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.

Complete chloroplast genome and comparison of herbicides toxicity on Aeschynomene indica (Leguminosae) in upland direct-seeding paddy field.

BACKGROUND: Indian jointvetch (Aeschynomene indica) is a common and pernicious weed found in the upland direct-seeding rice fields in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China. However, there are few reports on the degree of harm, genetic characteristics, and management methods of this weed. The purpose of this study is to clarify the harm of Indian jointvetch to upland direct-seeding rice, analyze the genetic characteristics of this weed based on chloroplast genomics and identify its related species, and screen herbicides that are effective in managing this weed in upland direct-seeding rice fields. RESULTS: In a field investigation in upland direct-seeding rice paddies in Shanghai and Jiangsu, we determined that the plant height and maximum lateral distance of Indian jointvetch reached approximately 134.2 cm and 57.9 cm, respectively. With Indian jointvetch present at a density of 4/m2 and 8/m2, the yield of rice decreased by approximately 50% and 70%, respectively. We further obtained the first assembly of the complete chloroplast (cp.) genome sequence of Indian jointvetch (163,613 bp). There were 161 simple sequence repeats, 166 long repeats, and 83 protein-encoding genes. The phylogenetic tree and inverted repeat region expansion and contraction analysis based on cp. genomes demonstrated that species with closer affinity to A. indica included Glycine soja, Glycine max, and Sesbania cannabina. Moreover, a total of 3281, 3840, and 3838 single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected in the coding sequence regions of the cp. genomes of S. cannabina voucher IBSC, G. soja, and G. max compared with the A. indica sequence, respectively. A greenhouse pot experiment indicated that two pre-emergence herbicides, saflufenacil and oxyfluorfen, and two post-emergence herbicides, florpyrauxifen-benzyl and penoxsulam, can more effectively manage Indian jointvetch than other common herbicides in paddy fields. The combination of these two types of herbicides is recommended for managing Indian jointvetch throughout the entire growth period of upland direct-seeding rice. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides molecular resources for future research focusing on the identification of the infrageneric taxa, phylogenetic resolution, and biodiversity of Leguminosae plants, along with recommendations for reliable management methods to control Indian jointvetch.

Influence of labor migration on rural household food waste in China: Application of propensity score matching (PSM).

Food waste has emerged as a critical global concern, with households identified as major contributors to this pressing issue. As the world grapples with sustainability challenges, addressing food waste in the context of rural labor migration is crucial for achieving broader sustainable development goals. However, there is still limited research regarding the relationship between labor migration and food waste. We utilized propensity score matching to analyze cross-sectional data collected from 1270 rural households in China. Labor migration led to significant increases of 37% in overall food waste and 35% in plant-based food waste, respectively. Furthermore, households with labor migration exhibited 29%, 31%, and 30 % higher energy, protein, and carbohydrate waste, respectively, compared to non-migration households. Regarding micronutrients, migration led to a 39% increase in iron waste, a 42% increase in zinc waste, and a 47% increase in selenium waste. The results of the categorical analysis indicate variations in the impact of labor migration on food wastage within rural households. Food wastage in rural households with chronic illness patients responds differently to labor migration. Moreover, labor migration predominantly affects households without courier services in villages, where dietary diversity plays a significant role. Understanding these variations is essential for crafting targeted interventions and policies to address food waste in different rural contexts. The policy implications of our study are crucial for addressing food waste and advancing sustainable development in rural China, where labor migration plays a significant role.

Comparison of Biological and Genetic Characteristics between Two Most Common Broad-Leaved Weeds in Paddy Fields: Ammannia arenaria and A. multiflora (Lythraceae).

Ammannia arenaria and A. multifloras, morphologically similar at the seedling stage, are the most common broad-leaved weeds in paddy fields. Our study showed that A. arenaria occupied more space than A. multifloras when competing with rice. However, A. multifloras germination has lower temperature adaptability. No difference in sensitivity to common herbicides between two Ammannia species was observed. Chloroplast (cp) genomes could be conducive to clarify their genetic relationship. The complete cp genome sequences of A. arenaria (158,401 bp) and A. multiflora (157,900 bp) were assembled for the first time. In A. arenaria, there were 91 simple sequence repeats, 115 long repeats, and 86 protein-encoding genes, one, sixteen, and thirty more than those in A. multiflora. Inverted repeats regions expansion and contraction and the phylogenetic tree based on cp genomes demonstrated the closely relationship between the two species. However, in A. arenaria, 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CDS region were detected compared to A. multiflora, which can be used to distinguish the two species. Moreover, there was one unique gene, infA, only in A. arenaria. This study provides reliable molecular resources for future research focusing on the infrageneric taxa identification, phylogenetic resolution, population structure, and biodiversity of Ammannia species.

A comparison of milk fat globule membranes and whey proteomes: New insight into variation nutrient differences between Buffalo, Cow, Goat, and Yak.

In this study, the whey and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) proteomes of buffalo, cow, goat, and yak milk were analyzed using label-free proteomic technology. Totally, 1,292 MFGM proteins and 686 whey proteins were identified from these four species, and GO analysis revealed there were specific proteins with different functions in both whey (376) and MFGM (982) proteomes. The principal component analysis showed that ALB, TF, CSN1S1, and GLYCAM1 are characteristic markers of the milk for each of the four species. Furthermore, the conserved and differential in the expression of whey and MFGM proteins across the four species were identified by limma, and subsequent KEGG pathway analysis showed that immune-related proteins are both conserved and species-specific in the four species. These results provide a deepening of the understanding of the characteristics of proteins in whey and MFGMs from these four common dairy animals and new insight into developing dairy production.

The status of the global food waste mitigation policies: experience and inspiration for China.

Food waste has become a significant challenge faced by the community with a shared future for mankind, and it has also caused a considerable impact on China's food security. Scholars across disciplines, international organizations, and especially policymakers are increasingly interested in food waste. Policies are seen as a powerful factor in reducing food waste, but current research on related policies is more scattered. This paper summarizes and analyzes the experiences of food waste policy development and implementation by systematically reviewing the studies on food waste reduction policies. The results of this paper's analysis show that current global food waste policies are focused at the national strategic level, with approaches such as legislation, food donation, waste recycling, awareness and education, and data collection. At the same time, we find that the current experience of developed countries in policy formulation and implementation is beneficial for policy formulation in developing countries. And taking China as an example, we believe that developing countries can improve food waste policies in the future by improving legislation, guiding the development of food banks, promoting social governance, and strengthening scientific research projects. These policies will all contribute strongly to global environmental friendliness. In addition, we discuss some of the factors that influence the development of food waste policies and argue that in the future, more consideration needs to be given to the effects of policy implementation and that case studies should focus more on developing countries. This will contribute to the global sustainable development process. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10668-023-03132-0.

Pollution Characteristics, Spatial Distribution, and Evaluation of Heavy Metal(loid)s in Farmland Soils in a Typical Mountainous Hilly Area in China.

Heavy metal(loid)s pollution in farmland soil is not only a serious environmental but also a human health-related issue. Accurate understanding and evaluation of heavy metal pollution levels in the soil are very important for sustainable agricultural development and food safety. Mountainous and hilly areas have the dual functions of industrial development and agricultural production, and the farmland soil in these areas is more susceptible to heavy metal pollution. In this study, the single factor index, Nemerow index, geo-accumulation index, enrichment factor index, and potential ecological risk indices, which are mainly used to assess the contamination and risk of heavy metals in farmland soils. The sources of heavy metals in agricultural soils of the study area were analyzed using correlation analysis and principal component analysis. Finally, geostatistical methods were used to map the heavy metal contamination of farmland soils. An average concentration of all heavy metals (except As) in farmland soils of the study area exceeded the corresponding background values, as indicated by the obtained results. The results of the principal component analysis showed that the heavy metal sources in the soils of the study area can be classified into two groups. The five pollutant index methods all showed the most serious Hg pollution in the study area. The integrated pollutant mapping results showed that the risk of heavy metal pollution in the study area was mostly moderate, except for the western and central parts of the region. This study enhances understanding of the pollution levers of heavy metals in Yiyuan farmland soils, and also can facilitate the monitoring of heavy metal contaminants at the primary stage of the food chain and assess the risk of the presence of heavy metal contaminants in food, thus improving the health of the residents.

Comparative Analysis of Whole Chloroplast Genomes of Three Common Species of Echinochloa (Gramineae) in Paddy Fields.

Echinochloa crus-galli var. crus-galli, E. crus-galli var. zelayensis, and E. glabrescens, morphologically similar at the seedling stage, are the most pernicious barnyard grass species in paddy fields worldwide. Chloroplast (cp) genomes could be conducive to their identification. In this study, we assembled the complete cp genome sequences of Echinochloa crus-galli var. crus-galli (139,856 bp), E. crus-galli var. zelayensis (139,874 bp), and E. glabrescens (139,874 bp), which exhibited a typical circular tetramerous structure, large and small single-copy regions, and a pair of inverted repeats. In Echinochloa crus-galli var. crus-galli, there were 136 simple sequence (SSRs) and 62 long (LRs) repeats, and in the other two species, 139 SSRs and 68 LRs. Each cp genome contains 92 protein-encoding genes. In Echinochloa crus-galli var. crus-galli and E. glabrescens, 321 and 1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were detected compared to Echinochloa crus-galli var. zelayensis. IR expansion and contraction revealed small differences between the three species. The phylogenetic tree based on cp genomes demonstrated the phylogenetic relationship between ten barnyard grass species and other common Gramineae plants, showing new genetic relationships of the genus Echinochloa. This study provides valuable information on cp genomes, useful for identifying and classifying the genus Echinochloa and studying its phylogenetic relationships and evolution.

Amino Acid Profiles and Nutritional Evaluation of Fresh Sweet-Waxy Corn from Three Different Regions of China.

This study conducted a comparative analysis of the amino acid compositions of Chinese Huangnuo 9 fresh sweet-waxy corn from three different provinces in China-Inner Mongolia, Jilin, and Heilongjiang Province. Moreover, we established a nutritive evaluation system based on amino acid profiles to evaluate, compare, and rank the fresh sweet-waxy corn planted in different regions. A total of 17 amino acids were quantified, and the amino acid composition of fresh sweet-waxy corn was analyzed and evaluated. The amino acid quality was determined by the amino acid pattern spectrum, chemical evaluations (including CS, AAS, EAAI, BV, U(a,u), NI, F, predict PER, and PDCAAS), flavor evaluation, amino acid matching degree evaluation, and the results of the factor analysis. The results showed that the protein content of fresh corn 1-1 from Inner Mongolia was the highest (40.26 ± 0.35 mg/g), but the factor analysis results, digestion, and absorption efficiency of fresh corn 1-2 were the best. The amino acid profile of fresh corn 1-1 was closest to each evaluation's model spectrum. The results of the diversity evaluations in fresh corn 3-2 were the best, and fresh corn 3-3 had the most essential amino acid content. A total of 17 amino acids in fresh corn were divided into three principal component factor analyses: functional principal components (Leu, Pro, Glu, His, Ile, Ser, Met, Val, Tyr, Thr), regulatory principal components (Lys, Gly, Ala, Asp, Arg, Trp), and protection principal components (Phe). The scores of the three principal components and the comprehensive score in fresh corn 1-2 were all the highest, followed by 3-3 and 1-1. The amino acid nutritional values of fresh corn 1-2 were the highest in 12 samples.

Effects of common rice field weeds on the survival, feeding rate and feeding behaviour of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii.

To check if it is possible for crayfish to reduce the weed biomass in a paddy field, we hypothesised that crayfish can feed on common weeds in a paddy field. The feeding ability of red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, males and females for 4 weeds, Ludwigia prostrata Roxb., Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees, Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv and Eclipta prostrata L., commonly found in rice-crayfish fields were evaluated using a quantitative feeding experiment and behaviour observation experiment. The results of the quantitative feeding and behaviour experiments were highly consistent. The P. clarkii gender and weed species had no interactive effects on survival rate, the daily feed intake (FI) and percentage of daily feed intake (PFI). The results of the quantitative feeding experiment showed that the FI and PFI values of both P. clarkii females and males were significantly higher in the P. clarkii feed group than in the weed treatment group. Both FI and PFI were significantly higher in the L. chinensis group than in the other treatment groups. The survival rate of P. clarkii was significantly lower in the E. crusgalli group than in the other treatment groups. The behaviour observation experiment showed that the feeding frequency and duration were in the order of L. chinensis > E. prostrata > L. prostrata > E. crusgalli. The results indicate that the P. clarkii specimens liked to eat L. chinensis (mean PFI was more than 2%), hardly fed on E. crusgalli.