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Burn wounds are vulnerable to various infections due to damage to the tissue and changes in immune responses. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a critical bacterium that can cause burn wound infections, which can be life-threatening and delay wound healing. Therefore, it is essential to develop an efficient strategy to prevent the spread of infection in burn wounds. The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of electrospun nanofibers of royal jelly on a chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol polymer scaffold in repairing burn wounds infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To achieve this, the researchers analyzed the morphology and physicochemical properties of the synthesized nanofibers using SEM, FTIR, BET, and TGA analyses. They also examined the antibacterial properties of the nanofibers using agar diffusion and spread plate techniques. In addition, hemolysis tests were carried out to assess biocompatibility. Finally, the ability of the nanofibers to repair burn wounds infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated using a laboratory mouse model. The study results showed that the synthesized nanofibers had desirable morphology and physicochemical properties and significant antibacterial effects in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Also, loading RJ into the polymer scaffold significantly reduced erythrocyte lysis. The wound healing and contraction rates were significantly higher than the control groups, and tissue repair, re-epithelialization, and collagen synthesis occurred faster, preventing the spread of infection to deeper tissue areas. Based on these findings, the synthesized system has the potential to serve as a suitable substitute for some invasive treatments and chemical drugs to improve chronic wounds and manage infection control in burn injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous models for sleep stage scoring utilizing single-channel raw EEG signal have typically employed CNN and BiLSTM architectures. While these models, incorporating temporal information for sequence classification, demonstrate superior overall performance, they often exhibit low per-class performance for N1-stage, necessitating an adjustment of loss function. However, the efficacy of such adjustment is constrained by the training process. In this study, a pioneering training approach called separating training is introduced, alongside a novel model, to enhance performance. The developed model comprises 15 CNN models with varying loss function weights for feature extraction and 1 BiLSTM for sequence classification. Due to its architecture, this model cannot be trained using an end-to-end approach, necessitating separate training for each component using the Sleep-EDF dataset. Achieving an overall accuracy of 87.02%, MF1 of 82.09%, Kappa of 0.8221, and per-class F1-socres (W 90.34%, N1 54.23%, N2 89.53%, N3 88.96%, and REM 87.40%), our model demonstrates promising performance. Comparison with sleep technicians reveals a Kappa of 0.7015, indicating alignment with reference sleep stags. Additionally, cross-dataset validation and adaptation through training with the SHHS dataset yield an overall accuracy of 84.40%, MF1 of 74.96% and Kappa of 0.7785 when tested with the Sleep-EDF-13 dataset. These findings underscore the generalization potential in model architecture design facilitated by our novel training approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple oxygen isotope ratios have been increasingly acknowledged as useful hydrological tracers but measuring both 17O/16O and 18O/16O ratios with meaningful precision has been challenging due to the much lower natural abundance of 17O than 16O and even 18O. In this study, in line with the advancement of laser-based techniques and their growing applications, we demonstrate how to optimize the determination of 17O-excess (Δ17O = ln(δ17O + 1) − 0.528 × ln(δ18O + 1)) in natural water using a commercial wavelength-scanned cavity ring-down spectrometer (WS-CRDS). We particularly focus on how to decide the injection numbers of samples and standard solutions utilized for normalization of sample results to the VSMOW-SLAP reference scale. With a measurement strategy aimed at an uncertainty better than 10 per meg (1σ), the Δ17O of Greenland Ice Sheet Precipitation (GISP) is determined to be 24 ± 9 per meg (n = 104), in agreement with previous literature values. By applying this method to Antarctic glacial ice, it is shown to be useful in detecting the seasonality of Δ17O values in Antarctic precipitation. Our approach represents an underlying analytical method that provides guidelines for determining Δ17O from various types of natural waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analytical techniques applied to verify honey authenticity are multifaceted and often result in complex data rich certificates of analysis that are open to interpretation and may be opaque to stakeholders without specialist knowledge. In these cases, the drawing of an independent overarching opinion is challenging. Two questions arise: (Q1) Is it acceptable to report interpretation, particularly if it is adverse, without exhibiting the supporting data? (Q2) How may a valid overarching opinion on authenticity be derived from a large, partially conflicting, dataset? To Q1, it is demonstrated that full disclosure of the data used in interpretation is mandatory. To Q2 it is proposed, with worked examples, to adopt 'evaluative reporting'; a formalised likelihood ratio thought process used in forensic science for evaluation of findings and their strength assessment. In the absence of consensus on techniques for honey authenticity adoption of reporting conventions will allow objective assessments of reports, with equity to all and provide a better basis to identify and address fraud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isotopic composition of carbon (δ13С) and nitrogen (δ15N) in samples of dead honey bees and beekeeping products (honey, pollen load, wax, propolis) purchased both at honey fairs and directly at apiaries in the Tomsk oblast and, for comparison, in the Altai krai, Krasnodar krai, and Kaluga and Kemerovo oblasts, was analyzed. The goal of the study was to identify the indicator ability of the ratios of stable isotopes of carbon 13C/12C and nitrogen 15N/14N in monitoring the ecological state of territories covering the habitat of honey bees and controlling food products (honey, pollen load). Isotope analysis was performed by isotope mass spectrometry using a DELTA V Advantage isotope mass spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a comprehensive study of red wax pendent seals attached to the Russian documents of the late 15th–early 18th centuries are presented. Seals of adjacent territories were used for comparison of dyeing technologies for Western European and Russian wax seals. Since the seals included a variety of organic and inorganic materials according to historical data, the set of methods included IR-spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction phase analysis, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis, inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry, and gas chromatography with mass-spectrometry. Experimental techniques were tested out on model samples of red seals made from modern beeswax with the use of various pigments: red lead, cinnabar, and lead white. A study of historical seals showed that beeswax, resin, and cinnabar were used in the manufacture of European seals in full accordance with historical data. The composition of Russian seals of the 15th–17th centuries differs from the list of materials purchased for the needs of the Posolsky Prikaz (Ambassadorial Prikaz) responsible for manufacturing state charters. The composition for the seal of Peter the Great (a mixture of beeswax, resin, cinnabar, and red lead) is consistent with the recipes for Russian seals of the early and mid-16th century. Thus, an evolution in the Russian practice of making red wax seals with some difference from synchronous European recipes was traced. It was found that the presence of lead in red historical wax samples is rarely associated with lead coloring pigments, which showed the imperative need for comprehensive studies of wax seals, including X-ray phase and electron microscopy methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of chronic hypoxic state in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) on brainstem pathways using Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) test and to investigate the presence of new markers likely to be correlated with the severity of the disease. Methods: The study was planned as prospective and double blind. A total of 60 patients (120 ears) diagnosed with mild, moderate and severe OSAS were included in the study and the patients are grouped as 20 patients in each group. Twenty volunteer healthy individuals (40 ears) shown to be without OSAS were included in the study. VEMP measurements were made in 60 study group patients (120 ears) and in 20 healthy controls (40 ears). The groups were compared in terms of variables such as the acquisition rate of oVEMP and cVEMP waves, interval between the waves, latency and amplitude of the waves. p < 0.05 values were considered as significant. Results: The results of cVEMP test showed that the rate of wave acquisition in the moderate and severe OSAS groups was significantly lower than the control group and mild OSAS groups (p = 0.008). There was no difference between the control group and the mild OSAS group in terms of the rate of obtaining the wave (p > 0.05). In the moderate and severe OSAS groups, P1N1 amplitude and N1P2 amplitude values were found to be significantly lower than the mild OSAS group (p = 0.007 and p = 0.017, respectively). In the oVEMP test, there was no significant difference between the mild OSAS group and the control group in terms of the wave yield (p > 0.05); however, it was found that the rate of wave acquisition in the moderate and severe OSAS groups was significantly lower than the mild OSAS group (p = 0.041). There was inverse correlation between the N1P2 interval and P1N1 amplitude value and AHI in simple regression analysis and multiple regression analysis (p = 0.012 and p = 0.021; p = 0.009 and p = 0.040, respectively). Conclusion: The negative effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia related with OSAS on the brainstem and vestibular system can be demonstrated by VEMP tests. Especially, the inability to obtain the wave is the most important finding showing this situation. Also, we think that N1P2 interval and P1N1 amplitude markers can be used to detect the subclinical negative effect of chronic hypoxia on vestibular nuclei in the brainstem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data suggest that the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles coluzzii persists during the dry season in the Sahel through a dormancy mechanism known as aestivation; however, the contribution of aestivation compared with alternative strategies such as migration is unknown. Here we marked larval Anopheles mosquitoes in two Sahelian villages in Mali using deuterium ( 2 H) to assess the contribution of aestivation to persistence of mosquitoes through the seven-month dry season. After an initial enrichment period, 33% of An. coluzzii mosquitoes were strongly marked. Seven months following enrichment, multiple analysis methods supported the ongoing presence of marked mosquitoes, compatible with the prediction that the fraction of marked mosquitoes should remain stable throughout the dry season if local aestivation is occurring. The results suggest that aestivation is a major persistence mechanism of An. coluzzii in the Sahel, contributing at least 20% of the adults at the onset of rains. This persistence strategy could influence mosquito control and malaria elimination campaigns., (© 2022. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Using the rat hypoxia model, the imbalanced work of antiradical defense enzymes with insufficient dismutase activity in blood leading to the development of oxidative stress, which was more pronounced in animals receiving a natural drinking diet, has been confirmed on the basis of the comparative analysis of the antiradical defense enzyme functioning index. It has been observed that acute hypoxia in the brain tissues is characterized by the development of catalase deficiency and the risk of excessive hydrogen peroxide production. It has been demonstrated that a decrease in the D/H (deuterium/protium) ratio in the blood and brain reduces the severity of the impairment of antioxidant enzyme work in hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life in saline environments represents a major physiological challenge for birds, particularly for passerines that lack nasal salt glands and hence are forced to live in environments that do not contain salty resources. Increased energy costs associated with increased salt intake, which in turn increases the production of reactive oxygen species, is likely a major selection pressure for why passerines are largely absent from brackish and marine environments. Here we measured basal metabolic rates (BMR) and oxidative status of free-ranging individuals of three species of Cinclodes, a group of passerine birds that inhabit marine and freshwater habitats in Chile. We used a combination of carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen isotope data from metabolically active (blood) and inert (feathers) tissues to estimate seasonal changes in marine resource use and infer altitudinal migration. Contrary to our expectations, the consumption of marine resources did not result in higher BMR values and higher oxidative stress. Specifically, the marine specialist C. nigrofumosus had lower BMR than the other two species (C. fuscus and C. oustaleti), which seasonally switch between terrestrial and marine resources. C. fuscus had significantly higher total antioxidant capacity than the other two species (C. nigrofumosus and C. oustaleti) that consumed a relatively high proportion of marine resources. Nearly all studies examining the effects of salt consumption have focused on intraspecific acclimation via controlled experiments in the laboratory. The mixed results obtained from field- and lab-based studies reflect our poor understanding of the mechanistic link among hydric-salt balance, BMR, and oxidative stress in birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heart of forensic science is application of the scientific method and analytical approaches to answer questions central to solving a crime: Who, What, When, Where, and How. Forensic practitioners use fundamentals of chemistry and physics to examine evidence and infer its origin. In this regard, ecological researchers have had a significant impact on forensic science through the development and application of a specialized measurement technique—isotope analysis—for examining evidence. Here, we review the utility of isotope analysis in forensic settings from an ecological perspective, concentrating on work from the Americas completed within the last three decades. Our primary focus is on combining plant and animal physiological models with isotope analyses for source inference. Examples of the forensic application of isotopes—including stable isotopes, radiogenic isotopes, and radioisotopes—span from cotton used in counterfeit bills to anthrax shipped through the U.S. Postal Service and from beer adulterated with cheap adjuncts to human remains discovered in shallow graves. Recent methodological developments and the generation of isotope landscapes, or isoscapes, for data interpretation promise that isotope analysis will be a useful tool in ecological and forensic studies for decades to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Recent impressive improvements in the application of Quantum Mechanics, coupled with a significant increase in both speed and storage capabilities of modern computers, allow to depict the energy and reactive properties of chemically complex materials through first principles and to discard the dogmatic assumption that Natural Complexity cannot be reproduced by a strict application of theory. In the following I will try to convey methods and procedures aimed at obtaining sound thermodynamic and thermo-physical data for Earth's materials under various aggregation states. In doing this I will partly use my own production as reference and I will have to introduce concepts that may appear obvious or even obsolete to experienced readers. My prearranged apologies. The emphasis will focus on the practical aspects of the various procedures, with a few hints on the underlying concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study performed in mice investigating the action of DF302, a novel fluoride-containing gamma-carboline derivative, in comparison to the structurally similar neuroprotective drug dimebon. Drug effects on learning and memory, emotionality, hippocampal neurogenesis and mitochondrial functions, as well as AMPA-mediated currents and the 5-HT6 receptor are reported. In the step-down avoidance and fear-conditioning paradigms, bolus administration of drugs at doses of 10 or 40 mg/kg showed that only the higher dose of DF302 improved long-term memory while dimebon was ineffective at either dosage. Short-term memory and fear extinction remained unaltered across treatment groups. During the 5-day predation stress paradigm, oral drug treatment over a period of 2 weeks at the higher dosage regimen decreased anxiety-like behaviour. Both compounds supressed inter-male aggression in CD1 mice, the most eminent being the effects of DF302 in its highest dose. DF302 at the higher dose decreased floating behaviour in a 2-day swim test and after 21-day ultrasound stress. The density of Ki67-positive cells, a marker of adult neurogenesis, was reduced in the dentate gyrus of stressed dimebon-treated and non-treated mice, but not in DF302-treated mice. Non-stressed mice that received DF302 had a higher density of Ki67-positive cells than controls unlike dimebon-treated mice. Similar to dimebon, DF302 effectively potentiated AMPA receptor-mediated currents, bound to the 5-HT6 receptor, inhibited mitochondrial permeability transition and displayed cytoprotective properties in cellular models of neurodegeneration. Thus, DF302 exerts multi-target effects on the key mechanisms of neurodegenerative pathologies and can be considered as an optimized novel analogue of the neuroprotective agent dimebon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supplementation of culture medium with fetal bovine serum (FBS, also referred to as "fetal calf serum") is still common practice in cell culture applications. Due to a number of disadvantages in terms of quality and reproducibility of in vitro data, animal welfare concerns, and in light of recent cases of fraudulent marketing, the search for alternatives and the development of serum-free medium formulations has gained global attention. Here, we report on the 3rd Workshop on FBS, Serum Alternatives and Serum-free Media, where regulatory aspects, the serum dilemma, alternatives to FBS, case-studies of serum-free in vitro applications, and the establishment of serum-free databases were discussed. The whole process of obtaining blood from a living calf fetus to using the FBS produced from it for scientific purposes is de facto not yet legally regulated despite the existing EU-Directive 2010/63/EU on the use of animals for scientific purposes. Together with the above-mentioned challenges, several strategies have been developed to reduce or replace FBS in cell culture media in terms of the 3Rs (Refinement, Reduction, Replacement). Most recently, releasates of activated human donor thrombocytes (human platelet lysates) have been shown to be one of the most promising serum alternatives when chemically-defined media are not yet an option. Additionally, new developments in cell-based assay techniques, advanced organ-on-chip and microphysiological systems are covered in this report. Chemically-defined serum-free media are shown to be the ultimate goal for the majority of culture systems, and examples are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen isotopes have significantly enhanced our understanding of the biogeography of migratory animals. The basis for this methodology lies in predictable, continental patterns of precipitation δD values that are often reflected in an organism's tissues. δD variation is not expected for oceanic pelagic organisms whose dietary hydrogen (water and organic hydrogen in prey) is transferred up the food web from an isotopically homogeneous water source. We report a 142 ‰ range in the δD values of flight feathers from the Hawaiian petrel ( Pterodroma sandwichensis), an oceanic pelagic North Pacific species, and inquire about the source of that variation. We show δD variation between and within four other oceanic pelagic species: Newell's shearwater ( Puffinus auricularis newellii), Black-footed albatross ( Phoebastria nigripes), Laysan albatross ( Phoebastria immutabilis) and Buller's shearwater ( Puffinus bulleri). The similarity between muscle δD values of hatch-year Hawaiian petrels and their prey suggests that trophic fractionation does not influence δD values of muscle. We hypothesize that isotopic discrimination is associated with water loss during salt excretion through salt glands. Salt load differs between seabirds that consume isosmotic squid and crustaceans and those that feed on hyposmotic teleost fish. In support of the salt gland hypothesis, we show an inverse relationship between δD and percent teleost fish in diet for three seabird species. Our results demonstrate the utility of δD in the study of oceanic consumers, while also contributing to a better understanding of δD systematics, the basis for one of the most commonly utilized isotope tools in avian ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Segmental analysis of hair has been used in diverse fields ranging from forensics to ecology to measure the concentration of substances such as drugs and isotopes. Multiple hairs are typically combined into a bundle for segmental analysis to obtain a high-resolution series of measurements. Individual hair strands cycle through multiple phases of growth and grow at different rates when in the growth phase. Variation in growth of hair strands in a bundle can cause misalignment of substance concentration between hairs, attenuating the primary body signal. We developed a mathematical model based on the known physiology of hair growth to describe the signal averaging caused by bundling multiple hairs for segmental analysis. The model was used to form an inverse method to estimate the primary body signal from measurements of a hair bundle. The inverse method was applied to a previously described stable oxygen isotope chronology from the hair of a murder victim and provides a refined interpretation of the data. Aspects of the reconstruction were confirmed when the victim was later identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable isotope biogeochemistry is useful for quantifying the feeding ecology of modern and extinct primates. Over the past three decades, substantial advances have been made in our knowledge of the physiological causes of isotopic patterns as well as effective methodology to prepare samples for isotopic analysis. Despite these advances, the potential of stable isotope biogeochemistry has yet to be fully exploited by primate researchers, perhaps due to the prolific and somewhat daunting nature of the isotopic literature. I here aim to present a cogent overview of stable isotope applications to nonhuman primate feeding ecology. I review the factors that influence ecological patterns in carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen stable isotopes. I present methods for collecting and preparing samples of tooth enamel and bone mineral hydroxyapatite, bone collagen, fur and hair keratin, blood, feces, and urine for isotope analysis. I discuss both the existing and potential applications of these isotopic patterns to primate feeding ecology. Lastly, I point out some of the pitfalls to avoid when interpreting and comparing isotopic results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparison of the isotopic ratios of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and sulphur of three pairings of hair and nail tissue taken from contemporary human remains. Our aim was to examine the possibility of a direct comparison of isotopic data in hair with that of nail tissue for forensic purposes. The results indicate that stable isotope ratios of the elements were best comparable between human scalp hair longer than 3 cm and the distal end of the nails. There were no distinct variations between finger and toenails. Our isotopic data for bulk hair and nail confirmed that hair samples were slightly enriched in C but depleted in N compared to nail samples. Furthermore, our data reveal that δS values in nail samples were more variable than in hair samples. Direct comparison of the corresponding segments of hair and nail samples may be difficult due to individual differences especially for δN and δH. Hair may have an isotopic composition more consistent with the ingested food within a specific time than is provided by nail. It can be concluded that once a hair is formed, no further metabolic changes of the isotopic pattern should occur. Nevertheless, our data suggest that there was a change in isotope ratios particularly for δH along the hair shaft. Interpretation of the isotope data in corresponding segments of hair and nail for forensic purposes must consider particular variations, especially for chronological considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable oxygen and hydrogen isotope analyses of fossil aquatic organisms, such as the chitinous head capsules of chironomid larvae (Chironomidae: Diptera), are promising proxies for inferring paleoecological conditions. In order for analyses of stable oxygen (δ18O) and hydrogen isotope ratios (δ2H) of fossil chironomid head capsules to be used effectively in paleoecological research, it is necessary to understand the factors controlling their stable oxygen and hydrogen composition. We cultured chironomid larvae in two isotopically distinct waters under controlled, replicated laboratory conditions. Chironomid larvae were fed on identical diets, to examine the degree to which water and diet influence the δ18O and δ2H of these organisms. We used a two-end member mixing model to determine the proportional contributions of oxygen and hydrogen from water to the oxygen and hydrogen of chironomid larvae. Our experiment demonstrated that 69.0 ± 0.4% of oxygen and 30.8 ± 2.6% of hydrogen in chironomid larvae are derived from habitat water. Our results show that oxygen isotopes from chironomid remains can better constrain past habitat water isotopic changes compared to hydrogen, due to 69% of the chironomid oxygen being influenced by habitat water. Our data add to a small but growing suite of comparative data on the sources of oxygen and hydrogen in animal tissues, and provide the first such analyses from aquatic insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several techniques are available to examine the isotopic composition of historic lake waters, providing data that can subsequently be used to examine environmental changes. A recently-developed technique is the stable oxygen isotope analysis of subfossil chironomid (Diptera: Chironomidae) head capsules (mostly chitin) preserved in lake sediments. This technique involves a high Temperature Conversion Elemental Analyzer (TC/EA), which has been a relatively recent addition to the suite of online peripherals for analyzing the stable isotopic composition of organic samples. The highly precise and accurate 18O/16O and D/H measurements obtainable using the TC/EA with samples in the microgram range make this instrumentation suitable for studying geochemical and biological processes. Preparation of organic samples for isotopic analysis typically requires first weighing each sample into silver/tin capsules. These capsules can introduce oxygen and hydrogen contamination (a “blank effect”), which is especially problematic for analysis of small organic samples (e.g. less than 100 μg). Here we tested tin and silver capsules from two manufacturers and a range of sizes to assess contamination to small organic samples on the TC/EA. We also assessed how a method for cleaning silver capsules affected our analysis of commercial chitin. In general, capsules made of silver have less detectible oxygen than those made of tin, and capsules from the two manufacturers varied in their detectible oxygen. There was no detectable H contamination from silver capsules. In addition to our empirical findings, we present a model demonstrating the influence that contaminant oxygen can have on the δ18O of small organic samples. Sample mass becomes an important issue for such analyses. In light of our findings, we recommend a minimum sample mass ≥50 μg (approximately 120 whole chironomid head capsules) on a TC/EA-IRMS (Deltaplus XP system). Finally, we present a detailed protocol for preparing and transferring chironomid head capsules into silver capsules that minimizes the influence of contaminant oxygen. This protocol provides the paleo-community with another potential method for reconstructing paleoenvironments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results from multiple stable isotope analyses (δ18O of chironomid larval head capsules, chironomid adult thoraxes and other insect remains and δD, δ13C, δ15N of total organic matter—TOM) of a lake sediment core (04-SVID-03) taken from Stora Vidarvatn in northeastern Iceland to reconstruct past environmental, limnological and δ18O of past lake water changes during the Holocene. Core 04-SVID-03 represents a ∼12,000 cal. yrs BP to present record. Large magnitude changes in δ18O occurred during the Holocene at the site. Downcore shifts in δ18O of chironomids did not correlate with measurements of the δ13C and δ15N of chironomid head capsules, implying that the δ18O changes were not primarily driven by changes in chironomid diet during the Holocene. The δD of TOM provided a proxy of relative lake-water δD changes at the site and also showed large magnitude changes during the record. This approach was supported by analyses of a modern training set where δDTOM analyses were conducted using surface sediments from a suite of freshwater lakes over a large latitudinal gradient. The magnitude of changes in both the δ18O and δD and the relatively negative δ18O values throughout much of the core suggest that the proxies represent more paleoenvironmental information than solely temperature. Additional possible influences on lake-water isotopic composition are discussed, including changes in the seasonality of precipitation, in the patterns of air masses supplying precipitation to Iceland and in the dominant mode of the North Atlantic Oscillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tap water isotopic compositions could potentially record information on local climate and water management practices. A new water isotope tracer 17O-excess became available in recent years providing additional information of the various hydrological processes. Detailed data records of tap water 17O-excess have not been reported. In this report, monthly tap water samples (n = 652) were collected from December 2014 to November 2015 from 92 collection sites across China. The isotopic composition (δ2H, δ18O, and δ17O) of tap water was analyzed by a Triple Water Vapor Isotope Analyzer (T-WVIA) based on Off-Axis Integrated Cavity Output Spectroscopy (OA-ICOS) technique and two second-order isotopic variables (d-excess and 17O-excess) were calculated. The geographic location information of the 92 collection sites including latitude, longitude, and elevation were also provided in this dataset. This report presents national-scale tap water isotope dataset at monthly time scale. Researchers and water resource managers who focus on the tap water issues could use them to probe the water source and water management strategies at large spatial scales. Measurement(s) Isotope • oxygen-17 atom • oxygen-18 atom • stable hydrogen isotopes • tap water isotopic composition Technology Type(s) laser absorption spectroscopy • stable isotope analysis Factor Type(s) tap water collection site • month of tap water sample collection Sample Characteristic - Environment tap water Sample Characteristic - Location China Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12923681 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable isotopes in water (e.g., δ2H and δ18O) are important indicators of hydrological and ecological patterns and processes. Tap water can reflect integrated features of regional hydrological processes and human activities. China is a large country with significant meteorological and geographical variations. This report presents the first national-scale survey of Stable Isotopes in Tap Water (SITW) across China. 780 tap water samples have been collected from 95 cities across China from December 2014 to December 2015. (1) Results yielded the Tap Water Line in China is δ2H = 7.72 δ18O + 6.57 (r2 = 0.95). (2) SITW spatial distribution presents typical 'continental effect'. (3) SITW seasonal variations indicate clearly regional patterns but no trends at the national level. (4) SITW can be correlated in some parts with geographic or meteorological factors. This work presents the first SITW map in China, which sets up a benchmark for further stable isotopes research across China. This is a critical step toward monitoring and investigating water resources in climate-sensitive regions, so the human-hydrological system. These findings could be used in the future to establish water management strategies at a national or regional scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient human mobility at the individual level is conventionally studied by the diverse application of suitable techniques (e.g. aDNA, radiogenic strontium isotopes, as well as oxygen and lead isotopes) to either hard and/or soft tissues. However, the limited preservation of coexisting hard and soft human tissues hampers the possibilities of investigating high-resolution diachronic mobility periods in the life of a single individual. Here, we present the results of a multidisciplinary study of an exceptionally well preserved circa 3.400-year old Danish Bronze Age female find, known as the Egtved Girl. We applied biomolecular, biochemical and geochemical analyses to reconstruct her mobility and diet. We demonstrate that she originated from a place outside present day Denmark (the island of Bornholm excluded), and that she travelled back and forth over large distances during the final months of her life, while consuming a terrestrial diet with intervals of reduced protein intake. We also provide evidence that all her garments were made of non-locally produced wool. Our study advocates the huge potential of combining biomolecular and biogeochemical provenance tracer analyses to hard and soft tissues of a single ancient individual for the reconstruction of high-resolution human mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]