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Arsenic and 5 heavy metals (nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead) were quantitated in surface water (n = 18) and soil/ore samples (n = 45) collected from 5 land uses (oil palm converted from forest, oil palm in peat swamp, bare land, quarry and forest) in the Selangor River basin by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Geographic information system (GIS) was used as a spatial analytical tool to classify 4 land uses (forest, agriculture/peat, urban and bare land) from a satellite image taken by Landsat 8. Source profiling of the 6 elements was conducted to identify their occurrence, their distribution and the pollution source associated with the land use. The concentrations of arsenic, cadmium and lead were also analyzed in maternal blood (n = 99) and cord blood (n = 87) specimens from 136 pregnant women collected at the University of Malaya Medical Center for elucidating maternal exposure as well as maternal-to-fetal transfer. The source profiling identified that nickel and zinc were discharged from sewage and/or industrial effluents, and that lead was discharged from mining sites. Arsenic showed a site-specific pollution in tin-tungsten deposit areas, and the pollution source could be associated with arsenopyrite. The maternal blood levels of arsenic (0.82 ± 0.61 μg/dL), cadmium (0.15 ± 0.2 μg/dL) and lead (2.6 ± 2.1 μg/dL) were not significantly high compared to their acute toxicity levels, but could have attributable risks of chronic toxicity. Those in cord blood were significantly decreased in cadmium (0.06 ± 0.07 μg/dL) and lead (0.99 ± 1.2 μg/dL) but were equivalent in arsenic (0.82 ± 1.1 μg/dL) because of the different kinetics of maternal-to-fetal transfer.

Dose assessment is an important issue from the viewpoints of protecting people from radiation exposure and managing postaccident situations adequately. However, the radiation doses received by people cannot be determined with complete accuracy because of the uncertainties and the variability associated with any process of defining individual characteristics and in the dose assessment process itself. In this study, a dose assessment model was developed based on measurements and surveys of individual doses and relevant contributors (i.e., ambient dose rates and behavior patterns) in Fukushima City for four population groups: Fukushima City Office staff, Senior Citizens' Club, Contractors' Association, and Agricultural Cooperative. In addition, probabilistic assessments were performed for these population groups by considering the spatial variability of contamination and interpopulation differences resulting from behavior patterns. As a result of comparison with the actual measurements, the assessment results for participants from the Fukushima City Office agreed with the measured values, thereby validating the model and the approach. Although the assessment results obtained for the Senior Citizens' Club and the Agricultural Cooperative differ partly from the measured values, by addressing further considerations in terms of dose reduction effects due to decontamination and the impact of additional exposure sources in agricultural fields, these results can be improved. By contrast, the measurements obtained for the participants from the Contractors' Association were not reproduced well in the present study. To assess the doses to this group, further investigations of association members' work activities and the related dose reduction effects are needed.

We report here the stable nitrogen isotope composition (δ15N) of individual amino acids and the δ15N and δ13C content of collagen from human and faunal remains collected from Hasankeyf Hoyuk, an early Neolithic site in the upper Tigris valley. Based on the δ15N of collagen only, the contributions of freshwater resources to the diet of the hunter-gatherers were difficult to clearly identify relative to terrestrial resources. However, analysis of the nitrogen isotope composition of individual amino acids enabled the identification of minor contributions from freshwater resources to the diet in a community primarily dependent on terrestrial resources. Individual variability suggested that some individuals at Hasankeyf Hoyuk used freshwater resources, whereas others probably depended primarily on terrestrial food resources. The importance of freshwater resources as food for this hunter-gatherer community was variable among groups and depended on burial location and time of burial.

Five homologs (C 10 -C 14 ) of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) were quantitated in surface water collected in the Langat and Selangor River basins using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A geographic information system (GIS) was used to spatially analyze the occurrence of LAS in both river basins, and the LAS contamination associated with the population was elucidated by spatial analysis at a sub-basin level. The LAS concentrations in the dissolved phase ( 11 μm) were analyzed to elucidate the environmental fate of LAS in the study area. The environmental risks of the observed LAS concentration were assessed based on predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) normalized by a quantitative structure–activity relationship model. The LAS contamination mainly occurred from a few populated sub-basins, and it was correlated with the population density and ammonia nitrogen. The dissolved phase was less than 20% in high contamination sites (>1000 μg/L), whereas it was more than 60% in less contaminated sites ( 11 μm) that settled in a few hours. The observed LAS concentrations exceeded the normalized PNEC at 3 sites, and environmental risk areas and susceptible areas to the LAS contamination were spatially identified based on their catchment areas.

Stable isotope analysis of collagen extracted from ancient bones has become a routine exercise. Collagen can be extracted from either bone powder or chunks, but little research has compared these two procedures in detail. In this study, yield, elemental concentration, and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of gelatin extracted from bone powder or chunks were compared, and a new framework to compare the quality of gelatin samples extracted from identical bone samples using different extraction methods was presented. Forty adult human skeletons from two sites in Japan dating from the Edo period (1603–1867 CE) were used. In the “chunk method,” bone chunks are demineralized, gelatinized, and filtered to obtain gelatin, while bone powder is used in the “powder method.” Using the chunk method, the gelatin yield (+5.29 ± 1.58%), %C (+0.62 ± 0.66%), and %N (+0.22 ± 0.22%) significantly increased, but the C/N ratio (−0.01 ± 0.03), δ 13 C (0.00 ± 0.09), and δ 15 N (−0.02 ± 0.21) did not significantly differ for 20 well-preserved bones. In 20 poorly preserved bones, the gelatin yield (+1.27 ± 1.33%), %N (+0.41 ± 0.49%), C/N ratio (−0.07 ± 0.07), and δ 15 N (−0.12 ± 0.37) significantly changed, but the %C (+0.37 ± 1.11%) and δ 13 C (−0.01 ± 0.09) were not significantly different using the chunk method. The observed significant differences have a sufficient statistical power (>0.8) with a significance level of 0.01 (except for the significant difference in δ 15 N of poorly preserved bones). The Fourier transform infrared spectra indicate that the extracted gelatin mostly consists of collagen without apparent contaminants. In general, in the context of palaeodietary studies, there are no actual differences in the δ 13 C and δ 15 N values obtained from the powder and chunk methods for gelatin from well preserved as well as poorly preserved bones.

The high likelihood of the coexistence of surfactants and engineered nano-materials (ENMs) in aqueous environments redoubles the need to study the effects of surfactants on the behavior and transport of nano-materials. In this study, we chose anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and nonionic nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPEO, Tergitol NP-9) to study the effect of surfactants on the behaviors of a typical TiO 2 ENM in water environment. An adsorption isotherm and zeta potential study showed that both surfactants could be adsorbed onto the surface of nano-TiO 2 but that only SDS can significantly decrease the zeta potential of TiO 2 . For a better simulation of the dynamic natural water environment, we conducted a 24-h batch experiment to study the aggregation behaviors of nano-TiO 2 in the presence of SDS or NP-9 surfactants and recorded the sedimentation of the aggregates in solutions containing the surfactants over a 24 h-period. SDS and NP-9 both reduced the growth of the TiO 2 aggregates and retarded the aggregate sedimentation at surfactant concentrations ≥ 0.015% (w:v). The aggregation of TiO 2 was far more remarkable in six environmental water matrices from different natural origins than in Milli-Q water, mainly because of the relatively high ionic strength of the former. The introduction of surfactants, however, still retarded the aggregation and sedimentation of TiO 2 in the six environmental water matrices. SDS exerted a stronger reductive effect than NP-9. This study reveals that the presence of surfactants may increase the bioavailability and environmental risk of nanomaterial contaminants by retarding the aggregation and promoting the transport of nanomaterials in natural aqueous environments.

Jomon hunter–gatherers in Japan commonly show Neolithic characteristics, such as intensive utilization of potteries, grinding stones, and many plant food sources. In this study, breastfeeding and weaning practices in a Jomon hunter–gatherer population are investigated to evaluate two hypotheses concerning the relations between utilization of potteries/plant foods and early weaning and children's diet around and after the weaning process. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were investigated for 46 subadult and 47 adult human skeletons excavated from the Yoshigo site of the Late/Final Jomon period (approximately 4000–2300 years BP) in eastern Japan. A new analytical procedure was developed and residuals of nitrogen isotope ratios were calculated to cancel out the effect of positive correlation in the carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios. Age changes in the residuals showed that the age at the end of weaning in the Yoshigo population was 3.5 years (2.3–5.5 years in 95% credible interval), which is not younger than that in typical non-industrialized populations and the other skeletal hunter–gatherer populations. Furthermore, most infants were probably weaned using a combination of the same food sources as those eaten by adults. These results suggest that the utilization of pottery and plant food per se is not a sole determinant of the age at the end of weaning in past human populations, and a special diet was not always applied during and just after the weaning process.

Fourteen beta-agonists were quantitatively analyzed in cattle, chicken and swine liver specimens purchased at 14 wet markets in Selangor State, Malaysia, by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The health risks of ractopamine and clenbuterol residues in the Malaysian population were assessed based on quantitative data and meat consumption statistics in Malaysia. Wastewater samples collected at swine farms (n = 2) and cattle/cow farms (n = 2) in the Kuala Langat district were analyzed for the presence for the 14 compounds. Wastewater in chicken farms was not collected because there was negligible discharge during the breeding period. The environmental impacts caused by beta-agonists discharged from livestock farms were spatially assessed in the Langat River basin using a geographic information system (GIS). As a result, 10 compounds were detected in the liver specimens. Ractopamine, which is a permitted compound for swine in Malaysia, was frequently detected in swine livers; also, 9 other compounds that are prohibited compounds could be illegally abused among livestock farms. The health risks of ractopamine and clenbuterol were assessed to be minimal as their hazard quotients were no more than 7.82 × 10-4 and 2.71 × 10-3, respectively. Five beta-agonists were detected in the wastewater samples, and ractopamine in the swine farm resulted in the highest contamination (30.1 μg/L). The environmental impacts of the beta-agonists in the Langat River basin were generally concluded to be minimal, but the ractopamine contamination released from swine farms was localized in coastal areas near the estuary of the Langat River basin because most swine farms were located in that region.

Post-closure management of landfill in Malaysia does not include assessment of the contaminant level in abiotic and biotic factors that inhabit the aged topsoil of closed landfills. Considering the bioaccumulation effect in the ecosystem, post-closure classification with the status of contaminant concentration below the permitted level does not promise safe closure to the ecosystem as time passes. Thus, substantial and constant qualitative analysis of contaminant concentration needs to be developed for sustainable management of landfill post-closure. In this work, heavy metals in common constituents (abiotic and biotic factors) of closed landfills were selected; that is, soil, stagnant water, and common communities of plant species in closed landfills in Selangor, both sanitary and non-sanitary, were studied. The results of the analysis demonstrated that the concentration of Cd was not detected in the soil of both landfills but the highest concentration was present in the leaves of Ageratum conyzoides compared to other plant species at both study sites. A parallel situation was discovered for the non-detection of Cd concentration in stagnant water at Ampar Tenang landfill, but the leaves of A. conyzoides contained this element. The sensitivity and affinity of A. conyzoides for accumulating heavy metals in this study were revealed particularly for Cd. Hence, this study suggests the use of A. conyzoides as a promising trace metals contamination indicator for closed urban landfills. Additionally, Guess-Field Kriging is believed to be a useful geostatistical tool to interpolate potential contamination area by utilising the abiotic and biotic factors as assistant variable to the target variable i.e. soil.

Increasing evidence indicates that insecticides induce various diseases via DNA methylation. DNA methylation plays an important role during cell differentiation and exhibits its greatest vulnerability to environmental factors during embryogenesis. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the effects on DNA methylation at the early stage of cell differentiation to understand developmental toxicity. However, DNA methylation induced by insecticides and the associated effects on cell differentiation are unclear. In this research, we introduced a high-content approach utilizing mouse embryonic stem cells harboring enhanced green fluorescent protein fused with methyl CpG-binding protein to evaluate global DNA methylation induced by various insecticides. DNA methylation was assessed in 22 genes after pesticide exposure to investigate the relationships with biological processes such as cell cycle, cell apoptosis, and cell differentiation. Exposure to acetamiprid, imidacloprid, carbaryl, and o,p′-DDT increased the granular intensity, indicating their global DNA-methylating effects. Exposure to imidacloprid decreased DNA methylation in genes such as Cdkn2a, Dapk1, Cdh1, Mlh1, Timp3, and Rarb, indicating the potential influence of the DNA methylation pattern on cell differentiation. We developed a promising approach for evaluating global DNA methylation, and our findings suggested that imidacloprid might exhibit developmental effects through DNA methylation pattern.

This study aims to facilitate the prioritization of hazardous air pollutants potentially emitted from petroleum refinery operations based on their carcinogenicity (C), mutagenicity (M) and reproductive toxicity (R) through hazard assessment using multi-country governmental regulatory databases. 176 hazardous air pollutants which were reported as being emitted by petroleum refineries were initially selected for hazard analysis. CMR classification for these pollutants were obtained from PETRONAS SHIELD system as well as country databases, which includes hazard classifications based on the United Nations Globally Harmonised System from Australia, China, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, and Turkey. The most stringent classifications were assigned should there be discordance in classifications across the country databases. A scoring system that yields a maximum total score of 60 if all CMR were Category 1A and a minimum score of 0 if none of the hazards were classified was applied to quantitatively rank the pollutants. Among the countries, Japan and South Korea have the highest number of classified hazardous air pollutants across C/M/R. 121 pollutants (68.8%) have C/M/R classification or their combinations. 68 pollutants have classification for C, 40 for M and 51 for R. Vast difference in CMR classifications can be observed between the countries, with 12 pollutants’ classification ranged between 2 (suspected human C/M/R agent) to 1A (known human C/M/R agent). 18 HAP scored between 40-60, with Benzene topping the list with maximum score of 60, followed by Benzo(a)pyrene, 1,3-Butadiene, Arsenic and Cadmium.

Anatomical modern humans reached East Asia by >40,000 years ago (kya). However, key questions still remain elusive with regard to the route(s) and the number of wave(s) in the dispersal into East Eurasia. Ancient genomes at the edge of East Eurasia may shed light on the detail picture of peopling to East Eurasia. Here, we analyze the whole-genome sequence of a 2.5 kya individual (IK002) characterized with a typical Jomon culture that started in the Japanese archipelago >16 kya. The phylogenetic analyses support multiple waves of migration, with IK002 forming a lineage basal to the rest of the ancient/present-day East Eurasians examined, likely to represent some of the earliest-wave migrants who went north toward East Asia from Southeast Asia. Furthermore, IK002 has the extra genetic affinity with the indigenous Taiwan aborigines, which may support a coastal route of the Jomon-ancestry migration from Southeast Asia to the Japanese archipelago. This study highlight the power of ancient genomics with the isolated population to provide new insights into complex history in East Eurasia.

The origins and development of rice cultivation are one of the most important aspects in studying agricultural and socio-economic innovations, as well as environmental change, in East Asian prehistory. In particular, whether wet or dry rice cultivation was conducted is an important consideration of its impact on societies and the environment across different periods and places. In this study, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of charred crop remains from archaeological sites dating from the Early Bronze Age (ca. 1.1 k BC) to the Proto-Three Kingdoms (ca. 0.4 k AD) was conducted to clarify: (1) if there were any shifts from dry to wet cultivation around 1500 years after rice adoption as previously hypothesized and (2) the difference in stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values between rice and dry fields crops excavated from the same archaeological context to understand the cultivation environment. The result show that stable isotope values of charred rice grains have not changed significantly for around 1500 years. Moreover, rice possessed higher nitrogen stable isotope values than dry crops across all periods. While other potential factors could have influenced the 15N-enrichment of soils and crops, the most reasonable explanation is bacteriologic denitrification in anaerobic paddy soil where the rice was grown.

Rationale Estimation of the stable isotopic offsets between tissue and diet is important for dietary reconstructions. Although stable isotopic studies of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are increasing, the isotopic offsets in chimpanzees have never been studied. In this study, the carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic offset values in hair and feces were measured for 13 captive chimpanzees for the first time. Methods All consumed food items and quantities were recorded for each individual for 1 week. Food samples were typically collected three times, hair was collected 3 weeks after the experimental week, and feces were collected ad libitum during the experimental week. The stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were measured using elemental analyzer–isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA–IRMS). Results As the results of Monte Carlo analysis, the estimated carbon and nitrogen offsets between the hair and diet were +3.0 to +3.9‰ and +2.8 to +3.7‰, respectively, for the 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The 95% CIs of the carbon and nitrogen offset values between the feces and diet were −1.6 to 0.0‰ and +1.2 to +2.7‰, respectively. Conclusions These offset values are generally consistent with those of the other primate species reported in previous studies. However, potential variations in the offset values due to dietary and physiological factors should be studied in detail in the future. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ingestion of contaminated soil is one potential internal exposure pathway in areas contaminated by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Doses from this pathway can be overestimated if the availability of radioactive nuclides in soils for the gastrointestinal tract is not considered. The concept of bioaccessibility has been adopted to evaluate this availability based on in vitro tests. This study evaluated the bioaccessibility of radioactive cesium from soils via the physiologically-based extraction test (PBET) and the extractability of those via an extraction test with 1 mol/L of hydrochloric acid (HCl). The bioaccessibility obtained in the PBET was 5.3% ± 1%, and the extractability in the tests with HCl was 16% ± 3%. The bioaccessibility was strongly correlated with the extractability. This result indicates the possibility that the extractability in HCl can be used as a good predictor of the bioaccessibility with PBET. In addition, we assessed the doses to children from the ingestion of soil via hand-to-mouth activity based on our PBET results using a probabilistic approach considering the spatial distribution of radioactive cesium in Date City in Fukushima Prefecture and the interindividual differences in the surveyed amounts of soil ingestion in Japan. The results of this assessment indicate that even if children were to routinely ingest a large amount of soil with relatively high contamination, the radiation doses from this pathway are negligible compared with doses from external exposure owing to deposited radionuclides in Fukushima Prefecture.

The detection of aquatic resource consumption is important in paleodietary studies as it provides insights into the adaptive strategies of modern humans. Debate as to whether or not it is a recent innovation in hominid evolution also emphasizes its importance to the field. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of bulk collagen has been powerful tool for the investigation of ancient human diet, especially for the detection of marine food consumption. However, the nitrogen isotopic composition could significantly vary even within the same animal species depending on environmental conditions, making a dietary reconstruction based on human remains difficult without enough specimens of referential animal prey. Nitrogen isotope analysis of individual amino acids in bone collagen has recently been proposed as a potentially useful technique for the detection of not only marine resources in diets but also freshwater ones. In this paper, we further test its applicability to human populations in a variety of regions and chronological time periods in the world. We found that: (i) irrespective of climatic conditions, nitrogen isotopic compositions of glutamic acid and phenylalanine of terrestrial animals group similarly; (ii) these two amino acids are particularly useful to detect marine or freshwater resource consumption; (iii) a multinomial logistic regression based on some combinations of isotope indicators successfully distinguishes aquatic and terrestrial animals; (iv) detection of aquatic resource consumption by prehistoric humans could be possible based solely on the isotopic compositions of human remains, even in the absence of coeval potential prey. This approach is therefore promising for the paleodietary reconstruction of isolated human remains with few associated faunal remains from archaeological sites.

Beta-agonists and sulfonamides are widely used for treating both humans and livestock for bronchial and cardiac problems, infectious disease and even as growth promoters. There are concerns about their potential environmental impacts, such as producing drug resistance in bacteria. This study focused on their spatial distribution in surface water and the identification of pollution sources in the Langat River basin, which is one of the most urbanized watersheds in Malaysia. Fourteen beta-agonists and 12 sulfonamides were quantitatively analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A geographic information system (GIS) was used to visualize catchment areas of the sampling points, and source profiling was conducted to identify the pollution sources based on a correlation between a daily pollutant load of the detected contaminant and an estimated density of human or livestock population in the catchment areas. As a result, 6 compounds (salbutamol, sulfadiazine, sulfapyridine, sulfamethazine, sulfadimethoxine and sulfamethoxazole) were widely detected in mid catchment areas towards estuary. The source profiling indicated that the pollution sources of salbutamol and sulfamethoxazole were from sewage, while sulfadiazine was from effluents of cattle, goat and sheep farms. Thus, this combination method of quantitative and spatial analysis clarified the spatial distribution of these drugs and assisted for identifying the pollution sources.

We present the oldest human skeletal case yet identified with possible SAPHO syndrome (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis), a chronic disease involving the skin, bone, and joints. A human skeleton with a severe pathological condition was recovered from a shell mound of the prehistoric Okhotsk culture at the Hamanaka 2 site, Rebun Island, Hokkaido, Japan in 2013. Morphological and Amelogenin gene analyses determined the sex as female, and the age at time of death was estimated to be in the forties using analysis of the auricular surface of the ilium. The stable isotope ratios of this individual (NAT002) and other Hamanaka 2 samples indicated a heavy dependence on marine mammals and fish for dietary protein intake. Radiocarbon age on collagen from the bone of NAT002 was 1689 ± 20 BP, or 1060–1155 (68.2%) calAD. Macroscopic and computed tomography (CT) findings indicated diffuse hyperostosis in the axial and appendicular skeleton, including the mandible, vertebrae, clavicles, sternum, scapulae, humeri, radii, ulnae, and ilium, caused by osteitis and synovitis. The bilateral clavicles were most affected, in which CT imaging revealed irregular cortical thickening, termed ‘grotesque periostitis.’ The case was diagnosed as most likely having SAPHO syndrome, although dermatological findings could not be detected. Although SAPHO syndrome is a fairly new concept in autoimmune diseases, this case suggests the syndrome originated much earlier in human history., 論文

The geostatistical technique of Kriging has extensively been used for the investigation and delineation of soil heavy metal pollution. Kriging is rarely used in practical circumstances, however, because the parameter values are difficult to decide and relatively optimal locations for further sampling are difficult to find. In this study, we used large numbers of assumed actual polluted fields (AAPFs) randomly generated by unconditional simulation (US) to assess the adjusted total fee (ATF), an assessment standard developed for balancing the correct treatment rate (CTR) and total fee (TF), based on a traditional strategy of systematic (or uniform) grid sampling (SGS) and Kriging. We found that a strategy using both SGS and Kriging was more cost-effective than a strategy using only SGS. Next, we used a genetic algorithm (GA) approach to find optimal locations for the additional sampling. We found that the optimized locations for the additional sampling were at the joint districts of polluted areas and unpolluted areas, where abundant SGS data appeared near the threshold value. This strategy was less helpful, however, when the pollution of polluted fields showed no spatial correlation.

The identification of which food sources were important to the diets of Central Asian populations during the Bronze and Iron Age has been heavily debated over the past decade. Stable isotope studies of human bulk collagen have often reported elevated nitrogen isotopic compositions (δ15N) that were more than one step higher in the food chain than consumed terrestrial animals, suggesting the additional contribution of fish to human diets. On the other hand, both fish and C4 plants, possibly millets, could have influenced the elevated carbon isotopic compositions (δ13C) in human bone collagen. Here we report the results of the first compound-specific nitrogen isotopic analysis of amino acids conducted on human and faunal remains from Bronze and Iron Age sites of Kazakhstan. In this paper, we examine the possible role of millet in leading to high δ15N values of human bone collagen, in addition to fish. Typically, high δ15N bulk values in humans, are linked to the consumption of particular resources such as fish and C4 plants, or extreme carnivorous diets. However, the δ15N of individual amino acids of the populations of the Kazakh steppe demonstrate trophic positions lower than what we expect in bulk collagen irrespective of δ15N and δ13C. Besides, hardly any evidence of fish consumption is identified by also the δ15N of phenylalanine. The high δ15N in human bulk collagen which obscure reconstruction of prehistoric diets may be coming from complex and diverse factors such as aridity or other dietary factors beyond fish consumption.

Fraction transformation is the intrinsic driving force of risk formation and the evolution of sites polluted with heavy metals. This process is usually a long, slow and spontaneous process characterized by a gradual linear release of the most stable to the most mobile fractions, in accordance with fraction stability, leading to the thermodynamic static risk of the site. However, this process may be altered by drastic changes in environmental conditions, showing nonlinear characteristic and resulting in a nonlinear surge of some mobile fractions over a certain period of time. This process not only greatly increases the static risk but also induces the dynamic transient risk of the site. By applying a sequential extraction procedure, the delayed geochemical hazard methodology and statistical analysis, the transformation of arsenic fractions at a polluted site and their potential geochemical paths was investigated, which confirmed the above hypothesis. The transformation process was found to be mainly nonlinear. Taking water-soluble arsenic, surface-adsorbed arsenic, and acid-extractable arsenic as the endpoints, these nonlinear paths might lead to a surge in those three endpoint fractions when their associated arsenic fractions accumulate in the soil beyond a critical content, inducing dynamic risk and raising the static risk. These results provide new insights into site risk assessment, namely, that site risk highly depends on fraction transformation, especially on nonlinear transformation; therefore, both static and dynamic risks should be involved in site risk assessment. From this perspective, the case site (A total of 42 topsoil samples from Shimen realgar mine, Hunan) had a medium risk in terms of static risk, with a probability of 4.76%–7.14% of a possible burst of dynamic risk due to high arsenic accumulation in its some areas.

A key issue in the later stage of an environmental emergency is indoor air purification. This study investigates a reasonable ventilation strategy for indoor air purification in the later stage of an air pollution accident. Using a closed test chamber to simulate a sheltering house with a ventilation system, the deposition rates of aerosol particles were measured under both ideal and non-ideal conditions. Additionally, the actual turbulence state can be inferred by querying the optimal Ke in the β-Ke diagram proposed by this work. The main removal mechanism for particles within the range of 53.3–371.8 nm at an air exchange rate less than 1.19 h−1 is deposition. A ventilation system based on a high-power exhaust pump causes a large turbulence, which results in the resuspension of particles outside the cumulative mode range with a ‘sudden drop’ in the deposition rate. In the later stage of an air pollution accident or in the case where outdoor particles do not contribute indoors, turning off other stirrers and fans and increasing the AER value of the ventilation system to more than 1.19 h−1 can achieve the desired air purification effect. However, particle removal in the cumulative mode remains a challenge.

When an air pollution or extreme weather event occurs, outdoor particles entering a house may affect the indoor air quality and endanger human health. We began researching the sheltering efficiency of houses by determining the penetration factor. This involved using a test chamber to simulate the process of outdoor particles passing through cracks of a household sliding window and elucidating the most effective sheltering configuration of houses in air pollution emergencies. The results illustrate that a high air exchange rate corresponds to a high penetration factor, and the concentration difference between outdoor and indoor affects ventilation efficiency. For universal household sliding windows, frames made of plastic coupled with an air exchange rate less than or equal to 1.20 h−1 can prevent particle penetration more effectively in air pollution emergencies. As the external particles gradually disperse and the concentration decreases, a ventilation system with a large air exchange rate may effectively purify the indoor air. However, UFPs of less than 69 nm are able to undergo penetrate in a large amount, especially when the air exchange rate is lower than 1.20 h−1. Therefore, effective housing sheltering is still a challenge if the external source is primarily UFPs. In addition, laboratory simulations may overestimate/underestimate the penetration factor and the ventilation efficiency if the particles with a one charging state are the only source.

Variation in arsenolipid concentrations was assessed in 18 seafood samples including fish, shellfish, and crustaceans purchased in Japan. Analyses were performed by high performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Stable isotope ratios for nitrogen and carbon were also measured in the samples for obtaining trophic level information of the species. Arsenic-containing hydrocarbons (AsHCs) and arsenic-containing fatty acids (AsFAs) were detected in the seafood samples; the toxic AsHCs were found in all of the seafood samples with large variation in the concentrations (83 ± 73 ng As/g fw, coefficient of variation = 88%). Our previous point estimate of health risk of AsHCs intake via seafood consumption in Japan, based on average AsHC concentration in seafood, suggested insignificant risk, and the present study supports our previous estimate. AsHC concentrations significantly correlated with lipid content of the seafood samples (r = 0.67, p

Glenoid bone loss contributes to recurrent instability after arthroscopic Bankart repair alone. With significant glenoid bone loss, better results have been reported after arthroscopic Bankart repair with glenoid arc reconstruction. However, no reports compare augmentation using bone graft with non-augmentation for glenoid bone loss. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical results of an arthroscopic Bankart repair with or without arthroscopic bone graft augmentation. It was hypothesized that such bone graft augmentation would restore shoulder stability, and lead to excellent outcomes. Of 552 patients treated for anterior glenohumeral instability with arthroscopic Bankart repair, 68 met this study’s inclusion criteria of glenoid bone loss over 20% and follow-up of at least 2 years. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on whether with bone graft augmentation for glenoid bone loss [Group A: n = 35, median age; 21 years (range 13–72 years)], or not (Group B: n = 33, median age; 21 years (range 13–50 years)]. For grafting, either autologous iliac bone or artificial bone made of hydroxyapatite was used. Rowe score, recurrence rate, and return to sport were used to assess the results. Mean Rowe score was 95.0 (SD 10.6) in Group A and 69.7 (SD 27.2) in Group B (p

We have improved a method for isolation and purification of individual amino acids for compound-specific radiocarbon analysis (CSRA). To remove high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) eluent blanks from isolated amino acid fractions prior to the radiocarbon (Δ14C) measurement, each fraction was filtered through a membrane filter and then washed with diethyl ether twice. Radiocarbon measurements on standard amino acids processed and purified with the above method using elemental analyzer–accelerator mass spectrometry resulted in Δ14C values that were in strong agreement (R2 = 0.998) with the original Δ14C value of each amino acid standard. From these measurements, we calculate dead and modern carbon contamination contributions as 1.2 ± 0.2 and 0.3 ± 0.1 μgC, respectively, which are consistent with direct assessments of HPLC procedural blanks of 1.0 ± 0.8 μgC per sample. These contamination constraints allow correction of measured Δ14C values for accurate and precise CSRA and are widely applicable to ...

Background: The combination of a glenoid defect and a Hill-Sachs lesion in a shoulder with anterior instability has recently been termed “bipolar bone loss,” but the prevalence and influence of this condition on postoperative recurrence after arthroscopic Bankart repair are still unclear. Purpose: To investigate bipolar bone loss in male athletes using a new scoring system and to evaluate its efficacy by comparing it with the glenoid track concept. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The sizes of both lesions were evaluated retrospectively in 80 male athletes (85 shoulders) using computed tomography. The glenoid defects and the length, width, and depth of the Hill-Sachs lesions were classified into 5 size categories and were allocated scores from “0” for no defect to “4” for the largest defect. Patients were then classified into 5 classes according to the total score for both lesions: class 1, 0-1 point; class 2, 2 points; class 3, 3 points; class 4, 4 points; and class 5, ≥5 points. The prevalence of bipolar bone loss and postoperative recurrence rates for patients with at least 2 years of follow-up were compared among the classes. The recurrence rate for each class was also compared between shoulders with an off-track lesion and shoulders with an on-track lesion as well as among 3 sporting categories: rugby, American football, and other sports. Results: Based on the combination of glenoid defect size and Hill-Sachs lesion length, the postoperative recurrence rate was 0% for shoulders in class 1, 12.5% for class 2, 33.3% for class 3, 28.6% for class 4, and 31.3% for class 5, while the recurrence rates were 0%, 16.7%, 28.6%, 27.3%, and 31.6%, respectively, for the combination of glenoid defect size and Hill-Sachs lesion width and 0%, 8.3%, 26.7%, 28.6%, and 35.3%, respectively, for the combination of glenoid defect size and Hill-Sachs lesion depth. Postoperative recurrence was frequently recognized regardless of the presence of off-track Hill-Sachs lesions. No recurrence was recognized in class 1 shoulders among rugby players, in classes 1 and 2 among American football players, and in classes 1 through 3 among other athletes based on the combination of glenoid defect size and Hill-Sachs lesion size. Conclusion: Our scoring system for bipolar bone loss was useful to evaluate the influence on postoperative recurrence in male athletes. The postoperative recurrence rate was influenced by the extent of bipolar bone loss and the sporting category regardless of the presence of off-track lesions.

Ancient migrations in Southeast AsiaThe past movements and peopling of Southeast Asia have been poorly represented in ancient DNA studies (see the Perspective by Bellwood). Lipsonet al.generated sequences from people inhabiting Southeast Asia from about 1700 to 4100 years ago. Screening of more than a hundred individuals from five sites yielded ancient DNA from 18 individuals. Comparisons with present-day populations suggest two waves of mixing between resident populations. The first mix was between local hunter-gatherers and incoming farmers associated with the Neolithic spreading from South China. A second event resulted in an additional pulse of genetic material from China to Southeast Asia associated with a Bronze Age migration. McCollet al.sequenced 26 ancient genomes from Southeast Asia and Japan spanning from the late Neolithic to the Iron Age. They found that present-day populations are the result of mixing among four ancient populations, including multiple waves of genetic material from more northern East Asian populations.Science, this issue p.92, p.88; see also p.31

Wastewater is considered a major source of antibiotic-resistant bacteria released into the environment. Here, we characterized carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in wastewater by whole-genome analysis. Wastewater samples ( n = 40) were collected from municipal wastewater treatment plants and hospital wastewater in Japan and Taiwan. Samples were screened for CPE using selective media, and the obtained isolates were sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq. The isolates ( n = 45) included the following microorganisms: Klebsiella quasipneumoniae ( n = 12), Escherichia coli ( n = 10), Enterobacter cloacae complex ( n = 10), Klebsiella pneumoniae ( n = 8), Klebsiella variicola ( n = 2), Raoultella ornithinolytica ( n = 1), Citrobacter freundii ( n = 1), and Citrobacter amalonaticus ( n = 1). Among the 45 isolates, 38 harbored at least one carbapenemase-encoding gene. Of these, the bla GES ( bla GES-5 , bla GES-6 , and bla GES-24 ) genes were found in 29 isolates. The genes were situated in novel class 1 integrons, but the integron structures were different between the Japanese (In1439 with bla GES-24 and In1440 with bla GES-5 ) and Taiwanese (In1441 with bla GES-5 and In1442 with bla GES-6 ) isolates. Other carbapenemase-encoding genes ( bla VIM-1 , bla NDM-5 , bla IMP-8 , bla IMP-19 , and bla KPC-2 ) were found in one to three isolates. Notably, class 1 integrons previously reported among clinical isolates obtained in the same regions as the present study, namely, In477 with bla IMP-19 and In73 with bla IMP-8 , were found among the Japanese and Taiwanese isolates, respectively. The results indicate that CPE with various carbapenemase-encoding genes in different genetic contexts were present in biologically treated wastewater, highlighting the need to monitor for antibiotic resistance in wastewater.

Introduction Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the first-line treatment for acute lumbar radicular pain accompanying lumbar disc herniation (LDH), but their effects are minimal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pregabalin (PGB) as an alternative therapy for this condition. Methods Patients with acute lumbar radicular pain accompanying LDH were randomly administered either NSAIDs plus PGB (30 patients) or NSAIDs alone (30 patients) for up to 4 weeks. The primary outcome was leg pain at 2 and 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes were reduction in sleep disturbances and patient global impressions of change (PGIC) at 2 and 4 weeks. Results Four patients in the NSAIDs plus PGB group were deemed ineligible and excluded from the study. Fewer sleep disturbances were reported by patients administered NSAIDs plus PGB compared with the NSAID monotherapy group at both 2 and 4 weeks. Additionally, the NSAIDs plus PGB group showed greater improvement in pain than the NSAID monotherapy group at 4 weeks, although this difference was not significant. PGIC was also significantly better in the NSAIDs plus PGB group than in the NSAID monotherapy group at 4 weeks. The incidence of adverse events was significantly greater in the NSAIDs plus PGB group than in the NSAID monotherapy group. Conclusions The combination of NSAIDs plus PGB is more effective against sleep disturbance than NSAIDs alone in patients with acute LDH, although the control of sciatic pain is minimal. Patients reported satisfactory recoveries could also be obtained, and thus, this combination therapy could be a good option for the conservative treatment of acute lumbar radicular pain, including LDH.

Objectives Holocene hunter-gatherers adapted to climatic and environmental changes over time. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of human skeletal remains from the Inariyama shell mound of the Final Jomon period have revealed large dietary variations in the population. This study analyzed radiocarbon dates of these individuals to test temporal changes in diet and its relationship with tooth ablation. Materials and methods Twenty-nine human skeletal remains from Inariyama were included in this study. Extracted bone collagen samples were purified to graphite. Then, radiocarbon dating of these samples was performed using the accelerator mass spectrometer. Results The radiocarbon ages of Inariyama ranged about, 3,230-2,140 cal BP and showed three peaks of occupation. In the early and late phases, terrestrial resource consumption and incisor extraction were observed, while marine resource consumption and canine extraction were observed in the middle phase. Discussion These temporal changes of diet and tooth ablation types occurred in parallel with climatic cooling and environmental change and help reveal how Holocene hunter-gatherers adapted to the changing environments.

This chapter summarized the pollution of heavy metals in the atmospheric and water environment in Peninsular Malaysia, and potential health risks caused by the chronic exposure of the heavy metals were assessed. Heavy metals such as arsenic and lead were detected in suspended particulate matters, and the pollution sources were identified mainly from motor vehicles and biomass burning. The heavy metals were widely detected in surface and groundwater and accumulated in coastal areas especially near urban regions due to anthropogenic sources. Furthermore, contaminations of naturally deposited heavy metals especially from former tin mining ponds and gold mining areas were concerned. The heavy metals were detected in various freshwater and marine species, and the contamination levels of mercury and arsenic in local population were indicated at concerned levels. The assessment of potential non-cancer risks caused by the consumption of local fish showed that some population could be threatened by the chronic exposure of arsenic and mercury.

In order to estimate the amount of a chemical that humans take in from the environment, one must model environmental pathways leading from the source of the chemical to humans and assess exposure to representative human populations that accounts for the rate at which the body can absorb the chemical. While such models are assessed on various temporal and spatial scales, a watershed (drainage basin) in association with its corresponding air and soil is a suitable spatial scale. Furthermore, the precision of the model must be best suited for its intended use and other considerations, and uncertainty associated with the estimated results must be evaluated. Moreover, a simple multimedia model implemented using a fugacity model and systems analysis model with conventional environmental compartments demonstrated that fugacity models are advantageous in that they are essentially the same as common systems analysis models and make nonequilibrium conditions readily apparent.

This paper presents a computer-based method to estimate optimal migration routes of early human population groups by a combination of ecological niche analysis and least-cost path analysis. In the proposed method, niche probability is predicted by MaxEnt, an ecological niche model based on the maximum entropy theory. Location of known archaeological sites and environmental factors derived from palaeoterrain and palaeoclimate models, are input to the model to calculate the niche probability at each spatial pixel and weights of the environmental factors. The inverse of probability score is then used as an index of relative dispersal rate to accumulate the travel cost from a given origin. Based on this cumulative cost surface, least-cost paths from the origin to given destinations are visualised. This method was applied to the Initial Upper Palaeolithic population group (probably of modern humans) in Eurasia. The model identified three migration routes from the Levant to (1) Central Europe via Anatolia and Eastern Europe, (2) the Russian steppe via Caucasus Mountains, and (3) the Altai region via the southern coastal Iran and Afghanistan.

Objectives People in the Papua New Guinea Highlands consume sweet potatoes as their dietary staple; consumption of animal protein is limited. In such societies with marginal protein intake, the intra-household allocation of animal protein in terms of sex or age is of importance. The objective of this study was to investigate how the allocation pattern of protein-rich foods by sex and age is associated with economic development in the Papua New Guinea Highlands. Methods The carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of fingernails, collected in 1995 in two areas (Tari and Port Moresby [the national capital where Tari migrants resided]), and of scalp hair, collected in 2007, 2012, and 2013 in three areas of different degree of economic development (Levani, Tari, and Goroka) were analyzed. Results Analysis of fingernail samples showed that δ15N was lower in rural communities than in the urban migrant community, while a sex difference in δ15N (higher in males than in females) was found in the former but not in the latter community. Age was not associated with either δ15N or δ13C values. The analysis of scalp hair samples showed that δ15N values were lowest in Levani, the least developed area. Furthermore, there were statistically significant sex differences in δ15N values in Levani but not in Tari and Goroka. Age was not associated with either δ15N or δ13C values. Discussion The sex inequality in animal protein consumption seems to have decreased as the communities in the Papua New Guinea Highlands have experienced economic development. Am J Phys Anthropol 159:164–173, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Objectives: We present new nitrogen isotopic discrimination factor between diets and scalp hairs (Δ15NHair-Diet: δ15NHair – δ15NDiet) for indigenous residents in three communities in the Papua New Guinea Highlands who consumed various amounts and qualities of protein. The Δ15N is important for precise evaluation of the dietary habits of human populations; in both contemporary and traditional lifestyles. Several hypotheses have been proposed regarding factors that affect Δ15N values, based largely on observations from animal feeding experiments. However, variations and factors controlling Δ15N in humans are not well understood, mainly due to the difficulty of controlling the diets of participants. Materials and Methods: These residents were studied because they have maintained relatively traditional dietary habits, which allow quantitative recording of diets. Δ15N was estimated by comparing hair δ15N values to mean dietary δ15N values calculated from the recorded intake of each food item and their δ15N values. Results: The results showed that: i) there was a significant difference in Δ15N among study locations (3.9 ± 0.9‰ for most urbanized, 5.2 ± 1.0‰ for medium and 5.0 ± 0.9‰ for least urbanized communities; range = 1.2–7.3‰ for all participants); and ii) estimated Δ15N values were negatively correlated with several indicators of animal protein intake (% nitrogen in diet: range = 0.9–7.6%). Discussion: We hypothesize that a combination of several factors, which presumably included urea recycling and amino acid and protein recycling and/or de novo synthesis during metabolic processes, altered the Δ15N values of the participants.

Objective: The Okhotsk people were sedentary hunter–gatherer–fishers who lived and prospered in Sakhalin, Hokkaido, and the Kurile Islands during the 5th to 13th centuries AD. They expanded rapidly along the northeastern coast of Hokkaido. We reconstructed infant feeding practices of the Moyoro population of the Okhotsk culture in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. Methods: Stable isotope ratios in 58 subadult human skeletons were measured. Results: The results suggest that complementary foods with a relatively low carbon isotope ratio were consumed during and after weaning, as observed in ethnographic descriptions of northern human populations such as the Ainu and isotopically suggested in ancient northern hunter–gatherer–fisher populations. Nitrogen isotope ratios of subadults showed that the age at the end of weaning in the Moyoro population was 1.8 (1.4–2.2 in 95% credible interval) years, which is earlier than that in other northern hunter–gatherer–fisher populations. Conclusions: Because weaning age is one of the most important determinants of fertility, a shorter breastfeeding period suggests increased fertility. Furthermore, better nutrition would further promote the population increase, and thus populations of the Okhotsk culture could expand into new regions. These findings are consistent with recent emerging evidence of great contributions of the Okhotsk to the formation of later Ainu populations and culture. Am J Phys Anthropol 157:544–555, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Non-synonymous GRK4 variants, R65L, A142V and A486V, are associated with essential hypertension in diverse populations. This study replicated the association of GRK4 variants, including GRK4(142V), with human essential hypertension in a Japanese population (n=588; hypertensive, n=486 normotensive controls) and determined whether the presence of GRK4 variants predicted the blood pressure (BP) response to angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with essential hypertension. We analyzed 829 patients and compared the response to ARBs between individuals with no GRK4 variants (n=136) and those with variants at one or any of the three loci (n=693). Carriers of hGRK4(142V) had a greater decrease in systolic BP in response to ARBs than non-carrier hypertensive patients. By contrast, those with variants only at GRK4(486V) were less likely to achieve the BP goal in response to an ARB than those with no variants. These studies showed for the first time the association between GRK4(142V) and a larger decrease in BP with ARBs in hypertensive patients.