Human Exposure to Heavy Metals over the Last 100 Years.

The primary objective of the presented research was to assess the impact of intense global economic development, over the last 100 years, on the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the human body. This evaluation was conducted based on the measurement of heavy metals in human hair samples collected 100 years ago in present-day southern Poland.In this study, concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and selenium (Se) were measured in 61 hair samples,28 of which were obtained from individuals who lived 100 years ago, while the remaining 33 constituted the contemporary control group. The concentrations were determined using a triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (Agilent 8900). Statistical analysis of the obtained results was conducted using the Principal Cmponent Analysis and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. In the case of As, Pb, Cd, and Fe, the concentrations were significantly higher in individuals who lived 100 years ago compared to those living today. Over this period, the median concentrations were shown to have decreased by 95%, 94%, 85%, and 69% for As, Pb, Cd, and Fe, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed for Cu, Zn, and Se. The results obtained for Pb, Cd, As, and Fe unequivocally indicate that the population studied from 100 years ago was more exposed to internal contamination with these metals than people who live nowadays.

Awareness and perceptions of contaminants in the Dehcho and sahtú regions of the Northwest Territories.

The development and dissemination of health messaging is a critical component of reducing health disparities. Participants (n = 87) from a human biomonitoring study in six Dene communities responded to a survey about health communication regarding contaminants. The survey included questions on awareness of health messages and risk perceptions related to country foods and contaminants. The vast majority of participants reported eating country foods (99%) and heard that country foods had beneficial nutrients (90%). Seventy per cent of respondents had heard or seen messages about fish with high levels of mercury, and 60% had concerns about the safety or quality of country foods they consumed. Respondents who reported decreasing the number of fish they ate since hearing the messages about fish and mercury had lower (p = 0.04) mercury concentration in hair, compared to those who had not heard the messages. However, no differences in hair mercury were observed for respondents who reported to have changed their fishing location, chosen smaller fish or eaten less predatory fish since hearing the messages. Results indicate the need to examine reasons for self-reported behaviour changes, in addition to awareness. The conclusions of this study can inform the development of messaging and risk management decisions about contaminants within Indigenous populations.

Associations of couples' balanced time perspective with maternal prenatal hair cortisol concentration and perceived stress.

OBJECTIVE: The stress experienced by a woman during pregnancy not only has a negative impact on her well-being and physical health but also adversely affects the fetus. Stress is strongly linked with time perspective, defined as the tendency to focus on the past, present, or future. The study aimed to investigate how couples' balanced time perspective was related to maternal prenatal hair cortisol concentration and perceived stress in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. METHOD: The participants were pregnant women and their male partners (84 couples). Women completed online questionnaires: the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI), the Dark Future Scale (DFS), and the Perceived Stress Scale, while men completed online versions of the ZTPI and the DFS. These questionnaire measurements were conducted in the first and third trimesters. Maternal cortisol levels were measured in hair samples taken during gynecological visits, in the first and third trimesters. RESULTS: The study revealed that the more unbalanced the partner's time perspective, the more unbalanced the pregnant woman's time perspective and, consequently, the higher the stress perceived by the pregnant woman. This effect was present in both the first (B = 1.06, SE =.36, p <.001, 95 % CI [.398, 1.826]) and the third trimesters (B =.98, SE =.36, p <.001, 95 % CI [.327, 1.774]). Moreover, the more unbalanced the partner's time perspective, the more unbalanced the woman's time perspective and, consequently, the lower the hair cortisol concentration in the first trimester (B = -.08, SE =.04, p <.05, 95 % CI [-.171, -.010]). Partner's unbalanced time perspective in the first trimester was also a predictor of stress perceived by the woman in the third trimester (t = 2.38, p <.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest the significance of the partner's time perspective for the pregnant woman's mental health. The partner's unbalanced, negative time perspective in the first trimester may increase the pregnant woman's stress in the third trimester. This effect can be even stronger than that of the woman's time perspective.

Deciphering soil-plant-animal continuum in relation to trace elements in middle Gangetic plain region of India.

The soil-plant-animal continuum represents an evolving realm in biological research that's why this study was undertaken in the middle Gangetic plain region of India. Trace and ultra-trace elements were analyzed in 100 soil samples, 147 feed and fodder samples, as well as 69 blood and 127 hair samples with the help of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The levels of trace and ultra-trace elements in the soil were significantly higher than those in the feed, and similarly, the concentrations in the feed were notably higher than those in the blood of dairy cattle. Blood and hair samples from the cattle showed deficiencies in copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn), with reaching approximately 20% and 50%, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated significant (P < 0.05) associations between the trace and ultra-trace elements in plants and the corresponding elements found in cattle's hair, specifically for iron (Fe) and molybdenum (Mo). Conversely, a significant (P < 0.05) negative correlation was observed between soil composition and cattle's blood, while a positive correlation was evident only in the case of silver content between plant and cattle's hair. Regression analyses revealed positive linear relationships between minerals in soils and plants, as well as between plants and cattle. However, the correlation coefficients were statistically insignificant. The regression equations established to predict mineral concentrations in cattle based on soil and plant mineral contents indicated a positive relationship for both trace and ultra-trace elements, suggesting the potential to measure the mineral status in dairy cattle through this approach.

Trends of hair Hg accumulation in reproductive-age women living in Central Russia and the calculated costs of Hg-induced IQ loss in the period between 2005 and 2021.

The objective of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate hair mercury (Hg) content in reproductive-age women living in Central Russia (Moscow and Moscow region), and to calculate the potential costs of the potential Hg-induced IQ loss in a hypothetical national birth cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 36,263 occupationally non-exposed women aged between 20 and 40 years living in Moscow (n = 30,626) or Moscow region (n = 5637) in the period between 2005 and 2021 participated in this study. Hair Hg content was evaluated with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Hair Hg levels in reproductive-age women were used for assessment of the potential IQ loss and its costs. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that hair Hg content in the periods between 2010 and 2015, and 2016-2021 was significantly lower than that in 2005-2009 by 26 % and 51 %, respectively. The highest hair Hg level was observed in women in 2005 (0.855 µg/g), being more than 2.5-fold higher than the lowest value observed in 2020 (0.328 µg/g). Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant inverse association between the year of analysis and hair Hg content (ß = -0.288; p < 0.001). The calculations demonstrate that in 2005 the costs of IQ loss in children exceeded 1.0 (1.6) billion USD, whereas in 2020 the costs of IQ loss accounted to approximately 0.15 (0.28) billion USD. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our data demonstrate that Hg accumulation in reproductive-age women reduced significantly in Russia from 2005 to 2021 resulting in predicted economic benefits by decreasing the costs of Hg-induced IQ loss.

Identification of N-piperidinyl etonitazene in alternative keratinous matrices from a decomposing cadaver.

This short report describes research on N-piperidinyl etonitazene, also known as etonitazepipne, in keratinous matrices (hair and nails) after death related to a suspected opioid overdose. Etonitazepipne belongs to the family of benzimidazole opioids, a class of new synthetic opioids that has penetrated the illicit drug market. Analysis in the case under study showed the presence of etonitazepipne in both hair and nails, confirming that the substance accumulates in the body with repeated intake.

Monitoring of Organochlorine Pesticides (OCP) in Hair Samples of Wild Herbivorous Mammals Living in Remote and Protected Areas of the Far East and Siberia of Russia.

Monitoring wildlife exposure to biological hazards is a critical component of the wildlife risk assessment. In this study 38 hair samples were collected from 8 different species from ten districts of Russian Far East and Siberia and analysed for the presence of organochlorine pesticides (OCP). 50% of the samples were contaminated with - p, p'-DDT, α-HCH and DDD. DDT was the main contaminant found in 13 sample at concentrations range of 14.3 to 369.5 pg/mg hair, mean 91.9 ± 89.7 pg/mg. α-HCH was detected in three samples with the concentrations range 29.9-180.2 pg/mg. The p, p'-DDD was found only in one hair sample of Siberian roe deer from Altai region at 52.6 pg/mg. The exposure level is depended on animals habitat location. The most contaminated region is Terney district which is in the proximity to the borders with China and North Korea where OCP are still in use.

Evaluation of chronic stress status and quality of life in cats suffering from chronic kidney disease and suspected feline infectious peritonitis based on hair cortisol concentration analysis and a questionnaire.

Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and a questionnaire were used as indicators of chronic stress status and quality of life (QoL), respectively, in cats. To date, there has been limited research on the simultaneous application of both indicators in unwell cats. Our aim was to evaluate HCC and questionnaire data obtained from a healthy cat cohort (n = 61) and cat cohorts with either chronic kidney disease (CKD) (n = 78) or suspected feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) (n = 24). Furthermore, we also investigated the correlation between HCC and clinical pathological data. For this study, hair from the abdomen of cats was collected and analyzed for HCC using a commercial ELISA kit. Owners also completed a questionnaire, from which average-item-weighted-impact-scores (AWISs) were calculated. Cats with late-stage-CKD (median, HCC = 330.15 pg/mg, AWIS = -0.43) presented with a significantly higher HCC (p < 0.01) and a significantly lower AWIS (p < 0.01) than cats with early-stage-CKD (HCC = 183.56 pg/mg, AWIS = 1.08). Similarly, there were significant differences in both HCC (p < 0.001) and AWIS (p < 0.001) between cats with suspected FIP (HCC = 896.27 pg/mg, AWIS = -1.97) and healthy cats (HCC = 181.24 pg/mg, AWIS = 1.24). The degree of consistency between the HCC results and the questionnaire results reminds us that the severity of a chronic disease or the presence of a life-threatening disease can significantly increase stress and thus can affect the QoL of cats.

Impact of a point-of-care urine tenofovir assay on adherence to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among women in Kenya: a randomised pilot trial.

BACKGROUND: Adherence challenges with oral tenofovir-based pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are common. We developed a point-of-care assay to objectively assess tenofovir in urine and conducted a pilot trial examining the impact of counselling informed by use of this urine assay on long-term PrEP adherence. METHODS: This randomised trial enrolled women not in serodiscordant partnerships 3 months after PrEP initiation at the Kenya Medical Research Institute to compare standard-of-care adherence counselling versus counselling informed by the urine assay (urine-test counselling group) every 3 months for 12 months. In the standard of care group, urine samples were stored and tested at study end without participant feedback. Here we report the adherence primary outcome of hair concentrations of tenofovir at 12 months as a long-term metric (undetectable levels defined long-term non-adherence), as well as urine concentrations of tenofovir at each visit as a short-term adherence metric and acceptability of the assay assessed by quantitative surveys. Data were analysed by randomisation group. This completed trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03935464). FINDINGS: From March 17, 2021 to Jan 18, 2022 we enrolled 49 women in the urine-test counselling group and 51 in the standard of care group; retention was 86 (86%) of 100. Nine (21%) of 42 in the urine-test counselling group had hair samples at 12 months with tenofovir concentrations below the limit of quantification compared with 15 (37%) of 41 in the standard of care group. The relative odds of long-term non-adherence in the standard of care group compared with urine-test counselling were 3·53 (95% CI 1·03-12·03; p=0·044). Pre-intervention, urine tenofovir was detectable in 65% in the urine-test counselling group and 71% in the standard of care group (p=0·68). At 12 months, 31 (72%) of 43 in the intervention group had detectable urine tenofovir compared with 19 (45%) of 42 in the standard of care group (p=0·0015). 40 (93%) of 43 participants liked the test very much and only one disliked the test. One participant in the standard of care group was withdrawn at the 6-month visit due to HIV seroconversion. INTERPRETATION: A low-cost urine tenofovir assay to inform PrEP counselling resulted in improvement in both short-term and long-term metrics of adherence. This urine tenofovir assay could help to improve long-term PrEP adherence. FUNDING: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and National Institutes of Health.

Concentration levels of phthalate metabolites in wild boar hair samples.

Phthalates used in the industry penetrate the environment and negatively affect humans and animals. Hair samples seem to be the best matrix for studies on long-term exposure to phthalates, but till now they were used only in investigations on humans. Moreover, the knowledge of the wild terrestrial animal exposure to phthalates is extremely limited. This study aimed to establish of concentration levels of selected phthalate metabolites (i.e. monomethyl phthalate-MMP, monoethyl phthalate-MEP, mono-isobutyl phthalate-MiBP, monobutyl phthalate-MBP, monobenzyl phthalate-MBzP, mono-cyclohexyl phthalate-MCHP, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-MEHP and mono-n-octyl phthalate-MOP) in wild boar hair samples using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. MEHP was noted in 90.7% of samples with mean 66.17 ± 58.69 pg/mg (median 49.35 pg/mg), MMP in 59.3% with mean 145.1 ± 310.6 pg/mg (median 64.45 pg/mg), MiBP in 37.0% with mean 56.96 ± 119.4 pg/mg (median < limit of detection-LOD), MBP in 35.2% with mean 19.97 ± 34.38 pg/mg (median < LOD) and MBzP in 1.9% with concentration below limit of quantification. MEP, MCHP, and MOP have not been found in wild boar hair samples during this study. The results have shown that wild boars are exposed to phthalates and hair samples may be used as a matrix during studies on levels of phthalate metabolites in wild animals.

In vitro biotransformation of 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC) through incubation with human liver microsomes and cytosol and application to in vivo samples.

Synthetic cathinones are the second largest group of new psychoactive substances (NPS) monitored by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Although 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC, C11H15NO) is legally banned in many countries, it is readily available for purchase online and on the street. Due to the scarcity of information regarding the pharmacokinetic and toxicological profile of 3-MMC, understanding its biotransformation pathways is crucial in determining its potential toxicity in humans and in the development of analytical methods for screening of human matrices. To gain more insight, Phase I and Phase II in vitro biotransformation of 3-MMC was investigated using human liver microsomes and human liver cytosol. Suspect and non-target screening approaches were employed to identify metabolites. To confirm in vitro results in an in vivo setting, human matrices (i.e., plasma, urine, saliva and hair) positive for 3-MMC (n=31) were screened. In total three biotransformation products were identified in vitro: C11H15NO2 (a hydroxylated derivate), C11H17NO (a keto-reduced derivate) and C10H13NO (an N-desmethyl derivate). All three were confirmed as human metabolites in respectively 16 %, 52 % and 42 % of the analysed human samples. In total, 61 % of the analysed samples were positive for at least one of the three metabolites. Interestingly, three urine samples were positive for all three metabolites. The presence of 3-MMC in saliva and hair indicates its potential applicability in specific settings, e.g., roadside testing or chronic consumption analysis. To our knowledge, C11H17NO was not detected before in vivo. Although some of these metabolites have been previously suggested in vitro or in a single post mortem case report, a wide in vivo confirmation including the screening of four different human matrices was performed for the first time. These metabolites could serve as potential human biomarkers to monitor human 3-MMC consumption effectively.

Hair and nail cortisol levels are associated and affected by glucocorticoid use.

Hair and nail cortisol is increasingly studied as a physiologic proxy for chronic stress response. Glucocorticoid use is an expected confounder for cortisol measurement, yet there remains little evidence of whether external cortisol use should be subject to exclusion in study subjects. In a group of 209 youth (15-22 year-olds), we analyzed hair and fingernail cortisol concentrations. We assessed topical, nasal, oral, and injectable glucocorticoid use via a questionnaire. Extensively validated methods were used for hair and nail cortisol extraction and measurements. The median value of hair cortisol was 10.2 pg/mg (n=200), and the median value of nail cortisol was 7.06 pg/mg (n=203). Topical glucocorticoid use significantly increased hair and nail cortisol concentrations (p<0.005). Hair and nail cortisol concentrations were positively associated (p<0.0001, n=194). Spearman correlation coefficients demonstrated that the positive correlation between hair and nail cortisol values was higher in participants who used external glucocorticoids. Topical glucocorticoids moderated the association between hair and nail cortisol values (p=0.006). Based on these findings, we recommend that the assessment of topical glucocorticoid use must be performed when collecting hair/nail samples and that subjects reporting glucocorticoid use should be excluded from all future hair and nail cortisol studies; also, all outliers must be excluded to account for glucocorticoid medication underreporting and yet-unknown confounders.

Is social disadvantage a chronic stressor? Socioeconomic position and HPA axis activity among older adults living in England.

INTRODUCTION: Living in socioeconomic disadvantage has been conceptualised as a chronic stressor, although this contradicts evidence from studies using hair cortisol and cortisone as a measure of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)1 axis activity. These studies used complete case analyses, ignoring the impact of missing data for inference, despite the high proportion of missing biomarker data. The methodological limitations of studies investigating the association between socioeconomic position (SEP)2 defined as education, wealth, and social class and hair cortisol and cortisone are considered in this study by comparing three common methods to deal with missing data: (1) Complete Case Analysis (CCA),3 (2) Inverse Probability Weighting (IPW) 4and (3) weighted Multiple Imputation (MI).5 This study examines if socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with higher levels of HPA axis activity as measured by hair cortisol and cortisone among older adults using three approaches for compensating for missing data. METHOD: Cortisol and cortisone levels in hair samples from 4573 participants in the 6th wave (2012-2013) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)6 were examined, in relation to education, wealth, and social class. We compared linear regression models with CCA, weighted and multiple imputed weighted linear regression models. RESULTS: Social groups with certain characteristics (i.e., ethnic minorities, in routine and manual occupations, physically inactive, with poorer health, and smokers) were less likely to have hair cortisol and hair cortisone data compared to the most advantaged groups. We found a consistent pattern of higher levels of hair cortisol and cortisone among the most socioeconomically disadvantaged groups compared to the most advantaged groups. Complete case approaches to missing data underestimated the levels of hair cortisol in education and social class and the levels of hair cortisone in education, wealth, and social class in the most disadvantaged groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that social disadvantage as measured by disadvantaged SEP is associated with increased HPA axis activity. The conceptualisation of social disadvantage as a chronic stressor may be valid and previous studies reporting no associations between SEP and hair cortisol may be biased due to their lack of consideration of missing data cases which showed the underrepresentation of disadvantaged social groups in the analyses. Future analyses using biosocial data may need to consider and adjust for missing data.

Lower hair cortisol concentration in adolescent and young adult patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Q-Fever Fatigue Syndrome compared to controls.

BACKGROUND: In patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), momentary cortisol concentrations in blood, urine, and saliva are lower compared to healthy controls. Long-term cortisol concentration can be assessed through hair, but it is unclear whether these concentrations are also lower. Additionally, it is unknown if lower cortisol extends to other patients suffering from persistent fatigue and how hair cortisol concentration (HCC) relates to fatigue levels. Therefore, this study examines HCC in fatigued patients with ME/CFS, Q fever Fatigue Syndrome (QFS), Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). METHODS: Adolescent and young adult patients with ME/CFS (n=12), QFS (n=20), PCC (n=8), JIA (n=19), and controls (n=57) were included. Patients participated in a randomized cross-over trial (RCT) targeting fatigue through lifestyle and dietary self-management strategies. HCC was measured pre-post RCT in patients and once in controls, quantified using a LC-MS/MS-based method. Fatigue severity was measured with the Checklist Individual Strength-8. HCC was compared between groups with ANOVAs. Relations between HCC, fatigue severity, and other variables were investigated using linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The ME/CFS (p=.009) and QFS (p=.047) groups had lower HCC compared to controls. Overall, HCC was negatively associated with the presence of symptoms related to chronic fatigue syndromes (e.g., sleeping issues, often feeling tired, trouble thinking clearly; ß=-0.018, p=.035), except in the QFS group (ß=.063, p<.001). Baseline HCC did not predict fatigue improvement during the RCT (p=.449), and HCC increased during the trial (Mdif=.076, p=.021) regardless of clinically relevant fatigue improvement (p=.658). CONCLUSION: Lower cortisol concentration can also be observed in the long-term. Lower HCC is not limited to ME/CFS, as it was also observed in QFS. The role of cortisol may differ between these diagnoses and appears to be unrelated to fatigue levels.

Exploring keratin composition variability for sustainable thermal insulator design.

In pursuing sustainable thermal insulation solutions, this study explores the integration of human hair and feather keratin with alginate. The aim is to assess its potential in thermal insulation materials, focusing on the resultant composites' thermal and mechanical characteristics. The investigation uncovers that the type and proportion of keratin significantly influence the composites' porosity and thermal conductivity. Specifically, higher feather keratin content is associated with lesser sulfur and reduced crosslinking due to shorter amino acids, leading to increased porosity and pore sizes. This, in turn, results in a decrease in ß-structured hydrogen bond networks, raising non-ordered protein structures and diminishing thermal conductivity from 0.044 W/(m·K) for pure alginate matrices to between 0.033 and 0.038 W/(m·K) for keratin-alginate composites, contingent upon the specific ratio of feather to hair keratin used. Mechanical evaluations further indicate that composites with a higher ratio of hair keratin exhibit an enhanced compressive modulus, ranging from 60 to 77 kPa, demonstrating the potential for tailored mechanical properties to suit various applications. The research underscores the critical role of sulfur content and the crosslinking index within keratin's structures, significantly impacting the thermal and mechanical properties of the matrices. The findings position keratin-based composites as environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional insulation materials.

Maternal diet quality during pregnancy and biomarkers of potentially toxic trace element exposure: Data from the ELFE cohort.

The contribution of the diet to potentially toxic trace element exposure in pregnancy has been rarely addressed. The objective of the present study was to determine the association between the maternal diet during pregnancy and biomarkers of exposure for arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) at delivery. As was assessed in maternal urine, Hg in maternal hair, and Pb in cord blood, as a proxy for in utero exposure. Based on 2995 women from the ELFE nationwide birth cohort, higher scores for dietary patterns considered healthy were associated with higher concentrations of As and Hg in maternal matrices. Levels of cord blood Pb were inconsistently associated with dietary patterns considered healthy, and lower with a dietary pattern driven by milk and breakfast cereals. Lower levels of Hg were associated with higher Western dietary pattern scores. In conclusion, higher levels of maternal urinary As and hair Hg are associated with diets considered as "Healthy", while cord blood Pb was not strongly correlated with dietary exposure.

Associations between adversity in the family of origin and hair cortisol concentration in adulthood.

The current study examined associations between parental adversities as experienced in adolescence and hair cortisol concentration (HCC) 26 years later (n = 47). Specifically, bivariate correlations and linear regressions were used to examine harsh parenting as well as parental economic pressure, emotional distress, and body mass index (BMI) when their adolescent was between 15 and 16 years old (parent average age 43). HCC was measured when the adolescent was an adult (average 42 years old), at a similar age to when their parent(s) first participated in the study. We also assessed their economic pressure, emotional distress, obesity, and perceived stress in adulthood. For results across generations, parental economic pressure experienced during adolescence was significantly related to HCC when these adolescents were adults. None of the adult economic pressure, emotional distress, BMI, and perceived stress variables were associated with their HCC. Interestingly, there were significant associations among adult perceived stress, economic pressure, emotional distress, and obesity. Thus, the association between parental economic pressure and adult HCC is independent of adult adversities. Results highlight early economic adversity as a possible childhood stressor that has implications throughout the life course.

Specific of accumulation of manganese in organs and tissues of Hereford cattle.

The elemental status of cattle is one of the important factors, which determine its growth, fertility, fetal development, meat and dairy production, etc. Therefore, the study of content of different elements in cattle organs and tissues and its correlation with cattle characteristics and diet is urgent task. It is also important to develop intravital and low-invasive methods to analyze element content in cattle to regulate its diet during lifetime. In the present work, we have studied the content and distribution of manganese in Hereford cattle from an ecologically clean zone of Western Siberia (Russia). 252 samples were taken from 31 bulls aged 15-18 months. They were collected from various livestock farms in the region and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (organs and muscle tissue) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (hair). The median values of manganese concentration obtained in natural moisture for hair, heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, muscles, spleen, testes, and brain were 25, 0.37, 1.0, 2.6, 0.4, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.5 ppm. Accordingly, the concentration of manganese differs significantly in the organs and tissues of animals (H = 188.6, df = 8, p <0.0001). Statistically significant associations of manganese were revealed in pairs: liver-testis, hair-testis, spleen-testis, and heart-brain. The classification of organs and tissues of animals according to the level of content and variability of manganese is carried out. The concentration of manganese in the body is not uniform, most of all it is deposited in the hair and excretory organs of the liver and kidneys. In other organs and muscle tissues, the distribution of manganese is more even and is in the range of 0.2-0.5 ppm. The resulting ranges can be used as a guideline for Hereford cattle bred in Western Siberia.

A comprehensive study on the impact of human hair fiber and millet husk ash on concrete properties: response surface modeling and optimization.

Revolutionizing construction, the concrete blend seamlessly integrates human hair (HH) fibers and millet husk ash (MHA) as a sustainable alternative. By repurposing human hair for enhanced tensile strength and utilizing millet husk ash to replace sand, these materials not only reduce waste but also create a durable, eco-friendly solution. This groundbreaking methodology not only adheres to established structural criteria but also advances the concepts of the circular economy, representing a significant advancement towards environmentally sustainable and resilient building practices. The main purpose of the research is to investigate the fresh and mechanical characteristics of concrete blended with 10-40% MHA as a sand substitute and 0.5-2% HH fibers by applying response surface methodology modeling and optimization. A comprehensive study involved preparing 225 concrete specimens using a mix ratio of 1:1.5:3 with a water-to-cement ratio of 0.52, followed by a 28 day curing period. It was found that a blend of 30% MHA and 1% HH fibers gave the best compressive and splitting tensile strengths at 28 days, which were 33.88 MPa and 3.47 MPa, respectively. Additionally, the incorporation of increased proportions of MHA and HH fibers led to reductions in both the dry density and workability of the concrete. In addition, utilizing analysis of variance (ANOVA), response prediction models were created and verified with a significance level of 95%. The models' R2 values ranged from 72 to 99%. The study validated multi-objective optimization, showing 1% HH fiber and 30% MHA in concrete enhances strength, reduces waste, and promotes environmental sustainability, making it recommended for construction.

Sense of coherence, mental health, and hair cortisol concentrations among older people during the COVID -19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: A person's sense of coherence (SoC) is likely to affect coping when exposed to a life changing event like the COVID -19 pandemic, which impacted the older population especially hard, an age group that already suffers from a lot of mental illness. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the associations between SoC and mental health in older adults using both screening scales and hair cortisol concentrations (HCC). METHOD: A cross-sectional design studying a cohort of 70-80 years old, N = 260, set in Swedish primary care during the pandemic years 2021-2022. Instruments used are sense of coherence 13 (SoC-13), EQ-5D-3L, Geriatric depression scale 20 (GDS-20), Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and Perceived stress scale 10 (PSS-10). Sociodemography and factors concerning SoC, and mental health are explored. HCC are measured using radioimmunoassay. Outcome measures are factors independently associated with SoC. Linear regression models were performed with SoC as dependent variable, and priory path analyses explored whether associations with SoC were direct, or indirect via anxiety. RESULTS: SoC was significantly associated with anxiety (p < 0.001), perceived economic status (p = 0.003), belief in the future (p = 0.001), and perceived negative mental effect from the COVID -19 pandemic (p = 0.002). The latter was 96% indirectly associated with SoC (p < 0.001), whereas perceived economic status together with belief in the future was 82% directly associated with SoC (p = 0.17). HCC and sex were not significantly associated with SoC, but, noticeably, high HCC was equally distributed between women and men. Women reported significantly lower quality of life (p = 0.03), and more symptoms of anxiety (p = 0.001) and depression (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Anxiety, belief in the future, perceived negative effect on mental health due to the pandemic, and perceived economic status were significantly associated with SoC. Anxiety is suggested to be important in explaining the association between perceived negative mental effect from the COVID-19 pandemic and SoC. Women reported significantly poorer mental health and life quality than men.