Mapping of soil nutrient parameters using experimental measurements and geostatistical approaches to assist site-specific fertiliser advisories is anticipated to play a significant role in Smart Agriculture. FarmerZone is a cloud service envisioned by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, to provide advisories to assist smallholder farmers in India in enhancing their overall farm production. As a part of the project, we evaluated the soil spatial variability of three potato agroecological zones in India and provided soil health cards along with field-specific fertiliser recommendations for potato cultivation to farmers. Specifically, 705 surface samples were collected from three representative potato-growing districts of Indian states (Meerut, UP; Jalandhar, Punjab and Lahaul and Spiti, HP) and analysed for soil parameters such as organic carbon, macronutrients (NPK), micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu), pH, and EC. The soil parameters were integrated into a geodatabase and subjected to kriging interpolation to create spatial soil maps of the targeted potato agroecological zones through best-fit experimental semivariograms. The spatial distribution showed a deficiency of soil organic carbon in two studied zones and available nitrogen among all studied zones. The available phosphorus and potassium varied among the agroecological zones. The micronutrient levels were largely sufficient in all the zones except at a few specific sites where nutrient advisories are recommended to replenish. The general management strategies were recommended based on the nutrient status in the studied area. This study clearly supports the significance of site-specific soil analytics and interpolated spatial soil mapping over any targeted agroecological zones as a promising strategy to deliver reliable advisories of fertiliser recommendations for smart farming.

This research assesses the efficacy of two phosphorus (P) adsorbents as alternative fertilizers in promoting lettuce growth. A synthetic Mg/Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH) and an iron-based recycled water treatment residual (Fe-WTR), both enriched with P from dairy wastewater and added at three dosage levels. We hypothesized that the adsorbents\' physicochemical nature will overshadow the biological efforts in the plant ecosystem to increase P solubility, impacting plant growth, nutritional composition, and metabolite profiles. Fe-WTR significantly enhanced lettuce biomass compared to LDH. Yet, elemental analysis revealed higher or equal P concentrations in the low-biomass LDH plants relative to other treatments. Phosphorus uptake appears to influence the assimilation of other nutrients that divided into two groups: calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper with notable correlations to P and nitrogen, iron, aluminum, vanadium and manganese with low correlations to P. Conversely, P retained poor correlation with most metabolites whereas iron showed a higher correlation with numerous metabolites. Analysis of metabolites, encompassing carbohydrates, the Krebs cycle, amino acids, nucleic acids, and stress and regulatory pathways, revealed diminished levels in the LDH treatments. Overall, carbon assimilation (plant growth) was more effectively predicted by soil P availability (adsorbent type and dose) rather than by cellular P concentration, suggesting root signaling was at play, influencing carbohydrate translocation to the roots. Diminished levels of cellular sugars further affect metabolic pathways and iron uptake, thus restricting photosynthesis. The results illustrate the substantial influence of the P source on the plant\'s metabolic processes and soil biogeochemistry. The synthetic LDH adsorbent with high sorption capacity, tightly binds its substantial P pool, rendering it inaccessible and potentially disrupting rhizosphere biogeochemical interactions. In contrast, the chemical nature of Fe-WTR enabled efficient nutrients acquisition bioactivity. The study highlights Fe-WTR as a promising sustainable alternative to conventional fertilizers, emphasizing its potential scalability and adaptability in agricultural contexts.

River water quality is influenced by natural processes and human activities. Multi-scale landscape patterns can affect river water quality by altering the generation and transport processes of pollutants at different spatial scales. Taking Taizi River Basin in Northeast China as an example, we analyzed the relationship between landscape patterns and non-point source pollution in rivers based on water quality monitoring data and land use data by using correlation analysis and redundancy analysis methods. We aimed to determine the key spatial scales for the responses of landscape patterns to non-point source pollution and identify the key landscape indices influencing river non-point source pollution. The results showed that water quality of Taizi River Basin had seasonal differences, with better water quality during the flood season than non-flood season. Spatially, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were higher at the confluence points of tributaries and downstream areas. The impact of landscape patterns on non-point source pollution was stronger during the non-flood season than the flood season, while the influence on TN was stronger than on TP. At the spatial scale of within 500 m buffer zone during the flood season and at the sub-watershed scale during the non-flood season, landscape patterns showed the highest explanatory power for the variations of TN and TP. At the type level, built-up land, cropland, and bare land were positively correlated with TN and TP, while forest was negatively correlated with TN and TP, which were the key types influencing non-point source pollution. At the landscape level, patch density, percentage of like adjacencies, and contagion index were key indicators affecting watershed water quality. Lower patch density was associated with better connectivity and aggregation of \"sink\" landscapes, leading to better purification effects on TN, but more pronounced retention effects on TP. Conversely, higher landscape diversity and denser pattern of multiple types would cause the deterioration of water quality. Our results suggested that rational allocation of landscape types within the watershed and riparian buffer zones, appropriately enriching landscape diversity, and optimizing landscape aggregation and connectivity would be effective measures for improving water quality and achieving sustainable ecological management.
河流水质是自然与人类活动综合影响的结果,多尺度景观格局通过改变不同空间尺度污染物的产生和运移过程对河流水质产生不同程度的影响。本研究以中国北方太子河流域为例,基于水质监测数据和土地利用数据,运用相关性分析、冗余分析方法,分析景观格局与河流非点源污染的关系,确定非点源污染对景观格局响应的最佳空间尺度,识别影响河流非点源污染的关键景观指标。结果表明: 太子河流域水质在时间上具有季节差异,汛期水质优于非汛期;在空间上,污染物全氮(TN)和全磷(TP)的高值出现在支流汇入点和下游地区;景观格局对非点源污染的影响在非汛期强于汛期,且TN强于TP。在汛期500 m以内河岸带缓冲区、非汛期集水区尺度下,景观格局对太子河TN和TP的解释率最高;类型水平上,建设用地、耕地和裸地与TN和TP呈正相关,林地与TN和TP呈负相关,是影响非点源污染的关键类型;景观水平上,斑块密度、相似邻近比例和蔓延度指数是影响流域水质的关键指标。斑块密度越低,“汇”型景观连通性越好,对TN的净化效果越好,但对TP的截留效应更明显。反之,景观多样性增加并构成多种类型的密集格局,越易导致水质恶化。合理配置流域内及河岸带缓冲区景观类型、适当丰富景观多样性、优化景观聚集性和连通性,是流域水质改善及可持续生态管理的有效措施。.

Phosphorus (P) discharge from agricultural and urban drainage is known for causing downstream eutrophication worldwide. Agricultural best management practices that are designed to reduce P load out of farms target different P species from various sources such as fertilizers leaching and farm soil and canal sediment erosion, however, few studies have assessed the impact of floating aquatic vegetation (FAV) on canal sediment and farm drainage water quality. This study evaluated the impact of FAVs on canal sediment properties and P water quality in drainage canals in the Everglades Agricultural Area in south Florida, USA. Non-parametric statistical methods, correlation analysis, trend analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to determine the relationship between FAV coverage with sediment properties and P water quality parameters. Results showed that FAV coverage was correlated with the highly recalcitrant and most stable form of P in the sediment layer (Residual P Pool). FAV coverage also correlated with the dissolved organic P (DOP) which was the smallest P pool (7 %) of total P concentration in drainage water, therefore FAV coverage had no correlation with farm P load. The trend analysis showed no trend in farm P loads, despite a decline in FAV coverage at farm canals over an 8-year period. Phosphorus content in the sediment surface layer was strongly associated with farm P load and had a significant correlation with particulate P (PP) and soluble reactive P (SRP) which constituted 47 % and 46 % of the total P concentration in the drainage water, respectively. Equilibrium P concentration assays also showed the potential to release SRP from the sediment layer. The P budget established for this study reveals that sediment stores the largest P mass (333 kg P), while FAVs store the smallest P mass (8 kg P) in a farm canal, highlighting the significant contribution of canal sediment to farm P discharges. Further research is required to evaluate the impact of sediment removal and canal maintenance practices that help reduce farm P discharges.

This paper evaluates the performance and potential of a full-scale hybrid multi-soil-layering (MSL) system for the treatment of domestic wastewater for landscape irrigation reuse. The system integrates a solar septic tank and sequential vertical flow MSL and horizontal flow MSL components with alternating layers of gravel and soil-based material. It operates at a hydraulic loading rate of 250 L/m2/day. Results show significant removal of pollutants and pathogens, including total suspended solids (TSS) (97%), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (88.57%), total phosphorus (TP) (79.93%), and total nitrogen (TN) (88.49%), along with significant reductions in fecal bacteria indicators (4.21 log for fecal coliforms and 3.90 log for fecal streptococci) and the pathogen Staphylococcus sp. (2.43 log). The principal component analysis confirms the effectiveness of the system in reducing the concentrations of NH4, COD, TP, PO4, fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, and fecal staphylococci, thus supporting the reliability of the study. This work highlights the promising potential of the hybrid MSL technology for the treatment of domestic wastewater, especially in arid regions such as North Africa and the Middle East, to support efforts to protect the environment and facilitate the reuse of wastewater for landscape irrigation and agriculture.

Soil fertility (SF) is a crucial factor that directly impacts the performance and quality of crop production. To investigate the SF status in agricultural lands of winter wheat in Khuzestan province, 811 samples were collected from the soil surface (0-25 cm). Eleven soil properties, i.e., electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE), available phosphorus (Pav), exchangeable potassium (Kex), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and soil pH, were measured in the samples. The Nutrient Index Value (NIV) was calculated based on wheat nutritional requirements. The results indicated that 100%, 93%, and 74% of the study areas for CCE, pH, and EC fell into the low, moderate, and moderate to high NIV classes, respectively. Also, 25% of the area is classified as low fertility (NIV < 1.67), 75% falls under medium fertility (1.67 < NIV value < 2.33), and none in high fertility (NIV value > 2.33). Assessment of the mean wheat yield (AWY) and its comparison with NIV showed that the highest yield was in the Ramhormoz region (5200 kg.ha-1), while the lowest yield was in the Hendijan region (3000 kg.ha-1) with the lowest EC rate in the study area. Elevated levels of salinity and CCE in soils had the most negative impact on irrigated WY, while Pav, TN, and Mn availability showed significant effects on crop production. Therefore, implementing SF management practices is essential for both quantitative and qualitative improvement in irrigated wheat production in Khuzestan province.

Spurious hyperphosphatemia, a rare occurrence, typically arises from substances in a patient\'s blood interfering with the colorimetric method for serum phosphate measurement. We present a case of factitious hyperphosphatemia caused by alteplase-contaminated blood samples in an 88-year-old CKD patient on hemodialysis, leading to misleadingly high phosphorus levels. Thorough investigations ruled out other etiologies, highlighting the necessity of stringent adherence to blood collection protocols to prevent sample contamination and avert erroneous laboratory results. This unique cause of hyperphosphatemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis when encountering unexplained elevations in phosphorus levels, particularly in the context of normal blood calcium levels.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a rare endocrine malignancy causing pathological changes such as abnormal bone metabolism, elevated serum calcium, and impaired renal function, and uncontrollable hypercalcemia is the main cause of death in PC patients. The diagnosis of PC is challenging and relying on postoperative histopathology. Radical surgery at the first time is the only effective therapy to cure PC. Hungry bone syndrome (HBS) is a relatively uncommon complication of parathyroidectomy characterized by profound and prolonged hypocalcemia, timely electrolyte monitoring and alternative interventional protocols can prevent symptomatic hypocalcemia.
METHODS: A 57-year-old man presented with multiple pathological fractures and muscle atrophy as the main symptoms accompanied by bone pain, hypercalcemia, elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH), and an enlarged left-sided neck mass. After consultation of multidisciplinary team, he was treated conservatively with plaster bandage fixation and infusion of intravenous zoledronic acid; and then complete resection of parathyroid mass + removal of involved tissue structures + left thyroid and isthmus lobectomy + lymph node dissection in the VI region in left neck were performed. The postoperative histopathology suggested a diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma. Calcium and fluid supplementation and oral levothyroxine tablets were given postoperatively. Unexpectedly, the patient\'s PTH level decreased rapidly at 24 h postoperative, and serum calcium and phosphorus decreased continuously, and he felt numb around perioral sites and fingertips, which considered to be postoperative HBS complicated by parathyroidectomy. Then, a large amount of calcium supplementation and vitamin D were given timely and the patient got better at 1 month postoperatively. At 9-month postoperative, his bone pain and fatigue were significantly relieved compared with before with calcium, phosphorus, and PTH levels at normal range.
CONCLUSIONS: The possibility of parathyroid disease, particularly PC, should be considered in the presence of multiple pathological fractures, muscle atrophy, generalized bone pain, hypercalcemia, and clear neck mass. Radical resection of the tumor lesions at the first surgery is a key element affecting the prognosis of PC, and the effective management of preoperative hypercalcemia and postoperative HBS is also of great significance for improving prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a viral infection mediated by coronavirus-2 that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). The disease may affect biochemical parameters and electrolytes. C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide (CTX-I) is released during mature bone resorption and is a biomarker for predicting bone resorption.
OBJECTIVE: As the pandemic progressed, understanding the effects of COVID-19 disease remained critical. Inflammatory responses triggered by the virus can result in a bone metabolism regulation imbalance. As such, this study aimed to analyze serum levels of CTX-I, calcium (CA), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), C-reactive protein (CRP), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in COVID-19 patients to investigate the relationship between bone resorption and the disease.
METHODS: The study included 56 individuals with COVID-19 (divided into mild, moderate and severe subgroups depending on disease severity) and 25 healthy adults as a control group. Serum CTX-I concentrations were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, CRP, Ca, Mg, P, and ALP levels were measured using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer.
RESULTS: Serum CTX-I levels were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a positive weak relationship was detected between CRP and CTX-I (r = 0.303, p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum CTX-I levels in the patient group caused COVID-19-driven bone degradation, though serum CTX-I levels did not differ according to disease severity.

Urban stormwater runoff is a significant source of nutrient pollution that is very costly to treat. Water quality trading (WQT) is a market-based strategy that can be used to lower the costs associated with meeting stormwater quality regulations. While many WQT programs have experienced low participation, Virginia\'s program has seen high participation due to the inclusion of land developers and other regulated stormwater dischargers. However, the extent to which WQT is used as a compliance option by regulated stormwater dischargers is not well understood, particularly when compared with the adoption of traditional compliance options. To address this knowledge gap, we collated a novel dataset comprising site characteristics and stormwater compliance methods for all development projects in the City of Roanoke, Virginia from December 2015 to March 2022. We analyzed this dataset to characterize the adoption of nutrient offset credits and other compliance methods being used, including best management practices (BMPs) and improved land covers associated with reduced nutrient export. Results show that credits are the preferred compliance option in Roanoke and were used as the only treatment compliance method for 59% of projects with treatment requirements. Projects using credits corresponded with a lower median disturbed area (1.36 acres) and lower median nutrient load reduction requirement (0.69 pounds of total phosphorus per year) compared with other compliance methods. Furthermore, we found that 58% of the projects that used credits achieved stormwater quantity compliance using methods other than implementing stormwater control devices. By mapping buyers and sellers of credits, we found that all credit sellers are downstream of the development projects. We discuss how this downstream trading could be a cause for concern, as part of a larger discussion of the advantages of tracking stormwater compliance methods, drawing on Roanoke as a case study.