A giant soft-shelled egg from the Late Cretaceous of Antarctica.

Egg size and structure reflect important constraints on the reproductive and life-history characteristics of vertebrates1. More than two-thirds of all extant amniotes lay eggs2. During the Mesozoic era (around 250 million to 65 million years ago), body sizes reached extremes; nevertheless, the largest known egg belongs to the only recently extinct elephant bird3, which was roughly 66 million years younger than the last nonavian dinosaurs and giant marine reptiles. Here we report a new type of egg discovered in nearshore marine deposits from the Late Cretaceous period (roughly 68 million years ago) of Antarctica. It exceeds all nonavian dinosaur eggs in volume and differs from them in structure. Although the elephant bird egg is slightly larger, its eggshell is roughly five times thicker and shows a substantial prismatic layer and complex pore structure4. By contrast, the new fossil, visibly collapsed and folded, presents a thin eggshell with a layered structure that lacks a prismatic layer and distinct pores, and is similar to that of most extant lizards and snakes (Lepidosauria)5. The identity of the animal that laid the egg is unknown, but these preserved morphologies are consistent with the skeletal remains of mosasaurs (large marine lepidosaurs) found nearby. They are not consistent with described morphologies of dinosaur eggs of a similar size class. Phylogenetic analyses of traits for 259 lepidosaur species plus outgroups suggest that the egg belonged to an individual that was at least 7 metres long, hypothesized to be a giant marine reptile, all clades of which have previously been proposed to show live birth6. Such a large egg with a relatively thin eggshell may reflect derived constraints associated with body shape, reproductive investment linked with gigantism, and lepidosaurian viviparity, in which a 'vestigial' egg is laid and hatches immediately7.

The first dinosaur egg was soft.

Calcified eggshells protect developing embryos against environmental stress and contribute to reproductive success1. As modern crocodilians and birds lay hard-shelled eggs, this eggshell type has been inferred for non-avian dinosaurs. Known dinosaur eggshells are characterized by an innermost membrane, an overlying protein matrix containing calcite, and an outermost waxy cuticle2-7. The calcitic eggshell consists of one or more ultrastructural layers that differ markedly among the three major dinosaur clades, as do the configurations of respiratory pores. So far, only hadrosaurid, a few sauropodomorph and tetanuran eggshells have been discovered; the paucity of the fossil record and the lack of intermediate eggshell types challenge efforts to homologize eggshell structures across all dinosaurs8-18. Here we present mineralogical, organochemical and ultrastructural evidence for an originally non-biomineralized, soft-shelled nature of exceptionally preserved ornithischian Protoceratops and basal sauropodomorph Mussaurus eggs. Statistical evaluation of in situ Raman spectra obtained for a representative set of hard- and soft-shelled, fossil and extant diapsid eggshells clusters the originally organic but secondarily phosphatized Protoceratops and the organic Mussaurus eggshells with soft, non-biomineralized eggshells. Histology corroborates the organic composition of these soft-shelled dinosaur eggs, revealing a stratified arrangement resembling turtle soft eggshell. Through an ancestral-state reconstruction of composition and ultrastructure, we compare eggshells from Protoceratops and Mussaurus with those from other diapsids, revealing that the first dinosaur egg was soft-shelled. The calcified, hard-shelled dinosaur egg evolved independently at least three times throughout the Mesozoic era, explaining the bias towards eggshells of derived dinosaurs in the fossil record.

Biodiesel production from eggshells derived bio-nano CaO catalyst-Microemulsion fuel blends for up-gradation of biodiesel.

The utilization of bio-oil derived from biomass presents a promising alternative to fossil fuels, though it faces challenges when directly applied in diesel engines. Microemulsification has emerged as a viable strategy to enhance bio-oil properties, facilitating its use in hybrid fuels. This study explores the microemulsification of Jatropha bio-oil with ethanol, aided by a surfactant, to formulate a hybrid liquid fuel. Additionally, a bio-nano CaO heterogeneous catalyst synthesized from eggshells is employed to catalyse the production of Jatropha biodiesel from the microemulsified fuel using microwave irradiation. The catalyst is characterized through UV-Vis, XRD, and SEM analysis. The investigation reveals a significant reduction in CO, CO2, and NOX emissions with the utilization of microemulsion-based biodiesel blends. Various blends of conventional diesel, Jatropha biodiesel, and ethanol are prepared with different ethanol concentrations (5, 10, and 20 wt%). Engine performance parameters, including fuel consumption, NOX emission, and brake specific fuel consumption, are analyzed. Results indicate that the conventional diesel/Jatropha biodiesel/ethanol (10 wt%) blend exhibits superior performance compared to conventional diesel, Jatropha biodiesel, and other blends. The fuel consumption of the conventional diesel/Jatropha biodiesel/ethanol (10 wt%) blend is measured at 554.6 g/h, surpassing that of conventional diesel and other biodiesel blends. The presence of water (0.14 %) in the blend reduces the heating value, consequently increasing the energy requirement. CO and CO2 emissions for the conventional diesel/Jatropha biodiesel/ethanol (10 wt%) blend are notably lower compared to conventional C-18 hydrocarbons and various biodiesel blends. These findings accentuate the efficacy of the microemulsion process in enhancing fuel characteristics and reducing emissions. Further investigations could explore optimizing the emulsifying agents and their impact on engine performance and emission characteristics, contributing to the advancement of sustainable fuel technologies.

Potential of Capparis decidua plant and eggshell composite adsorbent for effective removal of anionic dyes from aqueous medium.

The presence of hazardous dyes in wastewater poses significant threats to both ecosystems and the natural environment. Conventional methods for treating dye-contaminated water have several limitations, including high costs and complex operational processes. This study investigated a sustainable bio-sorbent composite derived from the Capparis decidua plant and eggshells, and evaluated its effectiveness in removing anionic dyes namely tartrazine (E-102), methyl orange (MO), and their mixed system. The research examines the influence of initial concentration, contact time, pH, adsorbent dosage, and temperature on the adsorption properties of anionic dyes. Optimal removal of tartrazine (E-102), methyl orange (MO), and their mixed system was achieved at a pH of 3. The equilibrium was achieved at 80 min for MO and mixed systems, and 100 min for E-102. The adsorption process showed an exothermic nature, indicating reduced capacity with increasing temperature, consistent with heat release during adsorption. Positive entropy values indicated increased disorder at the solid-liquid interface, attributed to molecular rearrangements and interactions between dye molecules and the adsorbent. Isotherm analysis using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Redlich-Peterson models revealed that the Langmuir model best fit the experimental data. The maximum adsorption capacities of 50.97 mg/g, 52.24 mg/g, and 56.23 mg/g were achieved for E-102, MO, and the mixed system under optimized conditions, respectively. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model demonstrated the best fit, indicating that adsorption occurs through physical and chemical interactions such as electrostatic attraction, pore filling, and hydrogen bonding. Hence, the developed bio-sorbent could be a sustainable and cost-effective solution for the treatment of anionic dyes from industrial effluents.

Early, intensive marine resource exploitation by Middle Stone Age humans at Ysterfontein 1 rockshelter, South Africa.

Modern human behavioral innovations from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) include the earliest indicators of full coastal adaptation evidenced by shell middens, yet many MSA middens remain poorly dated. We apply 230Th/U burial dating to ostrich eggshells (OES) from Ysterfontein 1 (YFT1, Western Cape, South Africa), a stratified MSA shell midden. 230Th/U burial ages of YFT1 OES are relatively precise (median ± 2.7%), consistent with other age constraints, and preserve stratigraphic principles. Bayesian age-depth modeling indicates YFT1 was deposited between 119.9 to 113.1 thousand years ago (ka) (95% CI of model ages), and the entire 3.8 m thick midden may have accumulated within ∼2,300 y. Stable carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopes of OES indicate that during occupation the local environment was dominated by C3 vegetation and was initially significantly wetter than at present but became drier and cooler with time. Integrating archaeological evidence with OES 230Th/U ages and stable isotopes shows the following: 1) YFT1 is the oldest shell midden known, providing minimum constraints on full coastal adaptation by ∼120 ka; 2) despite rapid sea-level drop and other climatic changes during occupation, relative shellfish proportions and sizes remain similar, suggesting adaptive foraging along a changing coastline; 3) the YFT1 lithic technocomplex is similar to other west coast assemblages but distinct from potentially synchronous industries along the southern African coast, suggesting human populations were fragmented between seasonal rainfall zones; and 4) accumulation rates (up to 1.8 m/ka) are much higher than previously observed for dated, stratified MSA middens, implying more intense site occupation akin to Later Stone Age middens.

The potential of lemon peel powder as an additive in layer quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica): An experimental study.

The current research intended to examine the impact of dietary lemon peel powder (LPP) on laying quail performance, egg quality criteria, and the antioxidant capacity of the yolk. A total of 120 female Japanese quails (272.6±9.3 g), aged 21 weeks, were allotted to 6 trial groups, each with 5 replicates of 4 quails. Additions of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 g/kg of LPP to the basal diet were used to create the treatment groups. Quails were fed ad libitum for 70 days. Neither performance parameters nor egg production was affected by LPP. However, eggshell-breaking strength improved by adding 2 g/kg LPP to the diet, but worsened at 5 g/kg. Moreover, the relative weight of eggshell and yolk L* value decreased with the treatments. Dietary LPP enhanced oxidative stability, reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) and increasing 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) yolk values. The current study demonstrated that LPP, a safe and easily accessible agricultural by-product, enhanced eggshell quality when it was included in the diet of laying quails at doses of 2 g/kg. In contrast, improvement of yolk antioxidant capacity required increased amounts of LPP (4 g/kg). LPP could be advantageous to animal nutrition as an adequate substitute to reduce waste by-products.

Enamel remineralisation prospect of Moringa Oleifera hydrogel, eggshell hydrogel versus sodium fluoride varnish on artificially demineralised primary teeth: in vitro study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present in vitro study is to investigate and compare the remineralising potential of Moringa Oleifera extract, eggshell, and sodium fluoride varnish on microhardness of artificially demineralised enamel of primary teeth with biomimetic minimally invasive approach following the world paradigm shift towards natural products in paediatric dentistry. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sample size included 44 primary molars. The mineral content and surface microhardness of all specimens were initially assessed using energy dispersive x-ray examination (EDX) and Vickers microhardness. The specimens were artificially demineralised for 96 h at a temperature of 37°C and then reassessed directly after demineralisation. The demineralised enamel specimens were randomly divided into four groups according to the remineralisation regimen utilised. Group 1: Artificial saliva (control); Group 2: Sodium fluoride varnish; Group 3: Eggshell hydrogel; and Group 4: Moringa Oleifera hydrogel. The specimens were stored for 8 days and then subsequently evaluated using EDX and microhardness assessment by Vickers microhardness test and scanning electron microscope (SEM).  Results: Regarding the microhardness test, there was a significant difference between the Moringa Oleifera group and Eggshell group compared to fluoride varnish (p < 0.05). Regarding EDX analysis, there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between Moringa Oleifera group and Eggshell group compared to fluoride varnish as the highest values were for Moringa Oleifera and Eggshell. On the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) between Moringa Oleifera and Eggshell in both the measurements. CONCLUSION: Moringa Oleifera and Eggshell might be considered as a biomimetic natural material capable of guiding enamel tissue remineralisation in early carious lesion of primary teeth. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This research demonstrated the capability for early enamel caries to be remineralised using novel materials with a naturally counterpart implicated in biomineralisation as proved to be more effective than traditionally used fluoride varnish in primary teeth.

Performance of novel Ca-biocomposites produced from banana peel and eggshell for highly efficient removal and recovery of phosphate from domestic wastewater.

Using biowaste-based adsorbents to remove phosphorus (P) from wastewater offers significant benefits concerning eutrophication mitigation and addressing waste management challenges. In this work, Ca-biocomposites were prepared by pyrolysis (700 °C) of a mixture of banana peel (BP) and eggshell (ES). The mass ratio of BP to ES was varied in 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 ratios. Among the tested mixtures, the BPES-1:2 sample exhibited excellent P removal performance, reaching a maximum P adsorption capacity (Qmax) of 214 ± 5 mg P/g. The adsorption process fitted well with the Avrami order kinetic model (R2 > 0.996) and the Liu isotherms model (R2 > 0.997). The excellent fit of the experimental data to the Avrami model suggests that chemisorption is the dominant interaction mechanism, leading to precipitation through the formation of calcium phosphates. Additionally, the Liu model anticipates that the energetic characteristics of the adsorbent's active sites cannot be identical. This is in agreement with the presence of Ca(OH)2 and CaCO3 in the adsorbent material, where the Ca(OH)2 active sites are preferred by the adsorbate molecules (PO43-) for occupation. Furthermore, thermodynamic analysis revealed that P adsorption is a spontaneous process of exothermic nature (ΔH° < 0). The calculated activation energy for the process (72.81 kJ/mol) suggests the P adsorption mechanism involves strong chemical bonding between the adsorbent and P species. In addition, precipitation of apatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH), a vital component in fertilizer production, was observed during the adsorption process. In tertiary treated wastewater applications, the BPES-1:2 biocomposite demonstrated a P removal efficiency of 90%. The solubility of P in a 2% formic acid solution was 100%, while the water-soluble P content was measured at 5.6%. These findings highlight the product's sustainable and environmentally beneficial nature by demonstrating its potential as a slow-release fertilizer, contributing to the application of the 3R slogan: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This value-added product is promising in supplying nutrients to plants over an extended period while minimizing the risk of nutrients leaching into the environment.

Green preparation of CaO-based CO2 adsorbent by calcium-induced hydrogenation of shell wastes at room/moderate temperature.

Capturing CO2 using clamshell/eggshell-derived CaO adsorbent can not only reduce carbon emissions but also alleviate the impact of trash on the environment. However, organic acid was usually used, high-temperature calcination was often performed, and CO2 was inevitably released during preparing CaO adsorbents from shell wastes. In this work, CaO-based CO2 adsorbent was greenly prepared by calcium-induced hydrogenation of clamshell and eggshell wastes in one pot at room/moderate temperature. CO2 adsorption experiments were performed in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The adsorption performance of the adsorbents obtained from the mechanochemical reaction (BM-C/E-CaO) was superior to that of the adsorbents obtained from the thermochemical reaction (Cal-C/E-CaO). The CO2 adsorption capacity of BM-C-CaO at 650 °C is up to 36.82 wt%, but the adsorption decay rate of the sample after 20 carbonation/calcination cycles is only 30.17%. This study offers an alternative energy-saving method for greenly preparing CaO-based adsorbent from shell wastes.

Unveiling the emerging trends of egg components-based biodegradable food packaging development: A comprehensive review.

Food packaging plays a crucial role in the food supply chain by aiding in food preservation and reducing food losses throughout the distribution process. The extensive, unregulated utilization, and waste mismanagement of food packaging materials made up of conventional petroleum-based plastics has led to a significant environmental crisis. Egg components-based food packaging has attracted considerable attention from the global packaging industry as a viable alternative to synthetic polymers due to its biodegradability, sustainability, and health-related benefits. This comprehensive review explores the composition and properties of egg components (eggshell, eggshell membrane, egg white, and egg yolk), and recent advancements in biodegradable packaging films derived from them. Additionally, it introduces the characteristics of these films and their applications in food, highlighting their biodegradability, sustainability, and suitable mechanical, barrier, thermal, optical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties as substitutes for traditional synthetic polymers. The utilization of various egg components in the packaging industry is a safe, non-toxic, cost-effective, and economical approach. However, it was found that incorporating active compounds from natural sources into packaging films, as well as composite films composed of egg components combined with other biopolymers, resulted in superior properties, compared to single component films. Moreover, the application of novel technologies in film development has proven to be more effective than conventional methods. These innovative egg components-based packaging films can be optimized and commercialized for use as packaging materials for food products.

Some productive and reproductive performance, eggshell quality, serum metabolites and immune responses due to L-threonine supplementation in Japanese quail breeders' diet.

A dose-response experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of graded levels of dietary digestible threonine (dThr) during the first laying cycle on productive and reproductive performance, egg quality and immune responses of Japanese quail breeders (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Also, dThr requirements were determined based on nutrient dose-response data. A total of 450 (360 females and 90 males) 11-week-old breeders were allocated to five increment (+0.03%) levels of dThr (0.49%, 0.52%, 0.55%, 0.58%, 0.61% and 0.64%) with five replicates per treatment and 15 (12 females and three males) birds each. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks. In response to increasing dietary dThr levels, egg production, egg mass, feed efficiency, egg specific gravity, eggshell relative weight, eggshell thickness, egg fertility (EF) and immune response against sheep red blood cell (SRBC) inoculation were improved with quadratic trends and egg hatchability as set eggs was improved with linear trends. Japanese quail breeders fed a diet with 0.58% dThr concentration (threonine/lysine ratio of 59%) showed the productive performance traits, EF, eggshell quality and immune response against SRBC inoculation in the highest values. However, feed intake, egg weight, egg albumen and yolk relative weight, egg shape index, haugh unit and egg composition were not affected by increasing dietary dThr level. Based on the broken-line regression model, the dThr requirements to optimize productive performance, eggshell quality, EF and immune response against SRBC inoculation were estimated at 159-188, 169-183, 175 and 178 mg/bird per day, respectively. It is concluded, in the Japanese quail breeders during the first laying phase a daily dThr intake of 188 mg/bird, dietary dThr concentration at 0.58% (threonine/lysine ratio of 59%) is adequate for optimized productive and reproductive performance, eggshell quality and immune responses. The estimated requirements depend on what production parameter is taken into considered for optimization.

Potassium permanganate-modified eggshell biosorbent for the removal of diclofenac from liquid environment: adsorption performance, isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic analyses.

This study assess how well diclofenac (DCF) can be separated from aqueous solution using potassium permanganate-modified eggshell biosorbent (MEB). The MEB produced was characterised using XRD, FTIR, and SEM. Batch experiments were conducted to examine and assess the impact of contact time, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, and temperature on the adsorption capacity of the MEB in the DCF sequestration. The best parameters to obtained 95.64% DCF removal from liquid environment were 0.05 g MEB weight, 50 mg/L initial concentration, and 60 min contact time at room temperature. The maximum DCF sequestration capacity was found to be 159.57 mg/g with 0.05 g of MEB at 298 K. The adsorption isotherm data were more accurately predicted by the Freundlich model, indicating a process of heterogeneous multilayer adsorption. The results of the kinetic study indicated that the pseudo-second-order kinetic models best matched the experimental data. The findings revealed that the dynamic of DCF entrapment is largely chemisorption and diffusion controlled. Based on the values of thermodynamic parameters, the process is both spontaneous and endothermic. The primary processes of DCF sorption mechanism onto the MEB were chemical surface complexation, hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and electrostatic interactions. The produced MEB showed effective DCF separation from the aqueous solution and continued to have maximal adsorption capability even after five regeneration cycles. These findings suggest that MEB could be highly efficient adsorbent for the removal of DCF from pharmaceutical wastewater.

Synthesis of lysinonorleucine and mass spectrometric analysis of lysinonorleucine and merodesmosine in bovine ligament and eggshell membrane.

Elastin is an important extracellular matrix protein that contributes to the elasticity of cells, tissues, and organs. Although crosslinking amino acids such as desmosine and isodesmosine have been identified in elastin, details regarding the structure remain unclear. In this study, an elastin crosslinker, lysinonorleucine, was chemically synthesized and detected in hydrolyzed bovine ligament and eggshell membrane samples utilizing tandem mass spectrometry. Merodesmosine, another crosslinker of elastin, was also measured in the same samples using the same analytical method. The resulting data should aid in the elucidating the crosslinking structure of elastin and eggshell membranes.

The structure of the eggshell and eggshell membranes of Crocodylus niloticus.

The macro- and microstructure, elemental composition, and crystallographic characteristics of the eggshell and eggshell membranes of the Crocodylus niloticus egg was investigated using optical and electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and computerised tomography. The translucent ellipsoid egg is composed of two basic layers, the outer calcified layer referred to as the shell and an inner organic fibre layer, referred to as the shell membrane. The outer inorganic calcite shell is further divided into an external, palisade and mammillary layers with pore channels traversing the shell. The external layer is a thin layer of amorphous calcium and phosphorus, the underlying palisade layer consist of irregular wedge-shaped crystals composed calcite with traces of magnesium, sodium, sulphur and phosphorus. The crystals are mostly elongated, orientated perpendicular to the shell surface ending in cone-shaped knobs, which forms the inner mammillary layer. The elemental composition of the mammillae is like that of the palisade layer, but the crystal structure is much smaller and orientated randomly. The highest number of mammillae and shell pores are found at the equator of the egg, becoming fewer towards the egg poles. The shell thickness follows the same pattern, with the thickest area located at the equator. The eggshell membrane located right beneath and embedded in the mammillary layer of the shell; it is made up of unorganised fibre sheets roughly orientated at right angles to one another. Individual fibres consist of numerous smaller fibrils forming open channels that run longitudinally through the fibre.

Thermally modified bamboo-eggshell adsorbent for phosphate recovery and its sustainable application as fertilizer.

Phosphate recovery from wastewater using readily available biowaste-based adsorbents is beneficial for both eutrophication control and waste management. Bamboo char has a high-density porous structure and eggshell contains CaCO3 with high affinity for phosphate. The combination of calcined bamboo and eggshell is a potential adsorbent for P recovery that has not been tested previously. Because bamboo char and eggshell both are popular for soil amendment, a P-loaded bamboo and eggshell composite is a promising fertilizer for long-term soil improvement. In this work, the feasibility of calcined bamboo and eggshell (BE) for P recovery and its use as fertilizer were investigated. The adsorption capacity and mechanism were examined using adsorption kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic analysis. The kinetic study showed that the experimental data sets were fitted best by a pseudo second-order model, indicating chemisorption. The Langmuir isotherm model estimated maximum adsorption capacities of 95.14 and 98.40 mg/g for BE 1:1 and 2:1 adsorbent. Monolayer adsorption occurred on a homogenous surface. The adsorption reaction was non-spontaneous at 298 K and exothermic for the BE 1:1 and 2:1 adsorbent, and the calculated Langmuir separation factor indicated favorable conditions for P adsorption. The desorption study showed lower P desorption capacity in water than in neutral ammonium citrate. P-loaded eggshell-modified bamboo char was an effective slow-release fertilizer for Japanese mustard spinach cultivation, which is a sustainable and environment friendly use of P-loaded materials.

Ostrich eggshell bead strontium isotopes reveal persistent macroscale social networking across late Quaternary southern Africa.

Hunter-gatherer exchange networks dampen subsistence and reproductive risks by building relationships of mutual support outside local groups that are underwritten by symbolic gift exchange. Hxaro, the system of delayed reciprocity between Ju/'hoãn individuals in southern Africa's Kalahari Desert, is the best-known such example and the basis for most analogies and models of hunter-gatherer exchange in prehistory. However, its antiquity, drivers, and development remain unclear, as they do for long-distance exchanges among African foragers more broadly. Here we show through strontium isotope analyses of ostrich eggshell beads from highland Lesotho, and associated strontium isoscape development, that such practices stretch back into the late Middle Stone Age. We argue that these exchange items originated beyond the macroband from groups occupying the more water-stressed subcontinental interior. Tracking the emergence and persistence of macroscale, transbiome social networks helps illuminate the evolution of social strategies needed to thrive in stochastic environments, strategies that in our case study show persistence over more than 33,000 y.

Two cis-regulatory SNPs upstream of ABCG2 synergistically cause the blue eggshell phenotype in the duck.

Avian eggshell color is an interesting genetic trait. Here, we report that the blue eggshell color of the domestic duck is caused by two cis-regulatory G to A transitions upstream of ABCG2, which encodes an efflux transporter. The juxtaposed blue eggshell allele A-A exhibited higher promoter activity and stronger nuclear protein binding capacity than the white eggshell allele G-G. Transcription factor analysis suggested differential binding capability of CTCF between blue eggshell and white eggshell alleles. Knockdown of CTCF expression significantly decreased the promoter activity of the blue eggshell but not the white eggshell allele. DNA methylation analysis revealed similar high methylation of the region upstream of the CTCF binding sites in both blue-eggshelled and white-eggshelled ducks. However, DNA methylation levels downstream of the binding sites were decreased and 35% lower in blue-eggshelled ducks than in white-eggshelled ducks. Consistent with the in vitro regulatory pattern of causative sites, ABCG2 exhibited higher expression in uteruses of blue-eggshelled ducks and also showed polarized distribution in their endometrial epithelial cells, distributing at the apical surface of endometrial epithelial cells and with orientation toward the uterine cavity, where the eggshell is pigmented. In conclusion, our results suggest that two cis-regulatory SNPs upstream of ABCG2 are the causative mutations for blue eggshells in ducks. The blue eggshell variant up-regulated ABCG2 expression through recruiting CTCF binding, which may function as a barrier element to shield the downstream region from high methylation levels present upstream. ABCG2 was identified as the only candidate causative gene for blue eggshells; it may function as an efflux transporter of biliverdin to the uterine cavity.

Cytotoxic-Ag-Modified Eggshell Membrane Nanocomposites as Bactericides in Concrete Mortar.

Against the backdrop of escalating infrastructure budgets worldwide, a notable portion-up to 45%-is allocated to maintenance endeavors rather than innovative infrastructure development. A substantial fraction of this maintenance commitment involves combatting concrete degradation due to microbial attacks. In response, this study endeavors to propose a remedial strategy employing nano metals and repurposed materials within cement mortar. The methodology entails the adsorption onto eggshell membranes (ESM) of silver nitrate (ESM/AgNO3) or silver nanoparticles (ESM/AgNPs) yielding silver-eggshell membrane composites. Subsequently, the resulting silver-eggshell membrane composites were introduced in different proportions to replace cement, resulting in the formulation of ten distinct mortar compositions. A thorough analysis encompassing a range of techniques, such as spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and MTT assay, was performed on these composite blends. Additionally, evaluations of both compressive and tensile strengths were carried out. The mortar blends 3, 5, and 6, characterized by 2% ESM/AgNO3, 1% ESM/AgNPs, and 2% ESM/AgNPs cement replacement, respectively, exhibited remarkable antimicrobial efficacy, manifesting in substantial reduction in microbial cell viability (up to 50%) of typical waste activated sludge. Concurrently, a marginal reduction of approximately 10% in compressive strength was noted, juxtaposed with an insignificant change in tensile strength. This investigation sheds light on a promising avenue for addressing concrete deterioration while navigating the balance between material performance and structural integrity.

Risk assessment of Artemia egg shell-Mg-P composites as a slow-release phosphorus fertilizer during its formation and application in typical heavy metals contaminated environment.

Artemia egg shell loaded with nano-magnesium (shell-Mg) can be used to recover phosphorus from wastewater. The exhausted Artemia egg shell-Mg (denoted as shell-Mg-P) can be used as a slow-release fertilizer for phosphorus reuse. However, due to the coexistence of heavy metal ions in the environment, the application of slow-release fertilizer for phosphorus removal and reuse may have potential risks. In this paper, the potential risks of Pb2+, Cd2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+ in phosphorus wastewater and soil were studied from the formation and application process of shell-Mg-P. The result showed that shell-Mg adsorbed Pb2+, Cd2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+ in phosphate wastewater during the formation of shell-Mg-P and became shell-Mg-P-metal hybrid biomaterial. Although the experiment proved that the existence of heavy metal ions did not affect the phosphorus slow-release behavior of slow-release fertilizer, but the heavy metal ions in the shell-Mg-P-metal were also slow released. The pot experiment results confirmed that the slow-release phosphorus fertilizers (shell-Mg-P and shell-Mg-P-metal) in the soil polluted in low concentration of heavy metals can reduce the amount of heavy metals in whole wheat seedlings and promote wheat seedling growth. However, the application of slow-release fertilizers increased the translocation efficiency (TFR to SL) of metal from root (R) to aboveground part (stem and leaves, SL), promoted the transportation of heavy metals from roots to the stems and leaves, and increased the safety risk of the wheat seedling edible. Therefore, besides the positive role of slow-release fertilizers in retaining heavy metals and reducing the amount of heavy metals in whole seedlings, the risk that it may aggravate the translocation of heavy metals to stems and leaves should be paid more attention, so as to ensure the safe and reliable application of slow-release fertilizers.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nano-Hydroxyapatite Obtained from Eggshell via the Hydrothermal Process and the Precipitation Method.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a major component of the inorganic minerals in the hard tissues of humans and has been widely used as a biomedical ceramic material in orthopedic and dentistry applications. Because human bone contains several impurities, including carbonates, chlorides, fluorides, magnesium, and strontium, human bone minerals differ from stoichiometric HA. Additionally, natural bone is composed of nano-sized HA, and the nanoscale particles exhibit a high level of biological activity. In this paper, HA is prepared via the hydrothermal process because its reaction conditions are easy to control and it has been shown to be quite feasible for large-scale production. Therefore, the hydrothermal process is an effective and convenient method for the preparation of HA. Furthermore, eggshell is adopted as a source of calcium, and mulberry leaf extract is selectively added to synthesize HA. The eggshell accounts for 11% of the total weight of a whole egg, and it consists of calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, magnesium carbonate, and organic matter. Eggshell contains a variety of trace elements, such as magnesium and strontium, making the composition of the synthesized HA similar to that of the human skeleton. These trace elements exert considerable benefits for bone growth. Moreover, the use of eggshell as a raw material can permit the recycling of biowaste and a reduction in process costs. The purpose of this study is to prepare HA powder via the hydrothermal method and to explore the effects of hydrothermal conditions on the structure and properties of the synthesized HA. The room-temperature precipitation method is used for the control group. Furthermore, the results of an immersion test in simulated body fluid confirm that the as-prepared HA exhibits good apatite-forming bioactivity, which is an essential requirement for artificial materials to bond to living bones in the living body and promote bone regeneration. In particular, it is confirmed that the HA synthesized with the addition of the mulberry leaf extract exhibits good in vitro biocompatibility. The morphology, crystallite size, and composition of the carbonated nano-HA obtained herein are similar to those of natural bones. The carbonated nano-HA appears to be an excellent material for bioresorbable bone substitutes or drug delivery. Therefore, the nano-HA powder prepared in this study has great potential in biomedical applications.