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Abstract Background Migrants are individuals who move to a different country from their usual place of residence. Japan’s migrant population, particularly technical interns and students, has been growing. Even before the pandemic, previous studies have highlighted difficulties faced by migrants in utilizing healthcare services. This study examined the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and medical care among Myanmar migrants in Japan; identified the factors associated with this uptake; and described the difficulties encountered when utilizing these services. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2023 targeting Myanmar migrants over 18 years residing in Japan for more than 6 months. An online self-administered questionnaire in Myanmar language covered socioeconomic characteristics; history of COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and medical care; and difficulties encountered while utilizing these services with multiple-choice questions. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed separately to identify the factors associated with the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and medical care. Results Among the 207 participants, 52% (n = 108) were under 30 years, 30% (n = 62) were male, and 31% (n = 65) were low-skilled workers (technical interns and students). Overall, 91% (n = 189) had received the COVID-19 vaccination, 76% (n = 157) had been tested for COVID-19, and 43% (n = 68) tested positive. However, only 77% (n = 52) of COVID-19 patients sought medical care. Participants under 30 years of age were less likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine compared to those aged 30 and older (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01–0.88, p = 0.038). Low-skilled workers were less likely to seek medical care compared to those holding other categories of residential status (aOR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02–0.79, p = 0.027). Among service users, 5% faced difficulties with COVID-19 vaccination, 10% with testing, and 17% with receiving medical care. Long waiting times and complex reservation processes were the main difficulties encountered. Conclusions The uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and medical care in this sample was reasonably good. However, individuals under 30 years of age showed lower uptake of vaccination, while low-skilled workers had lower uptake of medical care. Strengthening education and support for young migrants and low-skilled workers regarding COVID-19 and other infectious diseases is essential, especially in workplaces and educational institutions.

Abstract Offshore oil and gas platforms support abundant reef fish and are popular fishing sites for recreational anglers. However, the rapid decommissioning and removal of active platforms have decreased such fishing opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico, raising concerns about fisheries impacts. Conversely, planned offshore energy structures like wind turbines may offer similar habitats and fishing sites. To inform spatial planning for marine energy infrastructure in the context of recreational fisheries, we created models of fish communities associated with oil and gas platforms using existing abundance data. We employed Random Forest analysis to predict the presence‐absence and abundance of Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) at platforms using 47 environmental and platform variables. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling on Bray−Curtis dissimilarities explored fish species composition among 37 species. Results showed variability in Red Snapper and Greater Amberjack incidence/abundance from shore to shelf‐edge, not attributed to surrounding habitat or climatological oceanographic variables. Incidence models were more robust than abundance models. Fish species composition was significantly influenced by location gradient, with less impact from other habitat features. Our findings guide selecting areas for artificial structures to enhance angler opportunities and maintain fish diversity, but identifying the drivers of finer scale abundance variation will require further sampling.

Atmospheric aerosols pose a significant global problem, particularly in urban areas in developing countries where the rapid urbanization and industrial activities degrade air quality. This study examined the spatiotemporal variations and trends in aerosol optical depth (AOD) at a 550 nm wavelength, alongside key meteorological factors, in Kabul, Afghanistan, from 2000 to 2022. Using the Google Earth Engine geospatial analysis platform, daily AOD data were retrieved from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer to assess monthly, seasonal, and annual spatiotemporal variations and long-term trends. Meteorological parameters such as temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), precipitation (PCP), wind speed (WS), wind direction, and solar radiation (SR) were obtained from the Modern Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications. The Mann–Kendall test was employed to analyze the time-series trends, and a Pearson correlation matrix was calculated to assess the influence of the meteorological factors on AOD. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to understand the underlying structure. The results indicated high AOD levels in spring and summer, with a significant upward trend from 2000 to 2022. The findings revealed a positive correlation of AOD value with T, RH, WS, and PCP and a negative correlation with SR. The PCA results highlighted complex interactions among these factors and their impact on the AOD. These insights underscore the need for stringent air quality regulations and emission control measures in Kabul.

Abstract Global migration has been increasing since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has clearly shown a lack of preparedness for the next public health emergency when it comes to vulnerable populations including migrants. To include the issues of migration and health in the current global health agenda, it is important to establish/strengthen a network for collaboration among various stakeholders from both the migrant-sending and host countries of migrants especially in the Asian-Pacific region. As the initial step for networking in Asia, in March 2023, a hybrid style international symposium was held in Japan and agreed on a goal and five pillars: surveillance and monitoring, risk communications, community engagement, access to health and social protection services, and supportive environments. Considering the transition of context from the COVID-19 crisis to ‘Build Forward Better’, through the Asian network, we will envisage the better world, where vulnerable populations including migrants will not be left behind from health security.

Abstract Background The context of end-of-life care for older heart failure patients with a complex clinical course provided by certified nurse specialists in gerontology (GCNSs) and Certified nurses in chronic heart failure (CNCHFs) is unclear; therefore, this study aims to describe comprehensive nursing practice for older patients with heart failure at their end of life. Methods This study adopts a qualitative descriptive design using content analysis. Five GCNSs, and five CNCHFs were interviewed using a web app from January to March 2022. Results Thirteen categories of nursing practices for older patients with heart failure were generated: (1) Provide thorough acute care by a multidisciplinary team to alleviate dyspnea, (2) Assess psychiatric symptoms and use a suitable environment to perform treatment, (3) Explain the progression of heart failure with the doctor, (4) Build a trusting relationship with the patient and family and implement advance care planning (ACP) early during the patient's recovery, (5) Involve multiple professions to help patients to achieve their desired life, (6) Perform ACP always in collaboration with multiple professionals, (7) Provide lifestyle guidance according to patients' feelings so that they can continue living at home after discharge from the hospital, (8) Provide palliative and acute care in parallel with multiple professions, (9) Achieve end-of-life care at home through multidisciplinary cooperation, (10) Provide basic nursing care to the patient and family until the moment of death, (11) Provide concurrent acute and palliative care as well as psychological support to alleviate physical and mental symptoms, (12) Share the patient's prognosis and future wishes with multiple professionals, and (13) Engage in ACP from early stages, through several conversations with patients and their families. Conclusions Specialized nurses provide acute care, palliative care, and psychological support to alleviate physical and mental symptoms throughout the different stages of chronic heart failure. In addition to nursing care by specialized nurses at each stage shown in this study, it is important to initiate ACP early in the end-of-life stage and to provide care for patients with multiple professionals.

To evaluate carbonaceous components in the ambient air in the eastern region of Indonesia, 35 Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSP) samples were collected on four characteristic roadsides on Sultan Alauddin Street, in Makassar City, using a high-volume air sampler. The average TSP concentration was 279.7 μg/m3, which exceeded both the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of Indonesia and the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The highest concentration reached 838.6 μg/m3 in the GR (gravel) site, which had the highest number of vehicles and was near a U-turn. TSP concentration was higher during peak hours (morning and late afternoon) than off-peak hours (noon). The main component of the total carbon (TC) fraction was organic carbon (OC), which showed a strong correlation with elemental carbon (EC) (r values for the morning, noon, and late afternoon were 0.89, 0.87, and 0.97, respectively), indicating that the carbon components were derived from common sources. TSP had a strong correlation with carbon components, except for char-EC. OC vs. soot-EC and EC vs. soot-EC also correlated well, suggesting the dominant influence of vehicle exhaust emissions. Non-exhaust emissions had a slight influence during peak hours, particularly at the GR site.

IntroductionLocal biodiversity is increasing in many temperate and subtropical waters due to climate change. It is often caused by shifting fish distributions, thus the biodiversity gradient, from lower to higher latitudes. However, these shifts in distributions do not occur uniformly across all species. Consequently, communities are not only shifting their spatial distributions, but species compositions are also changing. We investigated spatiotemporal differences in the compositions of fish species in the bays of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and identified species that contribute to the temporal changes.MethodsWe used fish count data collected using gillnets in eight major bays, encompassing over 600 km of coastline, during spring and fall seasons from 1982 to 2019. The nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) on the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index among species composition vectors was used to detect the differences in species composition, and the similarity percentages (SIMPER) were used to determine the contribution of species to the differences. ResultsThe result shows there was a gradual change in species composition in all bays over the years, and the composition was different among bays and seasons. The species contributing to the temporal changes included those that are expanding (e.g., Common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, and Smallscale fat snook, C. parallelus) as well as retracting (e.g., Southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, and Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus maculatus) their distributions toward the north. The species observed only in recent years in these bays tended to have a preference for warmer water (e.g., Gulf pipefish, Syngnathus scovelli, and Chain pipefish, S. louisiana). DiscussionThe results are consistent with the potential effects of climate change. However, the salinity of the bays in the study area generally exhibits an increasing trend from the northern to southern bays. The spatial salinity gradient has a substantial impact on species compositions, indicating that species distributions are influenced by multiple environmental conditions. This complexity makes our ability to accurately predict future species compositions under changing environmental conditions challenging.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging environmental contaminants pervasive in the environment. Studies have revealed that the majority of airborne MPs are in the form of fiber. Inhaled atmospheric MPs adversely impact human health, causing inflammation and oxidative stress. Atmospheric MPs may also carry hazardous chemical pollutants in addition to heavy metals. Many research studies have been conducted about MPs’ presence in the environmental components, however questions about the presence and identification of atmospheric MPs remained unanswered. Based on the mentioned research gaps, this study examined the sources and abundance of MPs in the atmosphere and their generation, accumulation, and fate. The paper further studies and evaluates current methods for identifying and assessing airborne MPs and their impact on human health and the environment. According to the study findings, there are flaws and complexity in MPs assessment and technical procedures, which further challenges data comparability and dependability. In order to ensure data comparability and reliability, the abundance of atmospheric MPs needs to be expressed using a unified and standard methodology. Innovative and well-established identification methods, strategies to minimize the impacts of MPs, and appropriate steps to reduce this global pollution are required for the current state of MPs. It also provides an overview of atmospheric MPs' characteristics, sources, and airborne transmission and deposition mechanisms. Advances in bacterial degradation, sunlight-driven photocatalysts, fuels, and biodegradable plastics could revolutionize future studies on reducing plastic pollution. Future studies should include more research on the various aspects of atmospheric MPs. Despite several research studies conducted on the presence and identification of MPs in various environmental components, many questions regarding MPs in the atmosphere and from the perspectives of COVID-19 and One Health still need to be answered. This study will help the key stakeholders and policymakers in safeguarding public health and environment from the threats posed by airborne MPs.

A cascade impactor type sampler equipped with an inertial filter was used to collect size-segregated particles down to ultrafine particles (UFPs or PM0.1) on Batam Island in Sumatra, Indonesia, bordered by Singapore and Malaysia during a wet and the COVID-19 pandemic season in 2021. Carbonaceous species, including organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC), were analyzed by a thermal/optical carbon analyzer to determine the carbon species and their indices. The average UFP was 3.1 ± 0.9 μg/m3, which was 2–4 times lower than in other cities in Sumatra during the same season in the normal condition. The PMs mass concentration was largely affected by local emissions but long-range transportation of particles from Singapore and Malaysia was also not negligible. The air mass arrived at the sampling site passed the ocean, which introduced out clean air with a low level of PMs. The backward trajectory of the air mass and the largest fraction of OC2 and OC3 in all sizes was identified as being transported from the 2 above countries. OC is the dominant fraction in TC and the ratio of carbonaceous components indicated that origin of all particle sizes was predominantly vehicle emissions. UFPs were dominantly emitted from vehicles exhaust emission, while coarser particles (>10 μm) were influenced by the non-exhaust emissions, such as tire wear. Other particles (0.5–1.0; 1.0–2.5; and 2.5–10 μm) were slightly affected by biomass burning. The effective carbon ratio (ECR) and inhalation dose (ID) related EC indicated that finer particles or UFPs and PM0.5-1 contributed more to human health and global warming.

Understanding the reproductive strategy of an organism is important in conservation ecology as it directly affects the population performance under changing environmental conditions. Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) are the largest anadromous fish in the Yangtze River, China. Currently, the species has only one spawning ground and has failed to spawn in recent years, leading it to the brink of extinction. To develop effective conservation measures, a further understanding of its reproductive strategy is needed. In our study, we conducted kinship analyses by using mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA data from 216 wild juveniles collected over nine years (2006−2013, 2015) to understand the mating system, breeding interval, effective number of breeding adults, and reproductive success. The results from these analyses suggested polygynandry, with some parents contributing up to eight half-sibling juvenile genotypes. Although the spawning ground was restricted to a limited area, genetic diversity was maintained at a relatively high level (observed heterozygosity from 0.698 to 0.787 and expected heterozygosity from 0.763 to 0.787) and inbreeding coefficients in each year-class ranged from −1% to 9% (low to modest detrimental effects on offspring). A parental inference analysis revealed that Chinese sturgeon have a breeding interval of 2–6 years, indicating that it has the potential to feed, accumulate nutrition in the ocean, and then migrate back to the Yangtze River for iteroparous reproduction. The annual effective number of breeders in the Yangtze River ranged from 14 to 161 during the study period, and it decreased by 62.1% from the 2011−2014 year-classes. This sharp population decline likely contributes to the reproduction failure. However, the ratios of effective to census population size (Ne/Nc) were all larger than 0.20 after the 2010 year-class, indicating relatively even reproductive success. Based on these results, a suggested approach to protect this species is to restock parent fish to increase the reproductive stock size and optimize the discharge of the Three Gorges Dam to reduce the unsuitable hydrological conditions and rehabilitate spawning ground habitats.

Abstract This paper discusses the challenges of disseminating COVID-19 information to migrant populations by sharing our trial-and-error approach. In 2018, the Migrants’ Neighbor Network & Action (MINNA), a consortium of individuals and organizations that addressed the issues of accessing relevant information and services for migrants in Japan, was launched. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the MINNA attempted to investigate and improve access to health information among Vietnamese, Nepali, and Burmese migrants in Japan. We had three assumptions in distribution of information to reach a large audience, such as building a multilingual website, requesting stakeholders to disseminate information, or posting on Facebook. None of our assumptions were sufficient to reach the target audience in the context of COVID-19, as total number of views that accessed our materials were less than 300 at most. We viewed these myths as the result of overlooking critical elements of effective communication strategies. Eventually, MINNA managed to establish communication with the manager of a Facebook page with the largest number of followers from the Vietnamese community in Japan. Compared with our previous attempts, the messages were delivered to a large audience on the Facebook page, such as the article on COVID-19 vaccines that was viewed more than 300,000 times. In public health emergencies, interactive process of information dissemination is necessary. It is a key component for risk communication and should be prioritized. Breakthroughs in communicating with a larger audience could be possible through partnerships with online communities.

Many of the current atmospheric environmental problems facing Thailand are linked to air pollution that is largely derived from biomass burning. Different parts of Thailand have distinctive sources of biomass emissions that affect air quality. The main contributors to atmospheric particulate matter (PM), especially the PM2.5 fraction in Thailand, were highlighted in a recent study of PM derived from biomass burning. This review is divided into six sections. Section one is an introduction to biomass burning in Thailand. Section two covers issues related to biomass burning for each of the four main regions in Thailand, including Northern, Northeastern, Central, and Southern Thailand. In northern Thailand, forest fires and the burning of crop residues have contributed to air quality in the past decade. The northeast region is mainly affected by the burning of agricultural residues. However, the main contributor to PM in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region is motor vehicles and crop burning. In Southern Thailand, the impact of agoindustries, biomass combustion, and possible agricultural residue burning are the primary sources, and cross-border pollution is also important. The third section concerns the effect of biomass burning on human health. Finally, perspectives, new challenges, and policy recommendations are made concerning improving air quality in Thailand, e.g., forest fuel management and biomass utilization. The overall conclusions point to issues that will have a long-term impact on achieving a blue sky over Thailand through the development of coherent policies and the management of air pollution and sharing this knowledge with a broader audience.

Objectives: This study aimed to review the progress and challenges of COVID-19 vaccine roll-out for migrants in Japan and discuss the approaches to address the challenges and better prepare for future waves of COVID-19 and other pandemics. Methods: We conducted a literature review using an assessment framework which we developed building upon existing frameworks and tools on access to health services and COVID-19 vaccination among migrants. Results: COVID-19 vaccination coverage among foreigners might be lower than that of nationals although the data on foreigners were not widely available. A gap appeared to exist between the government's efforts to disseminate vaccine-related information through multi-lingual websites and migrant communities as recipients. A series of barriers for migrants were identified at different stages of the vaccination process. While efforts were made by different units of local governments, NGOs, migrant communities, and international exchange associations, linkages across sectors and scaling-up appeared to be an issue. No foreigners were explicitly excluded from the entitlements of COVID-19 vaccination. The national level guidance, however, allowed sub-national levels to make a decision on whether or not undocumented foreigners should be reported to the immigration office or law enforcement when providing the services. In consequence, units in charge of public health and vaccination of some municipalities did not offer vaccination to those in need. Conclusion: Migrants, especially those unregistered face various barriers in accessing COVID-19 vaccination. It is critical to assess and address challenges concerning channels of information dissemination, pathways to access services, obstacles for vulnerable migrants, and data for evidence-based actions.

Background The AT(N) classification was proposed for categorising individuals according to biomarkers. However, AT(N) profiles may vary depending on the markers chosen and the target population.Methods We stratified 177 individuals who participated in the Japanese Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative by AT(N) classification according to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. We compared the frequency of AT(N) profiles between the classification using total tau and neurofilament light chain (NfL) as N markers (AT(N)tau and AT(N)NfL). Baseline characteristics, and longitudinal biological and clinical changes were examined between AT(N) profiles.Results We found that 9% of cognitively unimpaired subjects, 49% of subjects with mild cognitive impairment, and 61% of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia had the biological AD profile (ie, A+T+) in the cohort. The frequency of AT(N) profiles substantially differed between the AT(N)tau and AT(N)NfL classifications. When we used t-tau as the N marker (AT(N)tau), those who had T− were more frequently assigned to (N)−, whereas those who had T+were more frequently assigned to (N)+ than when we used NfL as the N marker (AT(N)NfL). During a follow-up, the AD continuum group progressed clinically and biologically compared with the normal biomarker group in both the AT(N)tau and AT(N)NfL classifications. More frequent conversion to dementia was observed in the non-AD pathological change group in the AT(N)tau classification, but not in the AT(N)NfL classification.Conclusions AT(N)tau and AT(N)NfL in CSF may capture different aspects of neurodegeneration and provide a different prognostic value. The AT(N) classification aids in understanding the AD continuum biology in various populations.

Abstract Climate change is causing shifts in the geographic distributions of coastal fish species toward higher latitudes. However, local fish communities found in higher latitudes today are not simply those found in lower latitudes in the past because the sensitivity of species to various environmental conditions is different. Responses of fish to environmental conditions differ depending on their life‐history traits such as the maximum population growth rate, age of maturity, and generation time because these traits are constrained by environmental conditions. Here, we investigate associations among temporal patterns in presence–absence (incidence) data, life‐history traits of species, and environmental conditions to elucidate the potential mechanisms behind the effects of climate change on coastal fish communities. In this study, fish monitoring data collected semi‐monthly between 1982 and 2019 from eight major bays in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico were analyzed with generalized additive models. Smooth patterns over seasons and years in the incidence data of 77 species were estimated, and the data were associated with environmental variables. Further, these temporal patterns were associated with the life‐history traits of species. The results show that species that are more common in the summer months (non‐winter spawners) tend to exhibit an increasing trend and that species common during the spring (winter spawners) tend to exhibit a decreasing trend, suggesting the importance of summer conditions in driving tropicalization. Salinity had significant effects on species in general, and longer‐lived species tended to be affected by temperature. These results suggest seasonal differences in the effects of environmental conditions and variation in sensitivity to environmental conditions among different life‐history strategies. These findings represent major steps toward understanding the mechanisms behind the tropicalization of estuarine communities.

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Abstract Climate change causes marine species to shift and expand their distributions, often leading to changes in species diversity. While increased biodiversity is often assumed to confer positive benefits on ecosystem functioning, many examples have shown that the relationship is specific to the ecosystem and function studied and is often driven by functional composition and diversity. In the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, tropical species expansion was shown to have increased estuarine fish and invertebrate diversity; however, it is not yet known how those increases have affected functional diversity. To address this knowledge gap, two metrics of functional diversity, functional richness (FRic) and functional dispersion (FDis), were estimated in each year for a 38‐year study period, for each of the eight major bays along the Texas coast. Then, the community‐weighted mean (CWM) trait values for each of the functional traits are calculated to assess how functional composition has changed through time. Finally, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify species contributing most to changing functional diversity. We found significant increases in log‐functional richness in both spring and fall, and significant decreases in functional dispersion in spring, suggesting that although new functional types are entering the bays, assemblages are becoming more dominated by similar functional types. Community‐weighted trait means showed significant increases in the relative abundance of traits associated with large, long‐lived, higher trophic level species, suggesting an increase in periodic and equilibrium life‐history strategists within the bays. PCA identified mainly native sciaenid species as contributing most to functional diversity trends although several tropical species also show increasing trends through time. We conclude that the climate‐driven species expansion in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico led to a decrease in functional dispersion due to increasing relative abundance of species with similar life‐history characteristics, and thus the communities have become more functionally homogeneous.

Abstract Habitat alterations that result from anthropogenic disturbance impact both the abiotic and biotic conditions of ecosystems, causing changes in biodiversity in many parts of the world. Recently, the use of functional diversity has been suggested as an approach to better evaluate the effects of such disturbance on particular communities. Here, we investigated the temporal changes in species and functional diversities of fish communities in the downstream area of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) before, during, and after impoundment. We found two regime shifts in the fish community in 2004 and 2013 following impoundment. Although taxonomic diversity declined sharply at the first regime shift, it increased at the second shift. On the other hand, functional diversity declined throughout the same period, indicating the loss of functional diversity despite increased species diversity. Our analysis also showed that the fish communities shifted from under‐dispersion to over‐dispersion due to both a decrease in the relative abundance of migratory fish and an increase in the number of fish adapted to the new hydrologic conditions. Our results indicated that the impacts of dams on downstream fish communities may change over time. Interactions between species may become more important when the environment is stable.

The objective of this study was to characterize ambient nanoparticles (PM0.1)-bound metals in Bangkok, Thailand and assess the health risks of these materials to human. A year-long sampling campaign was conducted between November 2014 and October 2015. The PM0.1 mass concentration ranged from 10 to 27 μg/m3, and the average PM0.1 mass concentration was 15 ± 2 μg/m3. The total concentration of the thirteen elements was 345 ± 31 ng/m3, with Fe, K, Na, Al, Cu, Mg, and Zn (>10 ng/m3) being the dominant species. The highest total element concentration occurred in the cold dry season followed by the hot dry and wet seasons. A principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the primary sources of PM0.1 were derived from road traffic, the industrial sector, and biomass burning. The high concentrations of metals found in the cold dry season suggest that PM0.1-bound metal derived from road traffic and biomass burning from neighboring areas were transported to Bangkok. High level of K indicates that biomass burning was a major source during cold dry season. Total cancer risk from all the carcinogenic elements was 5.84 × 10−6 in adults, which does not exceed the upper limit of the acceptable risk assessment range. The findings of this study provide further clarification of the emission source profile and the pattern of PM0.1 particles and should be of value for emission control and mitigation of PM emission in an urban area.

Nanoparticles (NPs), nanoaerosols (NAs), ultrafine particles (UFPs), and PM0.1 (diameters ≤ 0.1 µm or 100 nm) are used interchangeably in the field of atmospheric studies. This review article summarizes recent research on PM0.1 in Thailand. The review involved peer-reviewed papers that appeared in the Scopus and the Web of Science databases and included the most recently published articles in the past 10 years (2013–2022). PM0.1 mainly originate from combustion processes such as in motor vehicles. The highest mass concentration of PM0.1 occurs during the dry season, in which open fires occur in some regions of Thailand. The northern area of the country has higher PM0.1 mass concentrations, followed by the central and southern areas. Carbonaceous nanoaerosols are produced during normal periods, and the proportions of organic to elemental carbon and char to soot suggest that these originate from motor vehicles. However, in haze periods, biomass fires can also produce carbon-containing particles. PM0.1 pollution from local and cross-border countries also needs to be considered. The overall conclusions reached will likely have a beneficial long-term impact on achieving a blue sky over Thailand through the development of coherent policies and managing new air pollution challenges and sharing knowledge with a broader audience.

Seasonal variations in atmospheric ultrafine particulate matter (PM0.1) were monitored in Bangkok, Thailand, from 2016 to 2017. PM0.1-bound organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were collected by a cascade air sampler that can collect PM0.1 and were analyzed by a Thermal-Optical carbon analyzer following the IMPROVE-TOR protocol. The annual average PM0.1 in Bangkok was 14.5 ± 4.7 µg/m3, which is higher than in large Asian cities such as Shanghai and Hanoi. Biomass burning from neighboring areas was shown to increase the particle concentration. Apparent increases in carbon species such as OC and EC, and the OC/EC ratios in the wet and dry seasons were observed; the Char-EC/Soot-EC ratio revealed that the PM0.1 in the Bangkok atmosphere was influenced mainly by vehicle exhausts, even though the influence of biomass burning was greater during the dry season. The effective carbon ratio (ECR) shows that Bangkok’s carbonaceous aerosol is light-absorbing and -scattering. The higher SOC/OC in the dry season indicates the high level of secondary sources forming smaller particles from the combustion sources in Bangkok, increasing light scattering during these periods, and contributing to climate and air quality. The findings of this work are of great importance to air pollutant control policies in urban areas.

To minimize motion-related distortion of reconstructed images, conventional positron emission tomography (PET) measurements of the brain inevitably require a firm and tight head restraint. While such a restraint is now a routine procedure in brain imaging, the physiological and psychological consequences resulting from the restraint have not been elucidated. To address this problem, we developed a restraint-free brain PET system and conducted PET scans under both restrained and non-restrained conditions. We examined whether head restraint during PET scans could alter brain activities such as regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and dopamine release along with psychological stress related to head restraint. Under both conditions, 20 healthy male participants underwent [15O]H2O and [11C]Raclopride PET scans during working memory tasks with the same PET system. Before, during, and after each PET scan, we measured physiological and psychological stress responses, including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores. Analysis of the [15O]H2O-PET data revealed higher rCBF in regions such as the parahippocampus in the restrained condition. We found the binding potential (BPND) of [11C]Raclopride in the putamen was significantly reduced in the restrained condition, which reflects an increase in dopamine release. Moreover, the restraint-induced change in BPND was correlated with a shift in the state anxiety score of the STAI, indicating that less anxiety accompanied smaller dopamine release. These results suggest that the stress from head restraint could cause unsolicited responses in brain physiology and emotional states. The restraint-free imaging system may thus be a key enabling technology for the natural depiction of the mind.

Small-scale fisheries are hard to assess because of the limited availability of data. Therefore, a method requiring easy-to-obtain catch-data is important for the assessment and management of small-scale fisheries. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of fishing gear selectivity on a length-based metric method proposed by Froese by estimating three indicators using catch-data from Lane Snapper (Lutjanus synagris) collected in Honduras. These indicators are (1) the percentage of mature individuals in the catch, (2) the percentage of fish within the range of estimated optimal lengths to be captured, and (3) the percentage of fish larger than the optimal length. These indicators determine the level of overfishing. The indicators were estimated separately for catch-data corresponding to gill nets, and each indicator was estimated with and without selectivity correction. Selectivity and mesh sizes of the fishing gear had a major impact on the estimation of indicators 1 and 2. As for indicator 3, it consistently showed a high level of exploitation. The three estimated indicators suggested that the Lane Snapper fishery in Honduras is experiencing overfishing. Overall, the method appears to be promising for the assessment of small-scale fisheries, but it should be used cautiously.

The concentration of total suspended particles (TSP) and nanoparticles (PM0.1) over Hat Yai city, Songkhla province, southern Thailand was measured in 2019. Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were evaluated by carbon aerosol analyzer (IMPROVE-TOR) method. Thirteen trace elements including Al, Ba, K, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Ti, Pb, and Zn were evaluated by ICP-OES. Annual average TSP and PM0.1 mass concentrations were determined to be 58.3 ± 7.8 and 10.4 ± 1.2 µg/m3, respectively. The highest levels of PM occurred in the wet season with the corresponding values for the dry seasons being lower. The averaged OC/EC ratio ranged from 3.8–4.2 (TSP) and 2.5–2.7 (PM0.1). The char to soot ratios were constantly less than 1.0 for both TSP and PM0.1, indicating that land transportation is the main emission source. A principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that road transportation, industry, and biomass burning are the key sources of these particles. However, PM arising from Indonesian peatland fires causes an increase in the carbon and trace element concentrations in southern Thailand. The findings make useful information for air quality management and strategies for controlling this problem, based on a source apportionment analysis.

It has been reported that the cerebellar vermis is equally involved in both motor imagery about axial movement and the actual execution of postural balance in healthy human subjects, but this finding is yet to be explored in Parkinson's disease (PD). We therefore investigated the neuronal responses during observation of standing posture, imagination of standing and the assumption of an upright posture in ten drug-naïve PD patients using positron emission tomography (PET) with [15O]H2O and evaluated dopamine dysfunction by measuring the level of dopamine transporter binding of [11C]CFT. Within-group statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis showed similar cerebellar activation during imagination of standing and its real execution between the PD and control groups (12 healthy subjects); i.e., increases in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were observed in the anterior cerebellar vermis during motor imagination and the posterior vermis during standing. A comparison between the groups showed that the motor execution of standing significantly activated the superior part of the posterior vermis (declive VI) and the paracentral sulcus region in the PD patients, while the prefrontal cortices were deactivated during standing (p

Ultrafast light pulses can manipulate and probe materials faster than relaxation timescales, leading to new electronic states and insights into equilibrium properties. Okazaki et al. use the properties of photo-induced metallic states to investigate unconventional correlated behaviour in Ta2NiSe5 and Ta2NiS5.

Abstract Chemical pesticides are widely used around the world, but at the same time, they may cause direct or indirect risks to many non-target organisms. Recent increased use of insecticides in coastal areas, for example to control invasive tawny crazy ants, raises concern that insecticides may affect ecologically and/or commercially important species found in estuaries. Here, we investigated the lethal and sub-lethal effects of fipronil on juvenile brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus over 29 days at five different nominal concentrations (0.1, 1.0, 3.0, 6.4, and 10.0 µg/L) in a laboratory experiment. Exposure to all of the fipronil treatments resulted in all individuals dying before the end of the experiment; whereas, no individual died in the control (0.0 µg/L). The 96-hour LC50 was determined to be 1.3 µg/L. Shrimp also experienced weight loss under all of the fipronil treatments. Inter-moult interval was increased from 12.2 ± 1.64 day in the control group to 15.5 ± 0.53 day in the 1.0 μg/L treatment. Lipid content of shrimp increased significantly in a concentration-dependent manner. Finally, behavioral and body color changes were also observed under the fipronil treatments. We conclude F. aztecus is very sensitive to fipronil and monitoring is needed in coastal areas.

The newly developed rice variety ‘Akidawara’ (AKI) combines the traits of high yield and highly palatability, and its cultivation is expected to spread. We examined characteristics of growth and quality, and factors contributing to high yield in AKI by comparing with ‘Nipponbare’ (NIP). Grain yield for AKI were 703 g m−2 (9% more than NIP) and 781 g m−2 (14% more than NIP) under the standard and heavy fertilizer regimes. It was also suggested that increase in the sink capacity was the key contributors to the high yield in AKI resulting from a conspicuous increase in the number of spikelets, which is likely due to introgression of the high-yielding variety allele. Furthermore, AKI achieved the similar degree of sink filling in spite of its larger sink capacity. In this point, panicle dry weight increase during ripening (ΔP) was significantly higher for AKI than for NIP despite the fact that no differences in shoot dry weight increase were observed between varieties. The greater ΔP in AKI might be derived from its larger sink capacity and the difference between varieties involves the translocation of nonstructural carbohydrate. In the grain quality, the reduction in perfect grain ratio was negligible and regarded as a small trade-off for AKI’s 14% increase in yield, and grain protein content increased to a lesser degree in AKI at the same yield level. These results suggest that over 700 g m−2 high yield can be achieved with relative high grain quality and lower protein content in AKI.

Air sampling for 12 h diurnal and nocturnal periods was conducted at two monitoring sites with different characteristics in Jambi City, Sumatra Island, Indonesia. The sampling was done at a roadside site and a riverside site from 2–9 August, and from 7–13 August in 2019, respectively. A cascade air sampler was used to obtain information on the status, characteristics and behavior of airborne particles with a particular focus on the ultrafine fraction (PM0.1). The number of light vehicles was best correlated with most PM size categories, while those of heavy vehicles and motorcycles with the 0.5–1 μm and with >10 μm for the nocturnal period, respectively. These findings suggest that there is a positive influence of traffic amount on the PM concentration. Using carbonaceous parameters related to heavy-vehicle emissions such as EC and soot-EC, HV emission was confirmed to account for the PM0.1 fraction more clearly in the roadside environment. The correlation between OC/EC and EC for 0.5–1 μm particles indicated that biomass burning has an influence on both in the diurnal period. A possible transboundary influence was shown as a shift in the PM0.1 fraction characteristic from “urban” to “biomass burning”.

Size-segregated particulate matter (PM) including the PM0.1 fraction, particles ≤0.1 µm, was monitored during the rainy and dry seasons at three different cities in Sumatra island, Indonesia in 2018. In order to identify possible emission sources, carbonaceous components in the particles collected by a cascade air sampler that is capable of collecting PM0.1 particles were analyzed by applying a thermal/optical reflectance (IMPROVE-TOR) protocol. The PM0.1 levels in the Jambi and Pekanbaru areas were similar to those in large cities in East Asia, such as Bangkok and Hanoi. During the rainy season, local emissions in the form of vehicle combustion were the main sources of PM. The influence of peatland fires in the dry season was more significant in cities that are located on the east coast of Sumatra island because of the larger number of hotspots and air mass trajectories along the coast. A clear increase in the carbonaceous profiles as OC, TC, and OC/EC ratios in the dry season from the rainy season was observed, particularly in fine fractions such as PM0.5–1. In both seasons, EC vs. OC/EC correlations and soot-EC/TC ratios showed that the PM0.1 fraction in Sumatra island was heavily influenced by vehicle emissions, while the effect of biomass burning was more sensitive with respect to the PM0.5–1 fraction, particularly in Jambi and Pekanbaru sites during the dry season.

As a general background, Sabaka-daikon, one of the heirloom vegetables in Kyoto, ceased its commercial cultivation in the late 1960s at north Kyoto, leading to an extinction crisis. We review the activities of the local residents to revive the commercial cultivation of Sabaka-daikon from 2010. We also discuss the significance of the information on the health benefits of local foods in motivating local residents to protect local foods from extinction. For methodology, through field interviews of administrative members, venders, and farmers in Maizuru city, we explore reasons for the success in reviving a local heirloom vegetable, Sabaka-daikon. We also apply chemical analysis to determine individual differences in the anticarcinogenic (cancer preventive) compound, 4-methylthio-3-butenyl isothiocyanate, in Sabaka-daikon to guarantee its added health benefits. As a result, the primary factors for the revival of Sabaka-daikon in Maizuru city include the passion of farmers, measures undertaken by the local administration, and the marketing strategies of venders. The secondary factor is the fact that one primary factor (passion of farmers) coincides on a time axis with the other two factors (administrative measures and marketing strategies of venders). Wide individual differences in the anticarcinogenic compound, 4-methylthio-3-butenyl isothiocyanate, were observed, likely due to the variable genome of Sabaka-daikon. In conclusion, the results imply that the information on the health benefits of daikon contribute to motivating the local residents (i.e., passion of farmers) in protecting Sabaka-daikon from extinction. Revival of this heirloom vegetable would contribute to the diversification of local foods, and to the preservation of those foods and the cooking knowledge for future generations. As Sabaka-daikon variety has some races in variation of 4-methylthio-3-butenyl isothiocyanate production, a race with a fixed amount of 4-methylthio-3-butenyl isothiocyanate should be established to guarantee added health benefits of Sabaka-daikon.

Purpose: Fragility hip fractures (FHFs) are associated with a high risk of mortality, but the relative contribution of various factors remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate predictive factors of mortality at 1 year after discharge in Japan. Methods: A total of 497 patients aged 60 years or older who sustained FHFs during follow-up were included in this study. Expected variables were finally assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The 1-year mortality rate was 9.1% (95% confidence interval: 6.8–12.0%, n = 45). Log-rank test revealed that previous fractures ( p = 0.003), Barthel index (BI) at discharge ( p = 0.011), and place-to-discharge ( p = 0.004) were significantly associated with mortality for male patients. Meanwhile, body mass index (BMI; p = 0.023), total Charlson comorbidity index (TCCI; p = 0.005), smoking ( p = 0.007), length of hospital stay (LOS; p = 0.009), and BI ( p = 0.004) were the counterparts for females. By multivariate analyses, previous vertebral fractures (hazard ratio (HR) 3.33; p = 0.044), and BI

Increased use of pesticide is causing detrimental effects on non-target species worldwide. In this study, we examined the lethal and sub-lethal effects of fipronil and imidacloprid, two commonly used insecticides, on juvenile brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus), one of the most commercially and ecologically important species in the United States. The effects of six concentrations of fipronil (0.0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 3.0 μg/L) and six concentrations of imidacloprid (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 15.0, 34.5, 320.0 μg/L) were tested in a laboratory. We examined five different endpoints: growth, moulting interval, survivorship, behavioral change, and body color change. Growth of shrimp was reduced significantly under higher concentrations of both insecticides. Under fipronil exposure, shrimp in control showed the shortest inter-moult interval (7.57 ± 2.17 day) compared with other treatments; similarly, in the imidacloprid experiment, moulting increased from 8.43 ± 2.52 day in control to 11.95 ± 4.9 day in 0.5 μg/L treatment. Higher concentrations of fipronil (1.0 and 3.0 μg/L) showed a 0.0% survival rate compared with 100% survival in the control and 0.005 μg/L treatment. Under imidacloprid, survivorship decreased from 100% in the control to 33.33% in the 320.0 μg/L treatment. The 96-h LC50 of fipronil was 0.12 μg/L, which makes brown shrimp one of the most sensitive invertebrates to the pesticide. Changes in behavior and body color were observed under both insecticides after different durations of exposures depending on concentrations. We conclude that, at the corresponding EPA benchmark concentrations, fipronil had more lethal effects than imidacloprid, and imidacloprid had more sub-lethal effects than fipronil. Both effects are of serious concern, and we suggest monitoring is necessary in estuaries.

The serotonin system has been implicated in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). A recent report proposed that body image distortion (BID), a core symptom of AN, may relate to abnormalities of the serotonin system, especially the serotonin transporter (5HTT). Positron emission tomography (PET) studies of underweight patients with active AN reported alterations in serotonin receptors, but not 5HTT. Here, we aimed to disclose the clinicopathophysiology of AN by focusing on 5HTT and cognitive functions, including BID, in groups with active AN. Twenty-two underweight female patients with AN (12 restricting-type AN (ANR); 10 binge-eating/purging-type AN (ANBP)) and 20 age-matched healthy female subjects underwent PET with a 5HTT radioligand [11C]DASB. The binding potential (BPND) of [11C]DASB was estimated semiquantitatively, and clinical data from Raven's colored progressive matrices for general intelligence, the Stroop test for focused attention, the Iowa gambling task for decision making and a dot-probe task designed for BID were compared with the levels of BPND in different groups. [11C]DASB BPND was significantly decreased in the medial parietal cortex in patients with AN and in the dorsal raphe in patients with ANR compared with healthy subjects (p

Critical building blocks for the response to HIV were made until 2012 despite a series of political, social and financial challenges. A rapid increase of HIV service coverage was observed from 2012 to 2015 through collaborative efforts of government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Government facilities, in particular, demonstrated their capacity to expand services for antiretroviral therapy (ART), prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, tuberculosis and HIV co-infection and methadone-maintenance therapy (MMT). After nearly three decades into the response to HIV, Myanmar has adopted strategies to provide the right interventions to the right people in the right places to maximise impact and cost efficiency. In particular, the country is now using strategic information to classify areas into high-, medium- and low-HIV burden and risk of new infections for geographical prioritisation – as HIV remains concentrated among key population (KP) groups in specific geographical areas. Ways forward include: • Addressing structural barriers for KP to access services, and identifying and targeting KPs at higher risk; • Strengthening the network of public facilities, NGOs and general practitioners and introducing a case management approach to assist KPs and other clients with unknown HIV status, HIV-negative clients and newly diagnosed clients to access the health services across the continuum to increase the number of people testing for HIV and to reduce loss to follow-up in both prevention and treatment; • Increasing the availability of HIV testing and counselling services for KPs, clients of female sex workers (FSW), and other populations at risk, and raising the demand for timely testing including expansion of outreach and client-initiated voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services; • Monitoring and maximising retention from HIV diagnosis to ART initiation and expanding quality HIV laboratory services, especially viral load; • Prioritising integration of HIV and related services in high-burden areas; • Increasing the proportion of PLHIV receiving testing and treatment at public facilities by improving human resources and increasing public facilities providing these services to ensure sustainability; • Obtaining intelligence and tailoring services in hard-to-reach/under-served areas; • Strengthening planning, monitoring, and coordination capacity especially at regional levels.

The high productivity of gear skiving has caused the process to attract a lot of attention in recent years and taper shaped skiving cutters are generally used in current gear skiving. A cutter axis in gear skiving is inclined to a gear axis and a taper shaped skiving cutter could cause tooth profile deviations of skived gears after re-sharpening of tool faces. Adjusting cutter position and/or re-profiling of cutter flanks are applied to enable tooth profile deviations of skived gears to remain within acceptable ranges when the adjustment is necessary. Adjusting cutter position is preferred to re-profiling of cutter flanks due to desire for low production cost. However, the universality of the current methods of calculating cutter positions is still not confirmed. The present study explains that the current methods for obtaining cutter positions could require individual calculating formulas according to cutter specifications for each particular gear. A universal method which avoids such complexity of making various formulas could contribute to permit gear skiving to become more useful in the gear machining field. Then such a desirable method is proposed and the reasonability of the method is confirmed by experiments. In addition, this study discusses the existence of scope in which the method can be applied and a method for checking collisions between cutter flanks and gear tooth flanks being cut after adjustment of cutter position.

The effective management of fish populations requires understanding of both the biology of the species being managed and the behavior of the humans who harvest those species. For many marine fisheries, recreational harvests represent a significant portion of the total fishing mortality. For such fisheries, therefore, a model that captures the dynamics of angler choices and the fish population would be a valuable tool for fisheries management. In this study, we provide such a model, focusing on red drum and spotted seatrout, which are the two of the main recreational fishing targets in the Gulf of Mexico. The biological models are in the form of vector autoregressive models. The anglers' decision model takes the discrete choice approach, in which anglers first decide whether to go fishing and then determine the location to fish based on the distance and expected catch of two species of fish if they decide to go fishing. The coupled model predicts that, under the level of fluctuation in the abundance of the two species experienced in the past 35 years, the number of trips that might be taken by anglers fluctuates moderately. This fluctuation is magnified as the cost of travel decreases because the anglers can travel long distance to seek better fishing conditions. On the other hand, as the cost of travel increases, their preference to fish in nearby areas increases regardless of the expected catch in other locations and variation in the trips taken declines. The model demonstrates the importance of incorporating anglers' decision processes in understanding the changes in a fishing effort level. Although the model in this study still has a room for further improvement, it can be used for more effective management of fish and potentially other populations.

A matrix population model is a convenient tool for summarizing per capita survival and reproduction rates (collectively vital rates) of a population and can be used for calculating an asymptotic finite population growth rate (λ) and generation time. These two pieces of information can be used for determining the status of a threatened species. The use of stage-structured population models has increased in recent years, and the vital rates in such models are often estimated using a life table analysis. However, potential bias introduced when converting age-structured vital rates estimated from a life table into parameters for a stage-structured population model has not been assessed comprehensively. The objective of this study was to investigate the performance of methods for such conversions using simulated life histories of organisms. The underlying models incorporate various types of life history and true population growth rates of varying levels. The performance was measured by comparing differences in λ and the generation time calculated using the Euler-Lotka equation, age-structured population matrices, and several stage-structured population matrices that were obtained by applying different conversion methods. The results show that the discretization of age introduces only small bias in λ or generation time. Similarly, assuming a fixed age of maturation at the mean age of maturation does not introduce much bias. However, aggregating age-specific survival rates into a stage-specific survival rate and estimating a stage-transition rate can introduce substantial bias depending on the organism’s life history type and the true values of λ. In order to aggregate survival rates, the use of the weighted arithmetic mean was the most robust method for estimating λ. Here, the weights are given by survivorship curve after discounting with λ. To estimate a stage-transition rate, matching the proportion of individuals transitioning, with λ used for discounting the rate, was the best approach. However, stage-structured models performed poorly in estimating generation time, regardless of the methods used for constructing the models. Based on the results, we recommend using an age-structured matrix population model or the Euler-Lotka equation for calculating λ and generation time when life table data are available. Then, these age-structured vital rates can be converted into a stage-structured model for further analyses.

Taper shaped skiving cutters are commonly used in gear skiving because they provide clearance angles under a simple gear arrangement and they could have lower cutting resistance than cylindrical skiving cutters. Their tooth flanks are generally ground by the same method of generation grinding with a trapezoidal wheel as ones for pinion cutter tooth flanks for gear shaping. In gear skiving, however, the process of tool-face re-grinding could increase profile deviations of cut gears due to the lack of an appropriate change in cutter profiles along the facewidth. In the present paper, computer programs were developed to simulate the generation grinding and the skiving with the cutting edges ground by the method. Skiving with a cutter ground by the method were carried out and skived tooth forms were compared with those calculated by the developed program. As a result, the comparisons could guarantee the reliability of the program. Furthermore, the program has revealed that the increase in a helix angle of a cutter yields the increase in tooth profile deviations of skived gears after regrinding the tool faces. Therefore, taper shaped cutters should be applied to internal gear skiving with extra caution.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a commonly used brominated flame retardant, also functions as an endocrine disruptor. Thus, the degradation of TBBPA has attracted considerable interest among the scientific community. Iron(III)-porphyrin complexes are generally regarded as “green” catalysts and have been reported to catalyze the efficient degradation and dehalogenation of halogenated phenols in environmental wastewaters. However, they are quickly deactivated due to self-degradation in the presence of an oxygen donor, such as KHSO5. In the present study, an iron(III)-tetrakis (p-sulfonatophenyl)-porphyrin (FeTPPS) was immobilized on imidazole-modified silica (FeTPPS/IPS) via coordination of the Fe(III) with the nitrogen atom in imidazole to suppress self-degradation and thus enhance the catalyst reusability. The oxidative degradation and debromination of TBBPA and the influence of humic acid (HA), a major component in leachates, on the oxidation of TBBPA was investigated. More than 95% of the TBBPA was degraded in the pH range from 3 to 8 in the absence of HA, while the optimal pH for the reaction was at pH 8 in the presence of HA. Although the rate of degradation was decreased in the presence of HA, over 95% of the TBBPA was degraded within 12 h in the presence of 28 mg-C L−1 of HA. At pH 8, the FeTPPS/IPS catalyst could be reused up to 10 times without any detectable loss of activity for TBBPA for degradation and debromination, even in the presence of HA.

This study investigated the contribution of shrimp stocks in supporting the production of valuable predator species. Fishery-independent data on white shrimp, brown shrimp, and selected fish species (spotted seatrout, red drum, and southern flounder) were collected from 1986 to 2014 by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and converted to catch-per-unit effort (CPUE). Here, the associations between the CPUEs of fish species as predators and those of shrimp species as prey in each sampled bay and sampling season were analyzed using co-integration analysis and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR). Co-integration analysis revealed significant associations between 31 of 70 possible fish/shrimp pairings. The analysis also revealed discernible seasonal and spatial patterns. White shrimp in August and brown shrimp in May were associated with fish CPUEs in bays located along the lower coast of Texas, whereas white shrimp in November was more strongly associated with fish CPUEs in bays located on the upper coast. This suggests the possible influence of latitudinal environmental gradient. The results of the PLSR, on the other hand, were not conclusive. This may reflect the high statistical error rates inherent to the analysis of short non-stationary time series. Co-integration is a robust method when analyzing non-stationary time series, and a majority of time series in this study was non-stationary. Based on our co-integration results, we conclude that the CPUE data show significant associations between shrimp abundance and the three predator fish species in the tested regions.

The SOS/umu genotoxicity assay evaluates the primary DNA damage caused by chemicals from the β-galactosidase activity of S. typhimurium. One of the weaknesses of the common umu test system based on spectrophotometric detection is that it is unable to measure samples containing a high concentration of colored dissolved organic matters, sediment, and suspended solids. However, umu tests with electrochemical detection techniques prove to be a better strategy because it causes less interference, enables the analysis of turbid samples and allows detection even in small volumes without loss of sensitivity. Based on this understanding, we aim to develop a new umu test system with hydrodynamic chronoamperometry using a rotating disk electrode (RDE) in a microliter droplet. PAPG when used as a substrate is not electroactive at the potential at which PAP is oxidized to p-quinone imine (PQI), so the current response of chronoamperometry resulting from the oxidation of PAP to PQI is directly proportional to the enzymatic activity of S. typhimurium. This was achieved by performing genotoxicity tests for 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-acrylamide (AF-2) and 2-aminoanthracene (2-AA) as model genotoxic compounds. The results obtained in this study indicated that the signal detection in the genotoxicity assay based on hydrodynamic voltammetry was less influenced by the presence of colored components and sediment particles in the samples when compared to the usual colorimetric signal detection. The influence caused by the presence of humic acids (HAs) and artificial sediment on the genotoxic property of selected model compounds such as 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4-NQO), 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX), 1,8-dinitropyrene (1,8-DNP) and 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) were also investigated. The results showed that the genotoxicity of 1-NP and MX changed in the presence of 10 mg∙L–1 HAs. The genotoxicity of tested chemicals with a high hydrophobicity such as 1,8-DNP and 1-NP were decreased substantially with the presence of 1 g∙L–1 sediment. This was not observed in the case of genotoxins with a low log Kow value.

Low temperature decreases biomass production and yield in rice through a number of physiological and morphological changes. We evaluated biomass production in 22 high-yielding genotypes and four commercial japonica cultivars early after transplanting under field conditions for 2 years. The seedlings were transplanted on 30 April or 1 May (early transplanting, ET) and 4 weeks later (late transplanting, LT). The mean air temperature during the 18 days after transplanting in ET was about 4ºC lower than that in LT in both years. The seedling length was greater in high-yielding japonica varieties than in indica genotypes, whereas the seedling character index (SCI), which is the product of plant age in leaf number and the ratio of the seedling weight to its length, was the highest in the indica genotypes. Varietal differences in biomass production were greater in ET than in LT in all rice genotypes. The biomass at 18 days after transplanting was largest in the japonica high-yielding varieties Kusayutaka and Beko-aoba in both ET and LT. The biomass production of the indica genotypes was found to decrease severely after transplanting at low temperatures although the indica genotypes with high SCIs showed faster leaf emergence than the high-yielding japonica varieties. There was a strong positive correlation between the varietal differences in biomass production and shoot length at 18 days after transplanting in ET in both years. Our study suggests that superior shoot elongation in the high-yielding japonica varieties with large biomass allocation to the stems may be advantageous in maintaining biomass productivity at low temperatures.

The influence of halogen substituents on the catalytic oxidation of 2,4,6-trihalogenated phenols (TrXPs) by iron(III)-porphyrin/KHSO5 catalytic systems was investigated. Iron(III)-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (FeTHP) and its supported variants were employed, where the supported catalysts were synthesized by introducing FeTHP into hydroquinone-derived humic acids via formaldehyde poly-condensation. F (TrFP), Cl (TrCP), Br (TrBP) and I (TrIP) were examined as halogen substituents for TrXPs. Although the supported catalysts significantly enhanced the degradation and dehalogenation of TrFP and TrCP, the oxidation of TrBP and TrIP was not enhanced, compared to the FeTHP catalytic system. These results indicate that the degree of oxidation of TrXPs is strongly dependent on the types of halogen substituent. The order of dehalogenation levels for halogen substituents in TrXPs was F > Cl > Br > I, consistent with their order of electronegativity. The electronegativity of a halogen substituent affects the nucleophilicity of the carbon to which it is attached. The levels of oxidation products in the reaction mixtures were analyzed by GC/MS after extraction with n-hexane. The most abundant dimer product from TrFP via 2,6-difluoroquinone is consistent with a scenario where TrXP, with a more electronegative halogen substituent, is readily oxidized, while less electronegative halogen substituents are oxidized less readily by iron(III)-porphyrin/KHSO5 catalytic systems.

Katsuya Suzuki1, Shigekazu Tsubaki2, Masami Fujita3, Naoto Koyama1, Michio Takahashi1, Kenji Takazawa41Research Institute for Health Fundamentals, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Kawasaki; 2Samoncho Clinic, Tokyo; 3Shinanozaka Clinic, Tokyo; 4Tokyo Medical University Hachioji Medical Center, Tokyo, JapanAbstract: Safflower seed extract (SSE) contains characteristic polyphenols and serotonin derivatives (N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin and N-feruloylserotonin), which are reported to inhibit oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), formation of atherosclerotic plaques, and improve arterial stiffness as assessed by pulse wave analysis in animal models. The effects of long-term supplementation with SSE on arterial stiffness in human subjects were evaluated. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 77 males (35–65 years) and 15 postmenopausal females (55–65 years) with high-normal blood pressure or mild hypertension who were not undergoing treatment. Subjects received SSE (70 mg/day as serotonin derivatives) or placebo for 12 weeks, and pulse wave measurements, ie, second derivative of photoplethysmogram (SDPTG), augmentation index, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were conducted at baseline, and at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Vascular age estimated by SDPTG aging index improved in the SSE-supplemented group when compared with the placebo group at four (P = 0.0368) and 12 weeks (P = 0.0927). The trend of augmentation index reduction (P = 0.072 versus baseline) was observed in the SSE-supplemented group, but reduction of baPWV by SSE supplementation was not observed. The SSE-supplemented group also showed a trend towards a lower malondialdehyde-modified-LDL autoantibody titer at 12 weeks from baseline. These results suggest long-term ingestion of SSE in humans could help to improve arterial stiffness.Keywords: safflower, serotonin derivatives, antioxidants, augmentation index, pulse wave velocity

The phenological development of winter wheat Iwainodaichi seeded early was compared with that of spring wheat Chikugoizumi based on the temperature. In this paper, the developmental phase from the sowing to double ridge is referred to phase 1, that from double ridge to anthesis phase 2 and that from the anthesis to maturity phase 3. The duration of phase 1 in Iwainodaichi was almost constant independent of the mean temperature in this phase, but that in Chikugoizumi decreased as the mean temperature in this phase increased. When seeded early, the duration of phase 1 was obviously longer in Iwainodaichi than in Chikugoizumi since the mean temperature in this phase was higher when seeded early. The duration of phase 2 decreased in both varieties as the mean temperature and photoperiod in this phase increased. When seeded early, phase 2 was shorter in Iwainodaichi than in Chikugoizumi, since the mean temperature was higher and photoperiod longer in this phase in Iwainodaichi than in Chikugoizumi. The duration of phase 3 decreased as the mean temperature in this phase increased in both varieties and was shorter in Iwainodaichi than in Chikugoizumi at the same mean temperature. Consequently, Iwainodaichi reached the double ridge stage later but reached maturity at about the same time as Chikugoizumi when seeded early.

Introduction In the mid‐1990s, Cambodia faced one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in Asia. For its achievement in reversing this trend, and achieving universal access to HIV treatment, the country received a United Nations millennium development goal award in 2010. This article reviews Cambodia’s response to HIV over the past two decades and discusses its current efforts towards elimination of new HIV infections. Methods A literature review of published and unpublished documents, including programme data and presentations, was conducted. Results and discussion Cambodia classifies its response to one of the most serious HIV epidemics in Asia into three phases. In Phase I (1991–2000), when adult HIV prevalence peaked at 1.7% and incidence exceeded 20,000 cases, a nationwide HIV prevention programme targeted brothel‐based sex work. Voluntary confidential counselling and testing and home‐based care were introduced, and peer support groups of people living with HIV emerged. Phase II (2001–2011) observed a steady decline in adult prevalence to 0.8% and incidence to 1600 cases by 2011, and was characterized by: expanding antiretroviral treatment (coverage reaching more than 80%) and continuum of care; linking with tuberculosis and maternal and child health services; accelerated prevention among key populations, including entertainment establishment‐based sex workers, men having sex with men, transgender persons, and people who inject drugs; engagement of health workers to deliver quality services; and strengthening health service delivery systems. The third phase (2012–2020) aims to attain zero new infections by 2020 through: sharpening responses to key populations at higher risk; maximizing access to community and facility‐based testing and retention in prevention and care; and accelerating the transition from vertical approaches to linked/integrated approaches. Conclusions Cambodia has tailored its prevention strategy to its own epidemic, established systematic linkages across different services and communities, and achieved nearly universal coverage of HIV services nationwide. Still, the programme must continually (re)prioritize the most effective and efficient interventions, strengthen synergies between programmes, contribute to health system strengthening, and increase domestic funding so that the gains of the previous two decades are sustained, and the goal of zero new infections is reached.

Introduction In the mid‐1990s, Cambodia faced one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in Asia. For its achievement in reversing this trend, and achieving universal access to HIV treatment, the country received a United Nations millennium development goal award in 2010. This article reviews Cambodia’s response to HIV over the past two decades and discusses its current efforts towards elimination of new HIV infections. Methods A literature review of published and unpublished documents, including programme data and presentations, was conducted. Results and discussion Cambodia classifies its response to one of the most serious HIV epidemics in Asia into three phases. In Phase I (1991–2000), when adult HIV prevalence peaked at 1.7% and incidence exceeded 20,000 cases, a nationwide HIV prevention programme targeted brothel‐based sex work. Voluntary confidential counselling and testing and home‐based care were introduced, and peer support groups of people living with HIV emerged. Phase II (2001–2011) observed a steady decline in adult prevalence to 0.8% and incidence to 1600 cases by 2011, and was characterized by: expanding antiretroviral treatment (coverage reaching more than 80%) and continuum of care; linking with tuberculosis and maternal and child health services; accelerated prevention among key populations, including entertainment establishment‐based sex workers, men having sex with men, transgender persons, and people who inject drugs; engagement of health workers to deliver quality services; and strengthening health service delivery systems. The third phase (2012–2020) aims to attain zero new infections by 2020 through: sharpening responses to key populations at higher risk; maximizing access to community and facility‐based testing and retention in prevention and care; and accelerating the transition from vertical approaches to linked/integrated approaches. Conclusions Cambodia has tailored its prevention strategy to its own epidemic, established systematic linkages across different services and communities, and achieved nearly universal coverage of HIV services nationwide. Still, the programme must continually (re)prioritize the most effective and efficient interventions, strengthen synergies between programmes, contribute to health system strengthening, and increase domestic funding so that the gains of the previous two decades are sustained, and the goal of zero new infections is reached.