The enormity of the zinc deficiency problem and available solutions; an overview

The societal cost of micronutrient deficiency (MND) or the “hidden hunger” is in millions of dollars/year, reducing the GDP of some countries by as much as 11%. Zn is an important micronutrient for both plants and animals. An estimated 17% of the world population, or around 1.1 billion people, are at the risk of zinc (Zn) deficiency. The deficiency has been related to adverse pregnancy outcomes, stunted growth, premature deaths, immune system dysfunctions, neuro-behavioral disorders, and recently with the failure to recover from COVID-19. These health risks associated with Zn deficiency have compelled FAO and WHO to recommend Zn fortification of diet. Correcting Zn deficiency is a challenge due to several reasons. Close to half of the agricultural soils are Zn deficient, and chemical Zn fertilizers are costly and ineffective. Developing Zn-rich crops through plant breeding and genetic engineering is challenging. Zn-dense diet is costly and cannot be implemented in the low-income region most affected by Zn deficiency. Lack of consensus among regulatory bodies on defining and diagnosing Zn deficiency in plants and Humans. Awareness and other sociocultural issues. Among the most important available solutions are zinc biofortification of the cereal crops, use of zinc biofertilizers, development of Zn-efficient crops with reduced phytate content. The use of Zn supplements, dietary modification, and diversification, especially with fish, are proposed as the most accessible and affordable solutions. Awareness programs in areas suffering the most from Zn deficiency are required. Despite the suggestions from FAO and WHO, global efforts to combat Zn deficiency matching those for combating diseases like HIV are not in place. Coordinated efforts of the international community, especially policy-makers, agricultural scientists, dieticians, physicians, and others, are required to address the issue of hidden hunger.     

An overview of emerging pollutants in air: Method of analysis and potential public health concern from human environmental exposure

Air pollutants are perhaps the largest cause of diseases and death in the world today. Increasing urbanization and industrialization have caused an increase in number of diverse forms and types of new pollutants, which are difficult to detect and characterize due to their stench behaviour and complex sources of production. Such pollutants have been called emerging pollutants (EPs) and their list is ever increasing. Therefore, the understanding of the method of analysis and health implication of (EPs) in air is critical to providing a more robust understanding of exposure routes, regulations and mitigation. EPs in air discussed in this study are not in any way exhaustive but limited to emerging VOCs (including acrylonitrile, 1−3-butadiene, chloroform, dichloromethane, ethylene oxides, formaldehyde, toluene, trichloroethylene, 1,4-Dioxane) and metals (arsenic, manganese, and vanadium), ultrafine particles, micro- and nano- plastics, engineered nanoparticles, diesel/black carbon and bioaerosols. Occurrence, detection and health implications of these EPs in air are still unfolding due to limited monitoring studies, lack of standard methodology and regulations. To address this knowledge gap, authors conducted an in-depth review of available information. Their spatial distribution, analytical methods and health implications are discussed including the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a potential EP in air. The study concluded with highlights of gaps in knowledge and suggestions to key areas for future research. This information is of general interest to environmental scientists and of specific interest to both health and sanitation workers and policymakers at private, government and international organizations.     

Accumulation of selected metals in the fruits of medicinal plants grown in urban environment of Islamabad,Pakistan

The present study is based on the measurement of selected metals (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb, Sr and Zn) in the fruits of eight medicinal plants (Carrisa opeca, Phyllanthus emblica, Solanum nigrum, Zizyphus nummularia, Zizyphus mauritiana, Physalis minima, Opuntia dillenii and Phoenix dactylifera) and relevant soil samples by atomic absorption spectrometry. Highest average concentrations of Cu (14.4 mg/kg), Cr (19.0 mg/kg), and Zn (125 mg/kg) were found in the fruits of P. minima, C. opeca and Z. nummularia, respectively, while O. dillenii showed the elevated mean levels of Cd (3.49 mg/kg), Sr (61.4 mg/kg), Mg (0.21%), Ca (6.62%) and Mn (44.6 mg/kg). However, highest average levels of Pb (41.7 mg/kg) and Co (38.4 mg/kg) were found in Z. mauritiana. Overall, most of the fruit samples showed higher contributions of Ca and Mg, followed by Fe, Zn, Co and Pb. In the case of soil samples, highest concentration was observed for Ca, followed by Fe, Mg, Mn and Sr, while lowest concentration was shown by Cd. Bioaccumulation factors exhibited significantly higher accumulation of Co (0.813–1.829) and Pb (0.060–2.350) from the soil to the fruits. Principal component analysis revealed significant anthropogenic contributions of Pb, Fe and Co in the fruit samples. Contamination factors and enrichment factors of Cd and Pb in the soil indicated very high contamination and extreme enrichment of these metals.     

卫生部药品标准中药成方制剂中含反药药对成方制剂收载情况与分析

"十八反"、"十九畏"作为中医药领域传统的配伍禁忌,一直沿用至今,但由于临床不乏反药同用治疗某些疾病突显奇效的病案,其是否确属绝对配伍禁忌,是众多学者及临床医生关注的热点问题.<中华人民共和国卫生部药品标准·中药成方制剂>是卫生部为解决中药材品种混乱问题,保证人民用药安全有效,颁布的具有权威性的法定标准.据统计,其1～20册共收载成方制剂4052个品种,其中含反药配伍的成方制剂65个,包括含"十八反"药对的品种43个,含"十九畏"药对的品种25个,既含"十八反"又含"十九畏"药对的品种3个.经分析可知,该标准含反药药对的成方中以乌头类与半夏、官桂与赤石脂配伍使用为多;其临床应用特点,含"十八反"药对的成方主要用于风湿痹病、跌打损伤,剂型以丸剂、膏药、橡胶膏剂为主,口服与外用比例相当;含"十九畏"药对的成方主要用于月经不调,以丸剂口服为主.在处方药味数方面,含反药药对的成方以16～30味的处方较多.     

西南山地煤矿区耕地土壤-农作物重金属富集及健康风险评价

为了解西南某典型山地煤矿区周边农田土壤、农作物重金属的富集情况及对当地人群健康的影响程度,采集矿区周边农田土壤样品和对应的农作物样品,测定重金属Cr、Mn、Zn、As、Pb的含量。运用Nemero指数法、潜在风险指数法对土壤重金属的污染程度进行评价;采用靶标危害系数法(THQ)评价农作物重金属对人体的健康风险。结果显示,Cr、Mn、Zn、As、Pb分别是背景值的1.81、1.90、2.89、1.30、0.86倍,处于轻度污染级别,轻微危害程度。农作物重金属Cr、Pb和As含量的超标情况较严重,Zn的含量超标相对较小。各农作物富集的重金属对人体的健康风险大小为：高粱>玉米>白菜>葱>辣椒。农作物重金属对儿童健康的危害均达到了慢性中毒;对成人健康的影响,高粱处于慢性中毒,其它农作物重金属处于产生较大影响的危害程度。农作物重金属与土壤重金属的相关性分析表明,农作物重金属的含量与土壤重金属全量并无线性关系;各重金属在农作物中的转移能力不同;Pb,As在农作物中的转移能力较大,而Cr相对较小。鉴于矿区重金属的富集情况,应尽快采取修复治理措施,为保证当地人群健康,建议当地居民不再食用和种植富集重金属严重的高粱、玉米农作物。     

应用化学"113"人才培养体系的探索

In order to bridge the gap between the supply and the demand of talent cultivation, the existing talent cultivation system of applied chemistry specialty is reformed and a new "113" talent cultivation system is guided by Outcome-Based Education (OBE) education. The advanced engineering education mode is adopted to provide students with an engineering education based on the background environment of the conceptual-design-implementation-operation (CDIO) process. The characteristic "three modernizations" education mechanism, namely, cooperative education, family training and personalized guidance, are implemented. By building a new system of "113" talents training, an engineering talent training environment is formed, which takes the family as a unit, the enterprise as the background, and the project as the carrier. The problem of separating the supply from the demand of talents training for applied chemistry specialty will be fundamentally solved.     

全语言教育理念及对我国幼儿园语言教育的启示

全语言教育是近年来学前教育界比较重要的一种新的语言教育理念。全语言教育强调儿童的语言学习是整体性的学习,是在真实世界中进行的有效的和有用的学习,是开放而平等的学习,是与其他领域的学习融合在一起的学习。全语言教育理念对我国当前幼儿园语言教育教学改革有积极的推动作用,并有如下启示:幼儿园语言教育应该是完整的、全面的,幼儿语言教育活动的过程应是真实的,幼儿园语言教育应采用多样化的形式开展,幼儿园语言教育应与其他领域的活动相整合。     

新课改背景下皖西革命老区农村初级中学体育师资现状的调查研究

本文在新一轮课改背景下，针对对皖西革命老区农村初级中学的体育师资现状进行深入的调查分析，从师资层面找出影响皖西革命老区农村初级中学学校体育开展的制约因素，为深化《体育与健康》课程改革提供参考依据。     

景观林健康经营评价指标体系构建研究

景观林健康经营是森林资源多功能经营的重要组成部分,基于景观生态学理论、森林美学理论、森林经营管理理论以及森林健康理论,提出了景观林健康经营的目标以及评价指标体系,该指标体系包括景观林生态系统自身健康、景观林经营健康和景观林效能健康3个层次共27个指标,应用AHP法确定了指标权重,并明确了各指标的计算方法,该研究对景观林的健康经营具有重要的指导意义。     

学校体育设施服务社会的长效机制研究——以福州市各类学校的实践与探索为例

定位学校体育场馆公共服务的功能,是改善体育健身休闲与体育场地设施不足的务实途径。采用文献资料法、访问调查法和逻辑分析法,以福州市学校体育场馆服务社会的实践为例,探索构建思想创新、政策扶植、科学管理、安全保障和建立监督、评估、激励的长效发展机制,加快学校学校体育设施开放进程,推动学校体育设施服务社会的可持续发展,实现育人效益、社会效益和经济效益的统一。