use of waste materials to improve soil fertility and increase crop quality and quantity

1Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali e delle Produzioni Vegetali, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy 2 Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 307 M.B. Sturgis Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA 3Departamento de Edafoloxia e Quimica Agŕicola, Escola Politecnica Superior, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Universitario, Lugo, Spain 4Oficiul Pentru Studii Pedologice si Agrochimice Cluj, Street Fagului 1, Cluj-Napoca, Judetul Cluj, Romani

Post-depositional processes of elemental enrichment inside dark nodular masses of an ancient aeolian dune from A Coruña, Northwest Spain

This paper focuses on a residual ancient aeolian climbing dune from Punta Penaboa (A Coruña, Northwest Spain) showing evidence of post-depositional weathering, particularly the presence of dark brown nodular masses. The partitioning of trace elements between nodular masses and host sand during post-depositional weathering of the dune is investigated in this work, with the main objective of studying the elemental enrichment patterns in the dark masses. Data of the concentrations of chemical elements were obtained by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and complemented by mineralogical and microchemical studies, using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) / energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). The dune was dated by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) , yielding an age of 300ka B.P.. The dark nodular masses preserved the dune sand structure, without defined concentric layers, suggesting an early stage of formation. They consist mainly of quartz grains cemented by clay materials enriched in the majority of the elements studied, especially in Mn, Co, Ba, Sb, Ce, Tb, Th, As, Zr and Hf. The post-depositional transformations of the dune were most likely influenced by migration of chemical compounds from the surrounding slope deposits and granitic rocks, as well as microbial activity that promoted metals concentration in the solutions percolating through the pore network of the dune. Seasonal changes in the redox potential were required to produce the accumulation of Mn and other trace elements in the dune pore network and to promote the fractionation between Ce4+ and trivalent rare earth elements that was observed in the geochemical patterns

Chemical and mineralogical characterization of historic mortars from the Santa Eulalia de Bóveda temple, NW Spain

[EN]Bulk samples of mortars from the Santa Eulalia de Bóveda temple (NW Spain) have been characterized from a chemical and mineralogical point of view, with the aims of contributing technological and provenance inferences, and evaluating possible correlations with the various identified stages along historical periods of construction. Mortar samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and neutron activation analysis. Mineralogical associations found are similar (quartz, alkali feldspars, calcite and mica) for all samples, only varying in their proportions, mainly calcite. Statistical and geochemical studies allowed the differentiation of two main groups, enhancing definition of the granite nature of the aggregate, and of a significant variation in calcite proportion (lime binder). Two outlying samples were identified: one with higher calcite proportion and other corresponded to a plaster with a different raw material source. A clear correlation between the chemical groups and the independently defined chronological stages could not be found in this work. However, mortar samples from the earlier stage were associated with a higher aggregate/binder proportion.[ES]La mayoría de las muestras tomadas del conjunto monumental de Santa Eulalia de Bóveda (Noroeste de España) se han caracterizado desde un punto de vista químico y mineralógica, con el objetivo de obtener algunas conclusiones sobre aspectos tecnológicos y de procedencia de los materiales, así como evaluar las correlaciones que pueden existir con las distintas etapas constructivas identificadas mediante otro tipo de estudios. Las muestras de mortero se analizaron por difracción de rayos X y por activación neutrónica. Las asociaciones mineralógicas encontradas (cuarzo, feldespatos alcalinos, calcita y mica) son similares para todas las muestras, sólo variando en sus proporciones, principalmente de calcita. Los estudios estadísticos y geoquímicos permitieron diferenciar dos grupos principales, uno en el que se aprecia una mejora de la definición de la naturaleza del granito del agregado, y otro con una variación significativa en la proporción de calcita (cal aglomerante). Se identificaron dos muestras periféricas: una con una mayor proporción de calcita y otras corresponden a un yeso con una fuente de materia prima diferente. No se ha determinado en este trabajo una correlación clara entre los grupos químicos y las etapas cronológicas definidas de forma independiente. Sin embargo, en las muestras de mortero pertenecientes a las etapas más tempranas se identificó un agregado / aglutinante en mayor proporción que en las muestras pertenecientes a etapas posteriores.Peer reviewe

Macrophage CD5L is a target for cancer immunotherapyResearch in context

Summary: Background: Reprogramming of immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) presents an attractive therapeutic strategy in cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the role of macrophage CD5L protein in TAM activity and assess its potential as a therapeutic target. Methods: Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against recombinant CD5L were raised by subcutaneous immunization of BALB/c mice. Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from healthy donors and stimulated with IFN/LPS, IL4, IL10, and conditioned medium (CM) from different cancer cell lines in the presence of anti-CD5L mAb or controls. Subsequently, phenotypic markers, including CD5L, were quantified by flow cytometry, IF and RT-qPCR. Macrophage CD5L protein expression was studied in 55 human papillary lung adenocarcinoma (PAC) samples by IHC and IF. Anti-CD5L mAb and isotype control were administered intraperitoneally into a syngeneic Lewis Lung Carcinoma mouse model and tumor growth was measured. Tumor microenvironment (TME) changes were determined by flow cytometry, IHC, IF, Luminex, RNAseq and RT-qPCR. Findings: Cancer cell lines CM induced an immunosuppressive phenotype (increase in CD163, CD206, MERTK, VEGF and CD5L) in cultured macrophages. Accordingly, high TAM expression of CD5L in PAC was associated with poor patient outcome (Log-rank (Mantel–Cox) test p = 0.02). We raised a new anti-CD5L mAb that blocked the immunosuppressive phenotype of macrophages in vitro. Its administration in vivo inhibited tumor progression of lung cancer by altering the intratumoral myeloid cell population profile and CD4+ T-cell exhaustion phenotype, thereby significantly modifying the TME and increasing the inflammatory milieu. Interpretation: CD5L protein plays a key function in modulating the activity of macrophages and their interactions within the TME, which supports its role as a therapeutic target in cancer immunotherapy. Funding: For a full list of funding bodies, please see the Acknowledgements