Prefectural University of Kumamoto

Dust aerosols constitute a major component of shortwave-absorbing aerosols, with absorption uncertainties predominantly associated with mineral composition variations. To address this, we analyzed 22 East Asian dust (EAD) samples and derived a revised imaginary part of the complex refractive index ($$k$$), with a range spanning from $$2.26\times {10}^{-4}$$–$$8.37\times {10}^{-4}$$ in 0.3–1 μm, which is significantly lower than the Optical Properties of Aerosols and Clouds (OPAC) and the values commonly used in research on East Asian. The improved optical parameters applied to CAS-ESM2 for spring dust simulations have been shown to reduce single scattering albedo (SSA) bias from 15% to 2% and absorption aerosol optical depth (AAOD) overestimation from +5.2% to −1.7%. The modified scheme reduces atmospheric absorption by 79.5% (−7.61 W/m2) and reverses the top of atmospheric shortwave radiation effect to −3.80 W/m2. This outcome revealed that dust absorption in East Asia is weak and the climate impact is significantly different from previous assessments.

BackgroundAgricultural or gardening activity (also known as hobby farming) is a simple strategy that may be effective for maintaining health and preventing lifestyle-related diseases. However, its preventive effect on the development of conditions associated with neurovascular aging (e.g., stroke and dementia) remains unclear.ObjectiveTo comprehensively investigate the preventive role of regular agricultural or gardening physical activity (AGPA) in neurovascular aging and its underlying mechanisms using two approaches.MethodsWe conducted an experimental study in which we assessed arterial stiffness, cognitive performance (Flanker and Stroop tests), and circulating biomarkers (e.g., plasmin-α2-plasmin inhibitor complexes, nitric oxide, brain-derived neurotrophic factor) in 12 male students (average age: 22 ± 1 years) before and after three 40-min interventions (resting, cycling, and simulated AGPA) under controlled conditions. We also conducted a cross-sectional study, in which we recruited 161 (79 in the AGPA group and 82 in the control group) hospital-based older individuals (average age: 78 ± 5 years) and assessed their history of stroke, cognitive function, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.ResultsIn the experimental study, simulated AGPA reduced arterial stiffness, improved executive cognitive function, and elevated circulating plasmin-α2-plasmin inhibitor complexes, nitric oxide, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Brain MRI-assessed cerebral white matter hyperintensities caused by reduced blood flow to brain tissue and stroke prevalence were lower, and cognitive scores (as assessed by the Hasegawa Dementia Scale-Revised) were higher in the AGPA group than in the control group.ConclusionOur findings suggest that regular AGPA is associated with markers of slower neurovascular aging in older individuals. AGPA induces a combination of general physical activity-related and specific AGPA-related effects; moreover, it may offer similar or even greater benefits than physical activity alone. Therefore, habitual AGPA may serve as an effective preventive strategy for neurovascular aging.

This study focused on the cultural beliefs of elementary school teachers to identify the factors that lead to gender differentiation in the humanities and sciences. The results suggest that teachers are more likely to identify boys as “science-oriented” and less likely to identify girls as “science-oriented,” regardless of the student's academic ability. This tendency was particularly strong among female teachers with stronger gender-related cultural beliefs. The results suggest that the cultural beliefs of female teachers, in particular, may be related to students' perceptions of being science-oriented, highlighting the need to eliminate gender bias in education.

BackgroundTwo species of Ascaris nematodes infect humans: Ascaris lumbricoides, a human parasite, and Ascaris suum, which primarily infects pigs. Since these species are morphologically similar, molecular techniques are necessary for species identification in human Ascaris cases. A common method involves analyzing nucleotide sequences in the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) region, particularly at positions 133 and 246. Although Ascaris nematodes have also been detected in wild boars, they are often classified as A. suum without molecular analysis due to their genetic similarity to pigs. In this study, we conducted molecular identification of Ascaris specimens collected from wild boars in Ishikawa Prefecture to examine their potential origin.MethodsSix Ascaris specimens from wild boars in Ishikawa Prefecture were analyzed by PCR and sequencing of the ITS-1 and COX1 regions. ITS-1 sequences were aligned to reference data, and phylogenetic analysis was performed using COX1 sequences.ResultsAlignment analysis of the ITS-1 region revealed a nucleotide deletion at position 129, with guanine (G) at position 133 and thymine (T) at position 246. This sequence was 100% identical to the reference A. lumbricoides sequence derived from humans. However, phylogenetic analysis of the COX1 region revealed that these wild boar-derived genotypes belonged to a clade that has not been identified in human-derived A. lumbricoides.DiscussionThe ITS-1 sequences of Ascaris from wild boars were identical to those of “lumbricoides” genotypes, suggesting possible past transmission from humans. However, COX1-based phylogenetic analysis revealed a distinct clade, indicating a potentially novel lineage within wild boars. These findings highlight the limitations of relying solely on ITS-1 for determining host origin and suggest that wild boars may serve as reservoirs of zoonotic Ascaris in Japan.ConclusionsThis study highlights the presence of “lumbricoides” genotypes sequences in wild boars and their potential role in human ascariasis. Reevaluation of unexplained cases in relation to wild boar distribution is warranted, along with enhanced attention to zoonotic transmission risks.

Soluble aerosol iron (FeS) plays a critical role in marine primary productivity, yet the relative contributions of primary emissions versus secondary atmospheric processes to its abundance remain poorly quantified. Qingdao is a coastal city in eastern China, located in the Asian continental outflow, where iron constitutes one of the major mineral species in fine particles (PM2.5). Using positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis of PM2.5 composition data (139 samples collected during the spring of 2017 and 2018) from Qingdao, we quantified the sources of total iron (FeT) and its water-soluble fraction (i.e., FeS) and the iron solubility (%FeS = FeS/FeT×100%) enhancement mechanisms. Our results revealed that while mineral dust contributed 71.1% of FeT, anthropogenic sources dominated FeS, accounting for 63.6% of FeS. During dust events, aged dust particles contributed about half of the FeS, with %FeS enhanced by up to 2.2-fold through atmospheric aging processes. In non-dust periods, anthropogenic sources accounted for 84.8% of FeS, with the %FeS mainly modulated by ship emissions, secondary aerosols, and aging of industrial particles. Notably, ship emissions exhibited exceptionally high %FeS, while secondary processes involving organic ligands and acid-processed industrial aerosols significantly enhanced %FeS. These findings quantitatively demonstrate the significance of anthropogenic air pollutants and secondary processes in FeS occurrence in Asian continental outflow, with important implications for understanding iron biogeochemical cycling in downwind marine ecosystems.

Abstract The Tengger Desert (TGD) and the Ulan Buh Desert (UBD) are major sources of Asian dust. To support accurate investigations into environmental and climatic impacts of dust from these deserts, we analyzed over sixty thousand individual dust particles, generated by sandblasting from their primary surface types: Gobi soils and sand dunes. TGD particles were generally smaller, rounder, and smoother than UBD's. The Gobi soil and sand dune particles of the TGD exhibited the largest number fractions at 0.5 μm and 0.5–0.6 μm in size and those of the UBD at 0.7 and 0.6 μm, respectively. Aspect ratios were similar across particles, around 1.3 roundness varied, with TGD particles averaging 0.55 (Gobi soils) and 0.50 (sand dunes) compared to UBD particles at 0.40–0.45 (Gobi soils) and 0.45 (sand dunes). Mineral analysis revealed both deserts produced particles rich in clay minerals, quartz, and other silicate particles. TGD particles contained more kaolinite and quartz, whereas UBD particles had higher chlorite and other silicates. Gypsum and halite were identified in 3.13% and 3.63% of UBD Gobi particles, respectively, indicating salt abundance in some particles; but these two salts were rarely detected in TGD particles. Comparison with data from the Taklamakan Desert revealed distinctive differences in morphology, mineral composition, and salt content. These results provide detailed source‐region profiles of Asian dust particles, allowing a better involvement of nascent dust particles in field studies and numerical simulations to study their variability and roles in atmospheric chemistry and radiation transfer.

<strong class="journal-contentHeaderColor">Abstract.</strong> This study utilizes the computer-controlled scanning electron microscope software IntelliSEM-EPAS^TM, combined with K-means cluster analysis and manual experience, reports for the first time that the dust in the snow accumulation from a typical industrial city in China is mainly composed of kaolinite-like (36 %), chlorite-like (19 %), quartz-like (15 %), illite-like (14 %), hematite-like (5 %), and clay-minerals-like (4 %) and other components. It was also found that the size distribution and aspect ratio of the dust did not undergo significant changes during dry and wet deposition, but they exhibited great variability among the different mineral composition groups. Subsequently, these observed microphysical parameters were used to constrain the optical absorption of dust, and the results showed that under low (high) snow grain size scenarios, the albedo reductions caused by dust concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 ppm in snow were 0.007 (0.022), 0.028 (0.084), and 0.099 (0.257), respectively. These results emphasize the importance of dust composition and size distribution characteristics in constraining snowpack light absorption and radiation processes.