The Effect of Structural Characteristics of Deproteinized Spongy Bone on Activity of Adipose Tissue Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.

We studied the effect of structural properties of deproteinized spongy bone (DSB) on functional activity of adipose tissue mesenchymal stromal cells of (MSC) for the potential use of these materials as components of a combined tissue-engineered construct. The porosity of the structure of DSB samples and the pore size promote MSC adhesion, migration, and proliferation on their surface and in the depth, revealing the architectonics of this bone matrix. The depth of cell penetration into the samples (from 273 to 702 µm) and an increase in the total number of cells (from 302 on day 1 to 1744 on day 7) demonstrated MSC adhesion, migration, and proliferation. The viability of cultured MSC was preserved for up to 7 days. The obtained results prove the possibility of using allogeneic DSB from femoral heads as a bone matrix in tissue-engineered constructs in combination with MSC. Such constructs can be used to efficiently restore the structural and functional integrity of the bone tissue in abnormal processes of various etiopathogenesis associated with the formation of bone defects or bone tissue deficiency.

Cordymin alleviates osteoporosis induced by hindlimb unloading via regulating the gut - microelements -bone axis --for non-clinical studies.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of cordymin on osteoporosis induced by hindlimb unloading(HLU) in rats and whether cordymin can prevent bone loss from HLU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We employed the hindlimb suspension rats model to mimic physiological changes concomitant with space travel.The mechanical strength in the femoral neck,cancellous bone volume, gut microbiota structure,serum calcium and phosphorus contents, bone mineral content and bone mineral content can be changed after hindlimb unloading. Oral cordymin was administered for 4 weeks,cordymin treatment significantly increased the mechanical strength through elevated bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb. N), trabecular thickness (Tb. Th) and decreased trabecular separation (Tb. Sp). RESULTS: Importantly, 16 S rRNA sequencing showed cordymin treatment regulated the various genera that were imbalanced in hindlimb unloading rats. At the same time,The plasma total calcium and inorganic phosphate concentrations in hindlimb unloading rats decreased and bone mineral content in the lumbar vertebrae and femur increased after treatment with cordymin. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the cordymin might exert bone protective effects indirectly via modulating the complex relationship between gut microbiota, microelements and bone loss.

Macro-, micro-, and heavy metal element levels in different parts of celery (Apium graveolens L.) plant.

Potassium (K) was found in the highest amount in the macroelements of the celery plant, followed by P, Ca, Mg, and S in decreasing order. P and K amounts of celery plant parts were measured between 619.57 (leaf of celery) and 1244.80 mg/kg (root of celery) to 5594.83 (head of celery) and 7587.35 mg/kg (root of celery), respectively. Exterior and interior parts of celery body contained 866.51 and 1017.45 mg/kg P, 6786.97 and 7325.07 mg/kg K, 615.13 and 491.59 mg/kg Ca, and 286.34 and 224.74 mg/kg Mg, respectively. In general, the celery part with the richest microelements was the leaves, followed in descending order by the head of celery, exterior of celery body, interior of celery body, and root. Fe and Mn contents of the parts of celery plants were recorded between 0.351 (interior of celery body) and 67.79 mg/kg (leaf of celery) to 2.70 (root) and 6.84 mg/kg (leaf of celery), respectively. The lowest and highest concentrations of each heavy metal were found in different parts of the celery plant. In general, the leaves were the part of the celery plant with the most heavy metals. As and Pb accumulated in large amounts in the inner parts of the celery tuber. The highest Pb (0.530 µg/g) was determined in interior of celery body. The highest Co (0.409 µg/g), Cr (0.377 µg/g), Mo (0.854 µg/g), and Ni (0.741 µg/g) were found in the leaf of celery plant.

Proteolytic Volatile Profile and Electrophoretic Analysis of Casein Composition in Milk and Cheese Derived from Mironutrient-Fed Cows.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the proteolytic process in Caciocavallo cheese obtained from Friesian cows fed zinc, selenium, and iodine supplementation. Thirty-six Friesian cows, balanced for parity, milk production, and days in milk, were randomly assigned to four groups. The control group (CG) was fed with a conventional feeding strategy, while the three remaining groups received a diet enriched with three different trace elements, respectively zinc (ZG), selenium (SG), and iodine (IG). At the end of the experimental period, samples of milk were collected and used to produce Caciocavallo cheese from each experimental group. Cheese samples were then analyzed after 7 and 120 days from the cheese making in order to obtain information on chemical composition and extent of the proteolytic process, evaluated through the electrophoretic analysis of caseins and the determination of volatiles profile. Both milk and cheese samples were richer in the amount of the microelement respectively used for the integration of the cattle's diet. The zymographic approach was helpful in evaluating, in milk, the proteolytic function performed by endogenous metalloenzymes specifically able to degrade gelatin and casein; this evaluation did not highlight significant differences among the analyzed samples. In cheese, the electrophoretic analysis in reducing and denaturing condition showed the marked ability of ß-casein to resist the proteolytic action during ripening, whereas the dietary selenium supplementation was shown to perform a protective action against the degradation of S1 and S2 isoforms of α-casein. The analysis of the volatile profile evidenced the presence of compounds associated with proteolysis of phenylalanine and leucine. This approach showed that selenium was able to negatively influence the biochemical processes that lead to the formation of 3-methyl butanol, although the identification of the specific mechanism needs further investigation.

[To the question of the international experience of vitaminization food and food as population health technologies].

The article provides an overview of official documents and scientific literature on the development of a policy of enrichment of vitamins and minerals with diets of the population at the level of international organizations in various countries and in the world as a whole. International programs on micronutrient fortification of food products are considered from the standpoint of protecting public health. The article focuses on the availability and effectiveness of ways to improve the vitamin and mineral status of various social groups.

Global changes alter plant multi-element stoichiometric coupling.

Plant stoichiometric coupling among all elements is fundamental to maintaining growth-related ecosystem functions. However, our understanding of nutrient balance in response to global changes remains greatly limited to plant carbon : nitrogen : phosphorus (C : N : P) coupling. Here we evaluated nine element stoichiometric variations with one meta-analysis of 112 global change experiments conducted across global terrestrial ecosystems and one synthesis over 1900 species observations along natural environment gradients across China. We found that experimentally increased soil N and P respectively enhanced plant N : potassium (K), N : calcium (Ca) and N : magnesium (Mg), and P : K, P : Ca and P : Mg, and natural increases in soil N and P resulted in qualitatively similar responses. The ratios of N and P to base cations decreased both under experimental warming and with naturally increasing temperature. With decreasing precipitation, these ratios increased in experiments but decreased under natural environments. Based on these results, we propose a new stoichiometric framework in which all plant element contents and their coupling are not only affected by soil nutrient availability, but also by plant nutrient demand to maintain diverse functions under climate change. This study offers new insights into understanding plant stoichiometric variations across a full set of mineral elements under global changes.

Effect of fulvic and humic acids on copper and zinc homeostasis in rats.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of fulvic acid (FA) and humic acid (HA), the two main compounds of humic substances (HSs), on copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) homeostasis. Seventy-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into nine experimental groups. The control diet (AIN-93G formula) and the diets supplemented with 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.8% FA or HA were fed for 26 days. Cu and Zn concentrations of the large intestinal content (LIC), liver, kidney, femur and hair were determined. FA and HA did not influence significantly the Cu or Zn contents of the experimental diets, the rats' feed intake, weight gain and the feed to gain ratio. Both FA and HA decreased the Cu concentrations of the LIC significantly and in a dose-related manner; however the absorption-stimulating effect of HA was more pronounced. FA increased the Cu content of the liver, but neither FA nor HA had a dose-dependent effect on it. FA or HA supplementations had no significant effect on the Cu concentration of the kidney. At the concentrations used, dietary FA or HA supplementations are not promising growth promoters. FA influences the Cu homeostasis unlike HA, because FA not only stimulates Cu absorption, but the extra quantity of absorbed Cu is retained in the organism. The stimulatory effect of HA on Zn absorption may not be manifested in Cu and Zn homeostasis, because of the tight connection of these microelements to FA and HA, which prevents the transmission of Zn from the ZnHA complex to the organs. As regards the effect of FA and HA on Cu and Zn homeostasis, both FA and HA stimulated the absorption of these microelements, but only FA increased the retention of Cu (in the liver) and Zn (in the kidney).

DYNAMICS OF CONTENT OF SOME MINERALS IN TEENAGERS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM PATHOLOGY AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF CHRONIC TONSILLITIS ZMIANY ZAWARTOSCI NIEKTÓRYCH SKLADNIKÓW MINERALNYCH U MLODZIEZY Z CHOROBAMI UKLADU SERCOWO-NACZYNIOWEGO JAKO PODLOZE ROZWOJU PRZEWLEKLEGO ZAPALENIA MIGDALKÓW PODNIEBIENNYCH.

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: Chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract in children and teenagers, such as chronic tonsillitis is quite common in pediatric populations, accompanied by changes in reactivity, causing a risk of complications. Due to the fact that the child's body resistance to acute infectious diseases depends on the sufficiency of trace elements, then at present stage greatly increased interest in deeper study of exchange of macro- and microelements in the human body in normal and pathological conditions. The aim: To study the dynamics of zinc, iron, potassium and magnesium in adolescents with disorders of the cardiovascular system with chronic tonsillitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: It was examined 63 patients with chronic tonsillitis, among them- 31 children suffer from chronic tonsillitis off-damage to the cardiovascular system (I group), 32 patients with disorders of the cardiovascular system against the background of chronic tonsillitis (II group). The content of trace elements zinc, iron, minerals potassium and magnesium was analyzed. The measurement and calculation were done according to AAS-SPECTR program. Analysis and statistics treatment was done on using application programs STATISTICA 7.0 and MS Excel XP. RESULTS: Results: In result of investigation it was found a violation of trace element composition in the blood serum. Thus, in patients with chronic tonsillitis without cardiovascular system damage during hospitalization was observed a significant decrease in the concentration of iron to (15,47 ± 1,12) mmol/l. Similar changes were observed with the concentration of zinc in the blood serum. In patients with chronic tonsillitis without cardiovascular system damage during hospitalization was observed a significant decrease in the concentration of iron to (15,47 ± 1,12) mmol/l. Similar changes were observed with the concentration of zinc in the blood serum of patients of I groups during hospitalization (10,89 ± 0,57mmol/l) and was significantly lower compared with the data of healthy children (18,40 ± 0,71 mmol/l (p <0.05)). CONCLUSION: Сonclusions: It should be noted that children with tonsillogene cardiac lesions during hospitalization have a significant decreasing in the level of magnesium compared with indicators of children without pathology of the cardiovascular system. After treatment, the normalization of trace elements iron, zinc, magnesium did not happen, moreover, significant changes were observed in patients with heart disease against the background of chronic tonsillitis.

[The peculiar biochemical properties of the support structures in the human tissues]. / Osobennosti biomekhanicheskikh kachestv opornykh struktur tkanei cheloveka.

This article is focused on the methodological aspects of the evaluation of the elastic and mechanical strength characteristics of the tissues that form the flexible fibrous and osseous human skeleton. The samples of dura mater and spongy bone (ribs) were subjected to the quantitative analysis for the determination of their bioelemental composition. The study has demonstrated that the force needed to brake dura mater or a rib correlates with the content of biological elements in these tissue, as well as with the age and sex of the human subjects serving as teir sources.

Effect of different lignocellulosic wastes on Hericium americanum yield and nutritional characteristics.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of using cottonseed hulls (CSH) and olive press cake (OPC) as new supplement materials for substrate preparation in Hericium americanum cultivation. Some chemical properties of the substrates prepared by mixtures of oak sawdust (OS) with wheat bran (WB), CSH and OPC in different ratios were determined. In addition, the effect of mixtures of OS:CSH and OS:OPC on spawn run time, yield and biological efficiency (BE), average mushroom weight and nutrition content of the fruiting body were compared with the control substrate (8OS:2WB). RESULTS: The yield, BE and average mushroom weight of substrates containing CSH and OPC were higher than the control substrate and increased with an increase in the rate of CSH and OPC in the mixtures. Hericium americanum showed (on a dry weight basis) 8.5-23.7% protein, 9.9-21.2 g kg-1 P, 26.6-35.8 g kg-1 K, 0.63 - 1.33 g kg-1 Mg, 0.19 - 0.23 g kg-1 Ca, 1.34-1.78 g kg-1 Na, 49.5-72.2 mg kg-1 Fe, 6.22-10.11 mg kg-1 Mn, 32.8-82.8 mg kg-1 Zn and 8.6-11.2 mg kg-1 Cu on different growing substrates. The nutritional value of mushrooms was greatly affected by the growing media. CONCLUSION: The results revealed that CSH and OPC could be used as new supplement materials for substrate preparation in H. americanum cultivation. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Study of macro and microelements in fish from the Cienfuegos Bay. Relationship with its content in sediments.

Thirteen microelements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Ti, V, and Zn) and four macroelements (Ca, K, Mg, and Na) were determined in the edible muscle tissue of fish in Cienfuegos Bay. Eight species, Albula vulpes, Diapterus rhombeus, Gerres cinereus, Haemulon carbonarium, Haemulon sciurus, Micropogonias furnieri, Kyphosus sectatrix, and Lutjanus cyanopterus were studied. The total concentrations and extracted concentrations using HCl were also determined in sediments. The quality of the analysis was guaranteed by validating the used analytical methods with certified reference materials of fish and sediments. The high content of macroelements confirmed the importance of fish as a valuable source of food for the local population. New information is provided on bioaccumulation of toxic elements As, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Cr in fish of the bay, with concentrations that overcame the local or international maximum allowable levels for human consumption in most samples analyzed. A high correlation between the content of toxic elements As, Cd, Zn, and macroelement K in fish and its concentration extracted from sediments using the HCl extraction method was observed.

Evaluation of microelement contents in Clethra barbinervis as food for human and animals in contrasting geological areas.

The young leaves of Clethra barbinervis Sieb. et Zucc, which is a deciduous tree species found in secondary forests widely in Japan, are used in spring as a local traditional food by local populations, and the bark of this plant is also preferred by sika deer, Cervus nippon. However, C. barbinervis has been known to accumulate heavy metals in its leaves. Then, we aimed to clarify the characteristics of microelement contents in C. barbinervis and to discuss the value of this species as food for humans and animals through the analysis of seasonal changes and distribution in various organs of C. barbinervis growing under two different geological conditions. We found that C. barbinervis is an accumulating and tolerant plant for Ni, Co and Mn. It accumulates Ni from serpentine soil containing Ni at high concentration, and Co and Mn from acidic soils based on crystalline schist. The seasonal variation in element concentrations in leaves indicates that the young leaves contain Cu at high concentration and that eating them in spring season may be advantageous to humans, due to the associated increase in Cu intake. The high concentrations of Cu and Zn in the bark of C. barbinervis might explain why deer prefer to eat the bark of this species.

Mechanistic insights into mitigating Cd stress in plants using typical organic waste fermentation solutions.

Finding practical solutions for utilizing agricultural organic wastes has always been a challenge. To address this, our study investigated the effects and mechanisms of different exogenous organic waste fermentation solutions on alleviating Cd stress in plants using hydroponic experiments. Out of the seven fermentation solutions examined, pea fermentation liquid (T3), chicken manure (T5), molasses (T6), and chitosan oligosaccharide broth (T9) exhibited positive effects. They increased shoot fresh weight by 1.17%, 26.83%, 7.94%, and 15.59%, and root fresh weight by 50.00%, 12.21%, 81.19%, and 19.47%, respectively. Conversely, amino acid mother liquid (T7) and potassium polyaspartate liquid (T8) reduced shoot fresh weight by 34.21% and 24.74%, and root fresh weight by 27.06% and 7.10%, respectively. All organic waste liquids reduced Cd concentration in shoots and roots. Corn fermentation liquid (T4) reduced Cd in shoots from 87.91 to 19.20 mg/kg, while molasses (T6) reduced Cd in roots from 980.94 to 260.47 mg/kg. SEM-EDX results revealed that molasses (T6) effectively repaired Cd damage on root surfaces. In addition, several waste liquids mitigated microelement absorption disturbances. All waste liquids reduced MDA, corn fermentation liquid (T4), chicken manure (T5), molasses (T6), potassium polyaspartate liquid (T8), and chitosan oligosaccharide liquid (T9) significantly decreased H2O2 by 21.6-38.3%. Structural equation model (SEM) and correlation analysis highlighted the importance of root Mg, Cu, and Zn content and CAT activity in relieving Cd stress and promoting plant growth. Overall, molasses (T6) and chicken manure (T5) demonstrated the most beneficial combined effects, while amino acid mother liquid (T7) and chitosan oligosaccharide liquid (T9) should be exercised with caution due to their weaker effects.

Transcription factor MYB8 regulates iron deficiency stress response in Arabidopsis.

Iron (Fe) is a crucial microelement for humans, animals, and plants. Insufficient Fe levels in plants impede growth and diminish photosynthesis, thus decreasing crop production. Notably, approximately one-third of the soil worldwide is alkaline and prone to Fe deficiency. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying Fe absorption and transportation in plants can enhance Fe bioavailability in crops. In this study, the role of the transcription factor MYB8 in plant response to Fe deficiency in Arabidopsis was investigated via reverse genetics. Phenotype analysis revealed that the functional deletion mutant of MYB8 gene exhibited sensitivity to Fe deficiency stress, as indicated by shorter root length, lower chlorophyll content, and Fe concentration. Conversely, MYB8 overexpression strain showed a tolerant phenotype. Furthermore, qRT-PCR identified possible downstream MYB8-regulated genes. Moreover, MYB8 regulated the expression of iron-regulated transporter 1 (IRT1) by binding to the MYB binding sites motif ('AACAAAC') in its promoter.

Nitrogen and Microelements Co-Drive the Decomposition of Typical Grass Litter in the Loess Plateau, China.

In grassland ecosystems, the decomposition of litter serves as a vital conduit for nutrient transfer between plants and soil. The aim of this study was to depict the dynamic process of grass litter decomposition and explore its major driver. Three typical grasses [Stipa bungeana Trin (St. B), Artemisia sacrorun Ledeb (Ar. S), and Thymus mongolicus Ronniger (Th. M)] were selected for long-term litter decomposition. Experiments were conducted using three single litters, namely, St. B, Ar. S, and Th. M, and four different compositions of mixed litter: ML1 (55% St. B and 45% Th. M), ML2 (55% St. B and 45% Ar. S), ML3 (75% St. B and 25% Th. M), and ML4 (75% St. B and 25% Ar. S). The dynamic patterns of mass and microelements (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn) within different litter groups were analyzed. Our findings indicated that, after 1035 days of decomposition, the proportion of residual mass for the single litters was as follows: Th. M (60.6%) > St. B (47.3%) > Ar. S (44.3%), and for the mixed groups it was ML1 (48.0%) > ML3 (41.6%) > ML2 (40.9) > ML4 (38.4%). Mixed cultivation of the different litter groups accelerated the decomposition process, indicating that the mixture of litters had a synergistic effect on litter decomposition. The microelements of the litter exhibited an initial short-term increase followed by long-term decay. After 1035 days of decomposition, the microelements released from the litter were, in descending order, Mg > Ca > Fe > Cu > Mn > Zn. Compared to the separately decomposed St. B litter, mixing led to an inhibition of the release of Ca (antagonistic effect), while it promoted the release of Mg, Cu, and Zn (synergistic effect). For the single litter, the stepwise regression analysis showed that Ca was the dominant factor determining early litter decomposition. Mg, Mn, and Cu were the dominant factors regulating later litter decomposition. For the mixed litter groups, Ca, Mn, and Mg were the dominant factors closely related to early decomposition, and TN emerged as a key factor regulating the mass loss of mixtures during later decomposition. In summary, nitrogen and microelements co-drive the decomposition of typical grass litter. Our study underscores that, in the succession process of grassland, the presence of multiple co-existing species led to a faster loss of plant-derived materials (litter mass and internal elements), which was primarily modulated by species identity and uniformity.

Microelement strontium and human health: comprehensive analysis of the role in inflammation and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Strontium (Sr), a trace element with a long history and a significant presence in the Earth's crust, plays a critical yet often overlooked role in various biological processes affecting human health. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted implications of Sr, especially in the context of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Sr is predominantly acquired through diet and water and has shown promise as a clinical marker for calcium absorption studies. It contributes to the mitigation of several NCDs by inhibiting oxidative stress, showcasing antioxidant properties, and suppressing inflammatory cytokines. The review delves deep into the mechanisms through which Sr interacts with human physiology, emphasizing its uptake, metabolism, and potential to prevent chronic conditions. Despite its apparent benefits in managing bone fractures, hypertension, and diabetes, current research on Sr's role in human health is not exhaustive. The review underscores the need for more comprehensive studies to solidify Sr's beneficial associations and address the gaps in understanding Sr intake and its optimal levels for human health.

Research on the Synthesis of Zinc-Ammonium Phosphate Using Galvanic Waste Sludge as a Source of Zinc.

This paper presents the extraction of zinc ions from waste resulting from the galvanic industry, such as sludge from acid zinc electroplating baths, and their revaluation in mineral fertilizer as zinc-ammonium phosphate. The purpose of this work is to extract zinc ions from the sludge that forms directly in the zinc bath, which can only contain zinc and small amounts of iron, to revalorize zinc into the form of zinc-ammonium phosphate. The process of obtaining zinc-ammonium phosphate is presented using waste sludge from the galvanic industry. In order to obtain zinc-ammonium phosphate, the solution resulting from the dissolution of the sludge with a 20% hydrochloric acid solution was used in reaction with diammonium phosphate and a 25% ammonia solution. After the chemical analysis of the obtained products, zinc-ammonium phosphate was characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, infrared FT-IR spectroscopy and electronic microscopy (SEM) analysis. The results obtained indicate a promising approach to sustainable resource utilization in the production of zinc-ammonium phosphate.

Tracking the Cellular Degradation of Silver Nanoparticles: Development of a Generic Kinetic Model.

Understanding the degradation of nanoparticles (NPs) after crossing the cell plasma membrane is crucial in drug delivery designs and cytotoxicity assessment. However, the key factors controlling the degradable kinetics remain unclear due to the absence of a quantification model. In this study, subcellular imaging of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was used to determine the intracellular transfer of AgNPs, and single particle ICP-MS was utilized to track the degradation process. A cellular kinetic model was subsequently developed to describe the uptake, transfer, and degradation behaviors of AgNPs. Our model demonstrated that the intracellular degradation efficiency of AgNPs was much higher than that determined by mimicking testing, and the degradation of NPs was highly influenced by cellular factors. Specifically, deficiencies in Ca or Zn primarily decreased the kinetic dissolution of NPs, while a Ca deficiency also resulted in the retardation of NP transfer. The biological significance of these kinetic parameters was strongly revealed. Our model indicated that the majority of internalized AgNPs dissolved, with the resulting ions being rapidly depurated. The release of Ag ions was largely dependent on the microvesicle-mediated route. By changing the coating and size of AgNPs, the model results suggested that size influenced the transfer of NPs into the degradation process, whereas coating affected the degradation kinetics. Overall, our developed model provides a valuable tool for understanding and predicting the impacts of the physicochemical properties of NPs and the ambient environment on nanotoxicity and therapeutic efficacy.

Suitability of XRF for Routine Analysis of Multi-Elemental Composition: A Multi-Standard Verification.

This study investigated the suitability of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis for routine multi-elemental composition analysis, checking its analytical capabilities by measuring a wide array of certified reference materials of soil and plant origin. A portable XRF analyzer was used to evaluate 32 soil and 12 plant standard materials, using both the Soil and Geochem mode, with sequential beams, allowing the detection of a wide range of elements. Recovery rates were calculated by comparing XRF measurements with certified values, and their correlations were verified through the Spearman coefficient. The results demonstrated the reliability of XRF measurements for soil samples, with a large number of elements showing a good or very good recovery and strong correlations with certified values. For plant samples, XRF largely overestimated the certified values, but the strong statistically significant correlations for almost all tested elements allowed us to correct this systematic bias, using the reported median value for dividing the value obtained via XRF. The Geochem mode emerged as more reliable for a larger number of elements. It was concluded that XRF may be a suitable alternative to ICP-MS in routine multi-elemental composition analysis.

Changes in Plant and Grain Quality of Winter Oat (Avena sativa L.) Varieties in Response to Silicon and Sulphur Foliar Fertilisation under Abiotic Stress Conditions.

In order to investigate the abiotic stress (drought) tolerance of oat (Avena sativa L.) with silicon and sulphur foliar fertilisation treatments, and monitor the effect of the treatments on the physiology, production, stress tolerance, plant, and grain quality of winter oat varieties, a field experiment was conducted in the growing season of 2020-2021. As a continuation of our article, published in another Special Issue of Plants, in this publication we evaluate the effect of silicon and sulphur treatments on the quality of winter oats. The whole grain sulphur content was significantly different between varieties. The foliar fertiliser treatments caused greater differences in both the carbon and nitrogen, and sulphur contents in the green plant samples, compared to the differences measured in the grain. Foliar treatments had a significant effect on the sulphur content of both plant samples and grains. Significant differences in the Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, and Zn contents of oat grains were measured, both between treatments and between varieties. Winter oat varieties did not respond equally to the foliar fertiliser treatments in terms of either macronutrient or micronutrient content. When P, K, Ca, Mg, and S were summarised, the highest values were in the control plots. Significant differences in protein content were identified between winter oat varieties in response to the treatments, but the varieties did not respond in the same way to different foliar fertiliser treatments. Based on our results, we recommend the use of foliar fertilisation in oats in drought-prone areas.