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The hazard quotients for Pb and Cd were much greater than one, indicating a high risk of possible exposure to toxic levels by people consuming maize grain grown in this area. This study demonstrated the significant potential of manure and phosphate-based amendments to reduce Pb and Zn, and to some extent Cd, uptake in maize grain and consequently reduce associated health risks.Pro-inflammatory CD4+CD28- T cells are characteristic of immunosenescence, but also of several autoimmune/inflammatory diseases. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) acts as an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory mediator on these cells. Our objective was to study the mutual influence between senescent Th cells and VIP axis in early arthritis (EA), comparing with non-EA donors. We characterized the correlation between senescent Th cells and clinic parameters of EA as well as the behavior of senescent Th biomarkers by real-time PCR. Clinical data were systematically recorded at baseline and after 6 months of follow-up. The number of CD4+CD28- T cells measured by sorting is higher in patients who initially meet ACR classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to those who were classified as undifferentiated arthritis (UA). A slight positive correlation between EA CD4+CD28- T cells and CRP or ESR and a negative correlation with bone mineral density were found. Th senescent biomarkers in EA CD4+CD28- T cells were similar to donors, however some of them increased after 6 months of follow-up. VPAC receptors were analyzed by real-time PCR and immunofluorescence, and CD4+CD28- T cells showed higher expression of VPAC2 and lower of VPAC1, VPAC2 showing a significant increased expression in EA cells. Sorted CD4+CD28- T cells were in vitro expanded in presence of VIP, wherein VIP increased senescent biomarker CD27, while it diminished CD57 or NKG2 senescent biomarkers. Our study demonstrates for the first time the existence of a link between senescent Th cells and the VIP axis.The deformation and cracking of concrete will lead to various deterioration processes, which will greatly reduce the durability and service life of the concrete pavement. The relating previous studies and analysis revealed that the coupling action of environmental temperature, moisture, and wheel load will cause cracking and seriously affect the normal service and durability of pavement concrete. This paper presents theoretical and numerical state-of-the-art information in the field of deformation and failure of pavement concrete under coupling action of moisture, temperature, and wheel load and draws some conclusions. (a) Concrete is a typical porous material, moisture and heat transfer theory has obtained enough data to simulate the hygro-thermo properties of concrete, and the relationship between moisture and heat is very clear. (b) There are few studies on concrete pavement or airport pavement considering the coupling action of moisture, temperature, and wheel load. (c) Concrete pavement is subjected to hygro-thermal-mechanical coupling action in service, which has the characteristics of a similar period and its possible fatigue effect. (d) COMSOL software has certain advantages for solving the coupled hygro-thermal-mechanical of concrete.Leukoreduction (LR) is a technique that consists of reducing the number of leukocytes in whole blood or blood components that can contribute to decreasing storage lesions and the occurrence of post-transfusion complications. We propose that using a blood bag with pre-storage leukocyte filtration is sufficient for blood conservation under field conditions. Ten healthy Nelore cows were used. Whole blood was sampled from each animal and stored at 2 to 6 °C in CPD/SAG-M (citrate phosphate dextrose bag with a saline, adenine, glucose, mannitol satellite bag) triple bags (Control) and in CPD/SAG-M quadruple bags with a leukocyte filter (Filter). At baseline and after 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days (D0, D7, D14, D21, D28, D35, and D42, respectively), complete hematological, blood gas, and biochemical evaluations were determined. The filtered bag removed 99.3% of white blood cells from cattle blood, and the entire filtration process was performed in the field. There was a reduction in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) in both groups from D14 onward, with a decrease of 19.7% and 17.1% at D42 for the Control and Filter bags, respectively. The hemoglobin (Hb) concentration had variation in both groups. Potassium, pO2, pCO2, and sO2 increased, and sodium, bicarbonate, and pH decreased during storage. The filtered bag was efficient in removing white cells from cattle whole blood and could be used under field conditions. Blood stored after LR showed differences (p less then 0.05) in blood gas analysis towards a better quality of stored blood (e.g., higher pH, lower pCO2, higher sO2). Further experimental studies are required to prove that blood without white cells results in a decrease in transfusion reactions in cattle.Ciguatera poisoning is a foodborne disease caused by the consumption of seafood contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs) produced by dinoflagellates in the genera Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa. Ciguatera outbreaks are expected to increase worldwide with global change, in particular as a function of its main drivers, including changes in sea surface temperature, acidification, and coastal eutrophication. In French Polynesia, G. polynesiensis is regarded as the dominant source of CTXs entering the food web. The effects of pH (8.4, 8.2, and 7.9), NitrogenPhosphorus ratios (24N1P vs. 48N1P), and nitrogen source (nitrates vs. urea) on growth rate, biomass, CTX levels, and profiles were examined in four clones of G. polynesiensis at different culture age (D10, D21, and D30). SGC707 in vivo Results highlight a decrease in growth rate and cellular biomass at low pH when urea is used as a N source. No significant effect of pH, NP ratio, and N source on the overall CTX content was observed. Up to ten distinct analogs of Pacific ciguatoxins (P-CTXs) could be detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in clone NHA4 grown in urea, at D21. Amounts of more oxidized P-CTX analogs also increased under the lowest pH condition. These data provide interesting leads for the custom production of CTX standards.