Methyl Mercury Exposure at Niigata, Japan: Results of Neurological Examinations of 103 Adults

Background. Large-scale poisonings caused by methyl mercury (MeHg) have occurred in Japan (Minamata in the 1950s and Niigata in the 1960s) and Iraq (in the 1970s). The current WHO neurological risk standard for adult exposure (hair level: 50 μg/g) was based partly on evidence from Niigata which did not consider any cases who were diagnosed later and/or exposed to low level of MeHg (hair mercury level less than 50 μg/g). Methods. Early in the Niigata epidemic in June 1965 there were two extensive surveys. From these two surveys, we examined 103 adults with hair mercury measurement who consulted two medical institutions. We compared the prevalence and the distribution of neurological signs related to MeHg poisoning between exposure categories. Result. We found 48 subjects with neurological signs related to MeHg poisoning who had hair mercury concentration less than 50 μg/g. Among the neurological signs, sensory disturbance of the bilateral distal extremities was observed more frequently, followed by disequilibrium, hearing impairment, and ataxia, in groups with hair MeHg concentration both below 50 μg/g and over 50 μg/g. Conclusion. The present study suggests the possibility that exposure to MeHg at levels below the current WHO limits could cause neurologic signs, in particular, sensory disturbance

Management of Natural History collections: criteria and parameters of evaluation

[ES] Las colecciones de historia natural son una herramienta básica para la investigación científica y el estudio de la distribución en el pasado de muchas especies, así como de la propia historia de la ciencia. Además del uso científico de estas colecciones, destacan otros como el histórico, el divulgativo-pedagógico y el estético. De ahí la importancia que tiene una gestión eficaz de las mismas, la cual implica diversos aspectos, que van desde la conservación y su mantenimiento, su inventario, ordenación y procesamiento informático hasta las múltiples tareas relacionadas con su uso en consultas, visitas, préstamos científicos y participación en actividades de carácter divulgativo. En este artículo se examinan los criterios para evaluar la gestión de las colecciones de historia natural y se definen una serie de parámetros, útiles para medir el estado de una colección y su evolución en el tiempo, tanto en su crecimiento como en su uso, principalmente. Se ejemplifica todo ello en el grupo de los poliquetos, del que el Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid (MNCN) cuenta con una estimable colección, y se comparan los resultados, según varios parámetros seleccionados, con los de otras colecciones de poliquetos de diversas instituciones de todo el mundo.[EN] Natural History collections are a basic and essential tool for scientific research, the study of the distribution in the past of many species of animals and plants and the History of Science. As well as the scientific aspect of these collections, stand outs other uses as the historic one, the educational and the aesthetic. All these are reasons that show the importance of an effective management of the Natural History collections as well as the several tasks related to it, as consults, visits, scientific loans and educational activities. In this article various criteria and useful parameters are provided for evaluating the curatorial state of a Natural History collection and its evolution, both in growth and use mainly. Finally, an example based on the Polychaeta, an estimable group in the Invertebrates Collection of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales of Madrid (MNCN), is provided. The results of several selected parameters are compared with other Polychaeta collections from several institutions around the world.Peer reviewe

Pavement design method in Japan with consideration of climate effect and principal stress axis rotation

Current Japanese design guide uses mechanical-empirical criteria to predict the failure loading number against fatigue cracking and rutting. However, these criteria have some limitations that the variation in moduli of base and subgrade layer due to the fluctuation in water contents, freeze-thaw history, and stress states are not considered. As well known, these factors greatly affect the soil mechanical properties like resilient modulus. Besides, present rutting failure criterion provides no indication of the behavior of rutting over time, and the effect of principal stress axis rotation on rutting development is also not captured. To overcome such limitations, this study modified the present Japanese pavement design method through the following two main aspects: (1) Replacing constant elastic modulus of base and subgrade layer to resilient modulus related to stress states and complex climate conditions, which are defined as the combination of fluctuating water content and freeze-thaw action; (2) Modifying rutting failure criterion by considering generally used MEPDG model and also the effect of principal stress axis rotation. All modifications are performed based on laboratory element test like suction-controlled freeze-thaw triaxial test, which could simulate complex climate conditions, and multi-ring shear test, which could simulate principal stress axis rotation. Besides, modified criteria are examined by comparing to long-term measured performance of test pavements built in Hokkaido, the north island of Japan. Modified Japanese pavement design method shows high applicability and accuracy on the pavement life prediction, especially for the flexible pavement in cold regions like Hokkaido

Rhyparus peninsularis Arrow 1905

<i>Rhyparus peninsularis</i> Arrow, 1905 <p>Type locality. “Malay peninsula Penang, Perak ”</p> <p>Distribution. Malaysia: Penang, Perak (Arrow, 1905); Sabah (Paulian 1989); [?] Taiwan (Balthasar, 1964).</p>Published as part of <i>Kakizoe, Showtaro, Maruyama, Munetoshi & Masumoto, Kimio, 2019, Megasybacodes brevitarsis, a new genus and species of Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) from Borneo, pp. 139-148 in Zootaxa 4568 (1)</i> on page 143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4568.1.8, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/2599310">http://zenodo.org/record/2599310</a&gt

Termitodiellus besucheti

Termitodiellus besucheti (Paulian, 1983) Type locality. “ Malaisie, Johor: env. de Dohol, Kota Tinggi”. Distribution. Malaysia: Johor (Paulian 1983), Kuala Lumpur (Pittino 2006); “Bornéo” (Bordat 1996); Sumatra (Krikken & Huijbregts 1987). = Termitodiellus neglectus Krikken & Huijbregts, 1987 Type locality. “ Sumatra: Palembang ”. Synonymised by Bordat (1996).Published as part of Kakizoe, Showtaro, Maruyama, Munetoshi & Masumoto, Kimio, 2019, Megasybacodes brevitarsis, a new genus and species of Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) from Borneo, pp. 139-148 in Zootaxa 4568 (1) on page 143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4568.1.8, http://zenodo.org/record/259931

Rhyparus adebratti Bordat 1996

<i>Rhyparus adebratti</i> Bordat, 1996 <p>Type locality. “ Malaysia, Sabah, Sipitang, Mendolong ”.</p> <p>Distribution. Malaysia: Sabah.</p>Published as part of <i>Kakizoe, Showtaro, Maruyama, Munetoshi & Masumoto, Kimio, 2019, Megasybacodes brevitarsis, a new genus and species of Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) from Borneo, pp. 139-148 in Zootaxa 4568 (1)</i> on page 141, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4568.1.8, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/2599310">http://zenodo.org/record/2599310</a&gt

Rhyparus accessoricostatus Mencl, Rakovic & Kral 2013

<i>Rhyparus accessoricostatus</i> Mencl, Rakovič & Král, 2013 <p>Type locality. “ Borneo, Sabah, Crocker Mt., Gunung Emas, 500–1900 m a. s. l. ”.</p> <p>Distribution. Malaysia: Sabah.</p>Published as part of <i>Kakizoe, Showtaro, Maruyama, Munetoshi & Masumoto, Kimio, 2019, Megasybacodes brevitarsis, a new genus and species of Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) from Borneo, pp. 139-148 in Zootaxa 4568 (1)</i> on page 141, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4568.1.8, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/2599310">http://zenodo.org/record/2599310</a&gt

Rhyparus approximans Fairmaire 1893

<i>Rhyparus approximans</i> Fairmaire, 1893 <p>Type locality. “Bornéo occ., Sambas”.</p> <p>Distribution. Indonesia: West Kalimantan (Fairmaire 1893); “Bornéo” (Bordat 1996).</p>Published as part of <i>Kakizoe, Showtaro, Maruyama, Munetoshi & Masumoto, Kimio, 2019, Megasybacodes brevitarsis, a new genus and species of Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) from Borneo, pp. 139-148 in Zootaxa 4568 (1)</i> on page 141, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4568.1.8, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/2599310">http://zenodo.org/record/2599310</a&gt

Sybacodes borneensis Minkina, Mencl & Bellmann 2018

<i>Sybacodes borneensis</i> Minkina, Mencl & Bellmann, 2018 <p>Type locality. “ Borneo, Sabah Mt. Kinabalu Nat. Park, Poring Hot Spgs., 495m ”.</p> <p>Distribution. Borneo.</p>Published as part of <i>Kakizoe, Showtaro, Maruyama, Munetoshi & Masumoto, Kimio, 2019, Megasybacodes brevitarsis, a new genus and species of Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) from Borneo, pp. 139-148 in Zootaxa 4568 (1)</i> on page 143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4568.1.8, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/2599310">http://zenodo.org/record/2599310</a&gt