A novel HLA-C allele, HLA-C*07:02:01:17N, with an alternative splice site.

We describe the identification of alternatively expressed HLA allele C*07:02:01:17N.

Metabolomic responses of an estuarine benthic amphipod to heavy metals at urban-runoff concentrations.

Heavy metals released from urban areas have toxic effects on aquatic organisms. Heavy metals in aquatic environments exist in various forms and methods designed to assess their effects need to consider their bioavailability. This study aimed to explore biomarkers in an estuarine amphipod, Grandidierella japonica, for exposure to heavy metals using metabolomics. We exposed G. japonica to different heavy metals and analyzed their metabolomes using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used to extract biomarkers of exposure for each heavy metal. As a result, three models were built to predict discrimination based on metabolomic profiles, and 70, 106, and 168 metabolites were extracted as biomarkers for exposure to Cu, Zn, and Cd, respectively. Our results suggest that PLS-DA was effective in extracting biomarkers, and this study demonstrated the usefulness of metabolomics as biomarkers.

Males without apparent alloimmunization could have HLA antibodies that recognize target HLA specificities expressed on cells.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies, which are involved in the development of transfusion-related side effects such as transfusion-related lung injury, are sometimes found in males without a history of alloimmunization (eg, transplantation and transfusion). Whether HLA antibodies in male donors can interact with their target HLA specificities expressed on cells have not been completely investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The HLA antibodies detected in 7 male donors were characterized. Flow cytometry and immunocomplex capture fluorescence analysis were performed to evaluate the ability of these antibodies to bind with target HLA specificities expressed on cells. The association of these antibodies with complement was examined using anti-C1q antibody. Sustainability of HLA antibodies over time was compared in 26 male vs 57 female donors. RESULTS: The antibodies from all 7 donors recognized intact HLA molecules coated onto microbeads. The antibodies in 2 of 7 donors also recognized their target HLA specificities expressed on cells. Furthermore, the antibodies in one of these 2 donors showed HLA specificities that involved complement binding. Twenty-one of 26 initially positive male donors had turned negative for HLA antibody at least 1 year after their initial positive screening, whereas HLA antibody positivity was maintained for a long time in most female donors. CONCLUSION: Males without apparent alloimmunization could have HLA antibodies that recognize their target HLA specificities on cells and that could potentially modify molecular events in affected cells.

RETRACTED: Coseismic rupturing stopped by Aso volcano during the 2016 Mw 7.1 Kumamoto earthquake, Japan.

Field investigations and seismic data show that the 16 April 2016 moment magnitude (Mw) 7.1 Kumamoto earthquake produced a ~40-kilometer-long surface rupture zone along the northeast-southwest-striking Hinagu-Futagawa strike-slip fault zone and newly identified faults on the western side of Aso caldera, Kyushu Island, Japan. The coseismic surface ruptures cut Aso caldera, including two volcanic cones inside it, but terminate therein. The data show that northeastward propagation of coseismic rupturing terminated in Aso caldera because of the presence of magma beneath the Aso volcanic cluster. The seismogenic faults of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake may require reassessment of the volcanic hazard in the vicinity of Aso volcano.

Two novel null HLA-A alleles with identical exon 4 nonsense mutations: HLA-A*24:183N and A*02:356N.

HLA-A*24:183N, A*02:356N, and A*02:15N share the same stop codon at the same position in exon 4.

Application of whole sediment toxicity identification evaluation procedures to road dust using a benthic ostracod Heterocypris incongruens.

Road dust is considered to be an important source of sediment contamination in receiving water bodies; however, few studies have evaluated the toxicity of road dust to benthic organisms. This study evaluated the toxicity of road dust to a benthic ostracod, Heterocypris incongruens, using a six-day direct exposure experiment. We applied whole sediment toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) methods to identify the primary group of toxicants in road dust. Three road dust samples from Tokyo caused high ostracod mortality. The addition of hydrophobic adsorbents, Ambersorb and XAD, eliminated toxicity in all samples, suggesting that hydrophobic compounds were the main toxicants in road dust samples. A cation exchange resin, Chelex, also reduced the toxicity of two samples, although the measured concentrations of dissolved heavy metals in the test solution did not exceed the LC(50) values in the literature. In addition, the sum of toxic unit (TU=measured concentration/LC(50)) of each individual metal which predicts the toxicity of the metal mixtures did not exceed 1.0 in all samples, suggesting that heavy metal mixtures did not have additive effects. We hypothesized that the toxicity reduction by XAD and Chelex was due to the removal of hydrophobic compounds, rather than heavy metals. Thus, a toxicity test was conducted on fractions eluted with organic solvents from the XAD and Chelex recovered from one of the road dust samples. Methanol-eluted fractions of XAD and Chelex showed 100 percent ostracod mortality, indicating that the hydrophobic organic compounds removed by these adsorbents were the principal toxicants in the road dust sample.

Effect of upflow velocity on the performance of an inclined plate membrane bioreactor treating municipal wastewater.

An inclined plate membrane bioreactor (iPMBR) was introduced to meet the challenge of handling high mixed liquor suspended solids when operating at long sludge retention times. During the first 407 days of operation, the iPMBR was able to rezone more sludge (1.5-10.5 times greater) in its upstream, anoxic tank compared to its downstream, aerobic tank. This could extend membrane filtration by diverting most of the sludge from the aerobic zone. During this period, the upflow velocities through the inclined plates of the anoxic tank ranged from 2.3 x 10(-4) to 7.7 x 10(-4) m/s. After Day 407, the operating conditions were changed to determine whether the iPMBR would fail to create a sludge concentration difference between its two tanks. When the upflow velocity was increased to 1.8 x 10(-3) m/s, the sludge concentration difference between the two zones was removed. This indicated that the upflow velocity had increased sufficiently to overcome the settling velocities of most flocs, resulting in more solids being carried from the anoxic to the aerobic tank. For the configuration of this iPMBR, operating at flow rates where the upflow velocity through the inclined plates was less than 1.0 x 10(-3) m/s would be necessary to keep a significant sludge concentration difference between its two zones.

Washoff behavior of in-sewer deposit in combined sewer system through artificial flushing experiment.

In-sewer deposits in combined sewer systems (CSSs) are closely related with the behavior of first foul flush and combined sewer overflows. However, the research paying attention to the role of in-sewer deposits is quite rare, furthermore, their contributions for the washoff patterns of each pollutant including pathogenic microorganisms are almost never discussed so far. The artificial flushing experiment separating the washoff of in-sewer deposits from the inflow of surface pollutants was carried out to simulate the first foul flush in a CSS. The washoff behaviors of each pollutant including bacterial indicators and enteric viruses were investigated. Several morphological analyses for the concentration and load curves of each parameter were conducted and all patterns were classified according to their washoff characteristics and first foul flush patterns. The washoff behaviors of each pollutant and microorganism are different from each other and categorized into several groups according to their (i) time-series concentration and load curves and (ii) concentration vs. flow rate curves, respectively. The first foul flush patterns of each parameter were to be categorized into typical 3 groups; strong-, partial-, and no first foul flush group. The order of these groups signifies the strength of the first foul flush phenomena and the runoff priority as well.

Diurnal fluctuation of indicator microorganisms and intestinal viruses in combined sewer system.

Combined sewer overflow (CSO) has been considered to be a source of pathogenic microorganisms for aquatic environment. For the effective control and treatment of CSOs, the microbial behavior in combined sewer system (CSS) needs to be investigated. In this study, whole-day extensive monitoring of indicator microorganisms and intestinal viruses in dry weather flow (DWF) was conducted at a small residential urban drainage area with CSS. All indicator bacteria represented similar diurnal variations in the two different monitoring campaigns; their concentrations gradually decreased to the minimum at the dawn (around 5 a.m.), increased sharply to the maximum around 7 to 8 a.m., and remained rather constant from noon to midnight. On the other hand, neither coliphages nor intestinal viruses showed any concentration peaks in the morning. The maximum/minimum load ratios ranged from 18 to 42 for total coliforms, fecal coliforms and E. coli, whereas those ratios for coliphages, enteroviruses and noroviruses G2 showed greater values than those for indicator bacteria. These results indicate that the diurnal variation patterns of bacterial and viral concentrations in DWF should be considered, which affect the discharge characteristics of each microorganism and the loads of bacteria and viruses in CSOs significantly vary with the overflow time as well.

Competitive adsorption of heavy metals in soil underlying an infiltration facility installed in an urban area.

Accumulation of heavy metals at elevated concentration and potential of considerable amount of the accumulated heavy metals to reach the soil system was observed from earlier studies in soakaways sediments within an infiltration facility in Tokyo, Japan. In order to understand the competitive adsorption behaviour of heavy metals Zn, Ni and Cu in soil, competitive batch adsorption experiments were carried out using single metal and binary metal combinations on soil samples representative of underlying soil and surface soil at the site. Speciation analysis of the adsorbed metals was carried out through BCR sequential extraction method. Among the metals, Cu was not affected by competition while Zn and Ni were affected by competition of coexisting metals. The parameters of fitted 'Freundlich' and 'Langmuir' isotherms indicated more intense competition in underlying soil compared to surface soil for adsorption of Zn and Ni. The speciation of adsorbed metals revealed less selectivity of Zn and Ni to soil organic matter, while dominance of organic bound fraction was observed for Cu, especially in organic rich surface soil. Compared to underlying soil, the surface soil is expected to provide greater adsorption to heavy metals as well as provide greater stability to adsorbed metals, especially for Cu.

Heavy metal (Zn and Cu) complexation and molecular size distribution in wastewater treatment plant effluent.

The size distributions of zinc and copper species in the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant were determined by a combination of ultrafiltration and chelating disk cartridge fractionation. The results showed that 75-87% of total Zn and 84-86% of total Cu were strongly complexed or particle-bound in the final effluents. It was also found that the major part of Cu was bound to ligands in the < 500 Da fraction while the trend for Zn was not so clear and exhibited significant seasonal variability. Labile Cu and Zn were detected not only in the smallest fraction (< 500 Da) but also in the larger fractions. It meant that the labile species in the effluent were not equivalent to free metal ions. Conditional stability constants and ligand concentrations were also determined from the measured metal concentrations by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Existence of two types of ligand for each metal was inferred from the experimental data. Conditional stability constant obtained for the stronger type Ligand of Zn was higher than that of Cu, although the estimated Ligand concentrations were almost similar.

A membrane biofilm reactor achieves aerobic methane oxidation coupled to denitrification (AME-D) with high efficiency.

Methane would potentially be an inexpensive, widely available electron donor for denitrification of wastewaters poor in organics. Currently, no methanotrophic microbe is known to denitrify. However, aerobic methane oxidation coupled to denitrification (AME-D) has been observed in several laboratory studies. In the AME-D process, aerobic methanotrophs oxidise methane and release organic metabolites and lysis products, which are used by coexisting denitrifiers as electron donors for denitrification. Due to the presence of oxygen, the denitrification efficiency in terms of methane-to-nitrate consumption is usually low. To improve this efficiency the use of a membrane biofilm reactor was investigated. The denitrification efficiency of an AME-D culture in (1) a suspended growth reactor, and (2) a membrane biofilm reactor was studied. The methane-to-nitrate consumption ratio for the suspended culture was 8.7. For the membrane-attached culture the ratio was 2.2. The results clearly indicated that the membrane-attached biofilm was superior to the suspended culture in terms of denitrification efficiency. This study showed that for practical application of the AME-D process, focus should be placed on development of a biofilm reactor.

Role of anti-Nak(a) antibody, monocytes and platelets in the development of transfusion-related acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is one of the most serious side-effects of transfusion. We report here the first two cases of TRALI caused by anti-Nak(a) (anti-CD36) antibody from a single blood donor. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of the anti-Nak(a) antibody in TRALI development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human lung microvascular endothelial cells were co-cultured with Nak(a)-positive monocytes and Nak(a)-positive platelets together with serum prepared from blood products of a TRALI-caused anti-Nak(a) antibody-carrying donor. Expressions of leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in the co-culture supernatants were determined. RESULTS: The expressions of LTB(4) and TNF-alpha were found to be markedly increased, particularly in the presence of both Nak(a)-positive monocytes and platelets. The expressions of these mediators were almost completed within 4 h after the initiation of co-culture. Monocyte contribution seemed to be stronger than that of platelets. In the absence of human lung microvascular endothelial, no significant LTB(4) or TNF-alpha release was observed. CONCLUSION: Anti-Nak(a) antibody may be strongly implicated in lung microvascular endothelial dysfunctions that lead to TRALI in a monocyte- and platelet-dependent manner.

Heavy metals speciation in soakaways sediment and evaluation of metal retention properties of surrounding soil.

Heavy metals speciation analysis was carried out on sediment samples accumulated within soakaways in an old stormwater infiltration facility in Tokyo, Japan and on a soil core sample collected near the facility. Heavy metals content in soakaways sediments were much elevated compared to nearby surface soil with the content for Zn, Pb and Cd reaching about 5 to 10 times the content in surface soil. Speciation results revealed that significant amount of the accumulated heavy metals were present in potential mobile fractions, posing threat of release to underlying soil with changing environmental conditions. Detail analyses of soil characteristics indicated significant heterogeneity with depth, especially between the surface soil and underlying soil at site. Decrease in potential adsorption sites with depth was observed in case of underlying soil. Reduced adsorption capacity for heavy metals was evidenced for underlying soil when compared with surface soil. Furthermore, less capability of the soil organic matter to bind heavy metals was evidenced through speciation analyses, which raises concern over the long-term pollution retention potential of the underlying soil receiving infiltrated runoff.

Three dimensional fluorescent spectroscopy analysis for the evaluation of organic matter removal from industrial estate wastewater by stabilization ponds.

The fluorescent excitation emission matrix (FEEM) was utilized to evaluate the removal of organic matter by stabilization ponds, which consist of aeration, facultative, and oxidation ponds of a central wastewater treatment plant of an industrial estate in northern Thailand. The result shows that six fluorescent peaks of influent wastewater and effluent water after aeration, facultative, and oxidation ponds were detected from the FEEMs at 230 nmEx/295 nmEm (A), 275 nmEx/300 nmEm (B), 240 nmEx/355 nmEm (C), 280 nmEx/355 nmEm (D), 275 nmEx/410 nmEm (E) and 330 nmEx/410 nmEm (F). The putative origins of peaks A and B, C and D, and E and F were tyrosine-like, tryptophan-like, and humic and fulvic acid-like substances, respectively. The aeration pond was the main course of action used to reduce the tyrosine-like substances at peaks A and B by 88 and 52%, respectively, and tryptophan-like substances at peaks C and D by 43 and 39%, respectively. There was only a 20 per cent decrease of humic and fulvic acid-like substances at peak E and an 18 per cent decrease at peak F through the use of aeration ponds. Total per cent reductions of total fluorescent organic matter after aeration ponds; facultative ponds; and oxidation ponds were 46, 51 and 54%, respectively. These values were notably similar to the total percent reduction of DOC by the same respective processes at 54, 53, and 55%.

Prolonged deposition of heavy metals in infiltration facilities and its possible threat to groundwater contamination.

A field investigation of infiltration facilities, built two decades ago in Tokyo, was carried out and sediment samples were collected from 12 infiltration inlets of three different locations. Heavy metals contents in the inlet sediment, road dusts and soils samples were analysed and compared. The particle size distribution analysis showed its variation in depth as well as from inlet to inlet. The nature of organic substances present in sediment found changes in particle sizes as well as in depth. The heavy metals content in the sediment samples ranged from 6-143 (Cr), 1-84 (Ni), 49-331 (Cu), 210-2186 (Zn) and 2-332 (Pb) microg/g. The heavy metal content ranges were similar to road dust, which indicated road dust as a possible source for sediment for the infiltration inlets. The lower heavy metals content in many sediment samples than the soil indicated possible release/desorption of heavy metals under newly created environments such as an anaerobic environment. Among the heavy metals there was a relatively good relationship between Cu and Zn, indicating the existence of their common sources.

Transfer of hydrophobic contaminants in urban runoff particles to benthic organisms estimated by an in vitro bioaccessibility test.

An in vitro bioaccessibility test was applied for assessing the transfer of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in road dust, into benthic organisms living in a receiving water body. The road dust is supposed to be urban runoff particles under wet weather conditions. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution was used as a hypothetical gut fluid. Pyrene, fluoranthene and phenanthrene were the main PAH species in the SDS extractable fraction of road dust, as well as the whole extract. Benzo(ghi)perylene showed relatively low concentrations in the SDS extract in spite of a high concentration in the original dust. The PAH composition in benthic organisms (polychaetes) did not correspond with that of the surrounding sediment and the PAHs detected were also detected in high concentrations in the SDS extract of road dust. When testing the toxicity of the extracted contaminants by a standardised algal toxicity test, SDS extracts of a detention pond sediment showed higher toxicity than the pore water of the corresponding sediment. Sediment suspension showed a comparative toxicity with 0.1% SDS extract. From the results, the in vitro bioaccessibility test seems more suitable to evaluate the exposed contaminants than the traditional organic solvent extraction method and the SDS extracted fraction is applicable to toxicity tests reflecting the digestive process.

Characteristics of particle-associated PAHs in a first flush of a highway runoff.

Runoff monitoring of six rainfall events was carried out in a highway, Winterthur, Switzerland focusing on first flush (runoff volume up to 2.88 mm). Six runoff events were used to investigate the characteristics of particle-associated PAHs in first flush. The fine fraction (< 45 microm) had a relatively higher contribution than the coarse fraction. A significant contribution of the coarse fraction was observed at some periods when the runoff flow rapidly increased. Fluctuation of PAH content during a runoff event was significant in the coarse fraction and, in contrast, the PAH content in the fine fraction was less fluctuating. The weighted average PAH content in each event ranged from 17 to 62 microg/g in total SS, from 23 to 54 microg/g in the fine fraction and from 16 to 84 microg/g in the coarse fraction. The loading of particle-associated PAHs from the first flush of highway runoff ranged from 0.06 to 0.22 g/ha in a total of 12 PAH species.

Dynamic behavior of fractional suspended solids and particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in highway runoff.

A long-term continuous runoff monitoring was carried out in a highway in Winterthur, Switzerland. The total suspended solids (TSS) samples were fractionated into fine (< 45 microm) and coarse (> 45 microm) fraction and their wash-off behavior was studied. The fine and coarse fraction showed different wash-off behaviors. During the runoff the concentration of the fine fraction was less fluctuated compared to coarse. The fluctuation of the coarse fraction was more influenced by TSS concentration. The PAH content measurement in fine fraction showed less fluctuation compared to the coarse fraction. The PAH content in the coarse fraction was found decreasing with increasing the coarse fraction contribution to TSS.

Model description of storage and infiltration functions of infiltration facilities for urban runoff analysis by a distributed model.

Although there have been simulation researches focusing on reduction of stormwater peak flow by introduced infiltration facilities, model simulation of dynamic runoff behavior is still limited for frequently occurring rainfall events with weak intensity. Therefore, dynamic simulation was carried out in two urban drainages with infiltration facilities incorporated with a distributed model using two methods for describing functions of infiltration facilities. A method adjusting effective rainfall model gave poor simulation of runoff behavior in light rainfalls. Another method considering dynamic change of storage capacity as well as infiltration rate gave satisfactory estimation of the runoff in both drainages. In addition, assumption of facility clogging improved the agreement between measured and simulated hydrographs in small and medium-sized rainfall. Therefore, the proposed method might be useful for quantifying the secondary effects of the infiltration facilities on groundwater recharge and urban non-point pollutant trapping as well as runoff reduction.