Saxothuringian zone of Bohemian Massif. Eclogite bodies are interpreted as a part of alochtonnous units, which were dragged into the high pressure conditions of subduction zone during a subduction of Saxothuringian oceanic crust under the Teplá-Barrandien Unit and subsequently they were exhumed into upper parts of subduction- collisional system. Main mineral assemblage of eclogites consists of omphacite, garnet, quartz and amphibole which replaces grains of omphacite. Minor minerals present are rutile, ilmenite, talc a chlorite. Zircon, apatite, paragonite, pyrite, plagioclase, albite and monazite are enclosed in porphyroblasts of garnets. Grains of garnet frequently form the atoll structures, where its central part of a grain is replaced by new minerals of matrix and rim part stays preserved. Based on compositional profiles and mapping of major and trace elements, two evolution phases of garnet were distinguished. Older garnet (I) forms mainly preserved cores of garnet and on the contrary younger garnet (II) is present on rims or also replaces garnet I in the core part of a grain. Garnet I has higher amounts of Ca and Mn but lower Mg and Fe than garnet II. Preserved grains of...

The presented work is focused on research of distribution of trace elements in carbonate sediments and fossils in the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. To obtain maximum information about the composition of the primary carbonate and its crystallization environment, the trace elements were analyzed mainly in fractions soluble in diluted acid. Another objective is the comparison of trace-element abundance in the soluble fraction and in the residue (or in the total mass of the samples). The results show that there are no systematic differences in the chemical composition of the original carbonate between various regions and stratigraphic positions (Cenomanian - upper Turonian). Elements like Sr, Mg and Mn in carbonate were affected by diagenesis, but contents and mutual ratios of the rare earth elements in all carbonates are similar and are characterized by negative cerium anomaly. The Ce-anomaly could be attenuated by elevated content of clastic matter, and in the soluble portions ocassionally via contamination by secondary phosphate. On the other hand, soluble fractions of limonite-rich and calcite-poor sandstones have positive cerium anomaly, which is the effect of Ce-sorbtion on limonite.

The filtration and ultrafiltration experiment was applied on the stream water at the Mokrsko gold deposit and the results revealed that most of the elements were in the dissolved form and the 0,45 or 0,1 m filters could be used. During two 24-h field experiments, water samples were collected at 1-h intervals in order to prove the diel changes in the concentration and speciation of several trace elements. The determination of sorption processes at the surface of or within the veneer of biofilm has been determined by collecting natural and artificial priphyton. The results showed regular diel changes of As, Sb and Mo with highest concentrations occurring after the moon and the lowest concentrations in the early morning. The dissolved concentrations of other elements are conservative or their values were closed to their detection limits. The diel cycles are caused by changes in adsorption/desorption equilibria induced by diel cycles of temperature. The samples of biofilm revealed increased concentrations of the elements under the study and their diel variation were significant (approximatelly 35-96%); however, biofilm-controlled diel cycles of dissolved concentrations have not been proved.

The paper examines lead isotope and trace element analysis in the context of a battlefield and their role in determining the course of the battle and categorizing the bullets within and to each participating side. It uses a theoretical framework with papers from both the archaeological and the forensic field. It concludes that trace element analysis has its criticism, especially from the forensic field, but can act as a complement to lead isotope analysis as it can give different answers from other parts of the bullet’s life cycle and should have a place in archaeology. The focus is on lead isotopes but concludes ICP-MS as a tool for examining bullets and other ammunition from archaeological battlefields is preferable. This is because of ICP-MS’s capability to analyse both lead isotope and trace elements. The paper also studies the ethical problems of using these methods and the answers they may give as a vessel for a discussion about what actions we are measuring with these methods.

Objective: Severe burn injuries are associated with a rapid escalating hypermetabolic state and catabolism of muscle mass. To ameliorate this process a standardized approach using pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions was implemented within a single burns center. Whilst individual components of this standardized package are well documented in the literature, their collective or bundled effect has not as yet been assessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of this standardized bundle of metabolic modulators and assess the safety of including the anabolic steroid oxandrolone within it. Methods: This retrospective observational study constituted all patients in whom the metabolic bundle including oxandrolone therapy was applied. The other elements of the metabolic bundle consisted of early surgical burn excision within seven days to completion, early active mobilization, increased ambient room temperature, expediated carbohydrate and protein rich enteral feeding with glutamine and trace element supplements (such as copper and zinc). Finally, administration of propranolol as a non-selective beta-blocker. Data collection was through review of the patient data management system focusing on the outcome criteria and hepatic blood values. Results: The study looked at fifty consecutive patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Median patient age and burned total body surface area (TBSA) were 62 years [51.75; 73] and 33.75 % [24.75; 51] respectively with an abbreviated burn severity index (ABSI) of 10 [9; 10.25]. Definitive surgical burn wound excision was completed in 44 patients [88 %] within 7 days. 39 patients (78 %) received propranolol over a therapeutic period of 29 days [19; 44]. Glutamine was supplemented in 45 patients (90 %), while zinc and copper were applied to 42 (84 %) and 31 (62 %) respectively. Significant low zinc values were noted at therapeutic onset (6.5 mmol/ l [4.7; 7.9]) requiring sustained substitution over 37.5 days [22; 46.75]). In respect of the inclusion criteria, all patients received oxandrolone at 20mg/day [20; 20]. This was commenced on day 6.5 [4; 14] post burn injury and continued over 26 days [19; 31]. Despite a transitory elevation of hepatic enzyme values (ALT, GGT), these were only clinically relevant (>10µmol/l*S) in 2.4 % and 4.6 % of all measurements respectively. None were sufficiently of concern to merit cessation of treatment. Conclusion: The application of a standardised bundle of metabolic treatment options of severe burns injured patients is reliable, repeatable and safe. Potential concerns of oxandrolone treatment regarding hepatic compromise remain unfounded.:Introduction Epidemiology of severe burns injuries in the Federal Republic of Germany The hypermetabolic and catabolic state Therapeutic approach Non-pharmacological therapy Early surgical intervention Ambient temperature Enteral feeding in burns patients Occupational and physiotherapy in burns patients Pharmacological therapy Insulin Propranolol Oxandrolone Oxandrolone in the Federal Republic of Germany Metabolic bundle Materials and Methods Subjects and study design Ethical approval Burn care protocol Oxandrolone and the metabolic bundle Data collection Statistical analysis Objective of study Publication Summary References Appendix Declaration of independent scientific contribution, conception and execution of publication Declaration of independent scientific contribution towards dissertation Curriculum vitae Acknowledgements and thanks

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Studies involving the use of natural clays such as bentonite, montmorillonite and natural zeolite clinoptilolite in water treatment have been reported. Researchers suggested cost effective processes, such as ion-exchange and adsorption for the removal of heavy metals from waste waters by using naturally occurring and synthetic materials. The current study investigated application of natural adsorbents in brine treatment. Brines are hypersaline waters generated in power stations and mining industries rich in Mg2+, K+, Ca2+,Na+, so,': cr and traces of heavy metals, thus there is a need for these brines to be treated to recover potable water and remove problematic elements. Natural adsorbents have been successfully used in waste water treatment because of their high surface area and high adsorptive properties when they are conditioned with acid or base. The natural adsorbents used in this study were obtained from Ecca Holdings company (Cape bentonite mine) Western Cape in South Africa, comprising bentonite clay and natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) and another clinoptilolite sample was obtained from Turkey. These adsorbents were investigated in their natural and pretreated form for removal of toxic elements in brine water. The pretreatment was aimed at removing Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ from the clinoptilolite as well as the bentonite and replacing these cations with the H+ cation to activate the materials. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) of natural zeolite from South Africa was found to be 2.14 meq/ g, Turkish Clinoptilolite was 2.98 meq/ g while South African bentonite was 1.73 meq/g. at 25°C using ammonium acetate (pH 8.2) method. Characterization of these natural adsorbents was done prior to pretreatment and after the treatment. ICP-AES analysis was used for determination of toxic elements in brines before and after sorption. The morphology of clays was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer Emmett Teller (N2-BET) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for confirmatory purposes and X-ray Fluorescent spectroscopy (XRF) was used for the composition analysis of the natural adsorbent. The results from batch experiments prior to pretreatment of the natural adsorbents showed that these natural adsorbents contained Mg2+, K+, Ca2+, Na+ in their structures as charge balancing cations, thus needed pretreatment to remove the cations. The natural adsorbents were pre-treated with 0.02M HCI. After the pretreatment of natural adsorbents it was possible to enhance the percentage removal of the major cations from brine, and the Na+ and Mg2+ removal achieved (86 % and 85% respectively) from brine was more than C02+ (70% ) the SC was the adsorbent one that gave highest removal of cations in the brines. Trace elements removal was high with Cu2+and Zn2+ being the highest of toxic elements in brine. The optimum contact for the toxic element removal was found to be 30 min for the Turkish clinoptilolite and 1 hr for the South African clinoptilolite and South African bentonite clay. Leaching of Ae+ and Si4+ during adsorption was also investigated and it was found that less than 1 ppm of A13+ and Si4+ were leached into the solution during adsorption experiments indicating that these materials were stable. The investigation of pH showed that natural adsorbents did not perform well at low pH of 4 and 6. The adsorbents were able to work efficiently at the natural pH of 8.52 of the brine solution. These results show that natural adsorbents hold great potential to remove cationic major components and selected heavy metal species from industrial brine wastewater. Heterogeneity of natural adsorbents samples, even when they have the same origin, could be a problem when wastewater treatment systems utilizing natural clinoptilolite and bentonite are planned to be developed. Therefore, it is very important to characterize the reserves fully in order to make them attractive in developing treatment technologies.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第18577号 / 工博第3938号 / 新制||工||1605(附属図書館) / 31477 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市環境工学専攻 / (主査)教授 米田 稔, 教授 高野 裕久, 教授 清水 芳久 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

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