Gunma Prefecture Research Articles

Prevalence and Factors Related to High Risk of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity among Japanese High School Students.

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) onset in minors can greatly impact learning and future employment. This study investigated the prevalence of MCS and related factors in high school students to determine whether it was the same as in adults. A comprehensive survey was conducted on 80 high schools in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The survey incorporated the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory, as well as items related to allergies, the living environment, and lifestyle. Of the 4630 students analyzed, according to Hojo's cut-off value, 9.0% were classified as high-risk for MCS and 77.9% reported some allergy-like symptoms. Significant factors associated with elevated MCS risk included female sex, having various allergic conditions, having experienced living in a new home or home renovations or extensions, proximity to environmental stressors (freeways, national highway, factories, rubbish dumps, or sources of offensive odors), insufficient physical activity (exercising less than once a week outside of physical education classes), having cold hands and feet, being fatigued, having a bedtime earlier than 11 p.m., and having moderate-frequent subjective stress. Overall, 9.0% of high school students in Japan are at high risk for MCS. Enhancing awareness of MCS-like symptoms and addressing allergies, living environments, and lifestyle habits may mitigate these symptoms.

Annual degradation rates and soiling losses of photovoltaic systems composed of recent crystalline silicon technologies in temperate climate

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to investigate the annual degradation rates of photovoltaic (PV) systems composed of PV modules based on recent crystalline silicon (c‐Si) PV technologies. We investigated the annual degradation rates of four PV systems composed of different c‐Si PV technologies, comprising p‐type multi‐crystalline silicon with a passivated emitter rear cell, n‐type silicon heterojunction, p‐type single‐crystalline silicon (sc‐Si) with an aluminum back surface field, and n‐type (sc‐Si) solar cell technologies. These systems were located in Gunma Prefecture in Japan and were measured over 6 years. Furthermore, the effects of soiling on the annual degradation rates of these PV systems were examined by partially surface cleaning the PV arrays two times. The results obtained indicate that the apparent annual degradation rates of the PV strings before surface cleaning were 0.8, 1.6, 1.4, and 1.2%/year, respectively, because of optical losses due to dust particles. However, the inherent annual degradation rates of the PV strings after surface cleaning were 0.1, 0.6, 0.0, and 0.3%/year, respectively. These low degradation rates indicate that the PV systems composed of the recent c‐Si PV technologies all offered reasonably stable performance that was reduced by 3.6%, 5.5%, 7.3%, and 4.8%, respectively because of the effects of surface soiling, although the surfaces of the PV arrays had been washed by plentiful rainfall under their humid subtropical climatic operating conditions.

Visit to valuable water springs (145) Valuable water springs in the Joushu, Gunma Prefecture

Visit to valuable water springs (145) Valuable water springs in the Joushu, Gunma Prefecture

External validity of frailty discrimination using the Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old-15 and -12

BackgroundIn this study, we aimed to establish the external validity of the cutoff values for frailty identification using both the 15-item and 12-item Questionnaire for Medical Checkups of the Old-Old (QMCOO-15 and QMCOO-12) and the frailty screening index (FSI). MethodThis cross-sectional study was conducted in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Data from 114 participants aged ≥65 years were analyzed. The frailty assessment was based on the Revised Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study (J-CHS) criteria. The QMCOO-15, QMCOO-12, and FSI were also examined. The cutoff value for frailty discrimination using these three scales was set at 3/4. The frailty discrimination performance of the three scales was validated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, sensitivity, and specificity. ResultsThe average age of the participants was 76.4 years, and there were 79 female participants (69.3 %). According to the J-CHS criteria, nine participants (7.9 %) were identified as frail. The areas under the ROC curves were 0.878 for QMCOO-15, 0.853 for QMCOO-12, and 0.912 for FSI. The QMCOO-15 exhibited the highest sensitivity (0.778), whereas the FSI exhibited the highest specificity (0.943). The FSI also achieved the highest accuracy of 0.912. ConclusionsThis study revealed the external validity of frailty discrimination using the QMCOO-15, QMCOO-12, and FSI based on the J-CHS frailty assessment criteria. ROC analysis showed that all three tools exhibited good frailty discrimination performance. Hence, we demonstrated the validity of frailty assessments using questionnaires that did not involve physical measurements.

Evaluation of pharmaceutical concentrations and antimicrobial activity in river water from the Tone River system in Gunma Prefecture, Japan

Evaluation of pharmaceutical concentrations and antimicrobial activity in river water from the Tone River system in Gunma Prefecture, Japan

Frailty Trajectories and Its Associated Factors in Japanese Older Adults.

Associated factors for frailty development according to age group remain unclear. To identify frailty score trajectories among community-dwelling older Japanese individuals and examine their associated factors. 13-year longitudinal study. Kusatsu Town in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. 1706 older adults aged ≥ 65 years who completed an annual frailty assessment at least once between 2007 and 2019. Frailty status was determined using an index based on the Fried frailty phenotype criteria. Potential associated factors for frailty trajectory included physical, biological, lifestyle-related, and psychological factors, as well as comorbidities. We identified five trajectory patterns in the frailty score from age of 65 to 90 years -individuals who were robust (Group 1, 10.5%) as well as individuals with late-onset frailty (Group 2, 16.1%), middle-onset frailty (Group 3, 25.6% and Group 4, 35.2%), and early-onset frailty (Group 5, 12.7%). Compared with the other groups, the early-onset group showed a higher prevalence of cerebrovascular diseases, bone and joint diseases, poor nutrition, sarcopenia, hospitalization, low cognitive function, and smoking at the end of follow-up. Associated factors in the middle-onset group largely overlapped with those of the early-onset group. The late-onset frailty group tended to have a higher association with heart disease and bone and joint diseases compared with the robust group. Our findings from a 13-year longitudinal study identified five frailty trajectory patterns and seven associated factors for frailty trajectory. Proposed effective population-based frailty prevention strategies in each age group may contribute to effective strategies to extend healthy life expectancy in aging, aged, and super-aged communities.

Modeling the effect of improved sewage disposal rates on ecological status for aquatic organisms in Japan

Improving sewage disposal rates is an important policy for maintaining the health of aquatic organisms in river environments. In Japan, the rate is not yet 100 %. Two measures are necessary to eliminate the discharge of untreated greywater: (1) increase the number of households connected to sewage lines in areas with sewage systems, and (2) replace single-type household onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTSs) with combined-type systems. To estimate the effect of improving the disposal rate on river water quality, we developed a hydrology-based organic pollution assessment model with a gridded spatial resolution of 250 m to estimate the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in rivers in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. We considered three scenarios based on the sewage disposal rate of 70.5 % in 2015. In Scenario A, the disposal rate is increased to 75.2 % in 2030 by increasing the connection rate to sewage lines. In Scenario B, the rate is increased to 88.2 % in 2030 through additional progress in converting from single-to combined-type OWTSs. In Scenario C, the rate reaches 100 % by 2040. The ecological status of rivers was evaluated using taxon richness of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera estimated from its reported relationship to BOD. The number of sites in Gunma Prefecture polluted by organic waste classified as III (poor) and IV (very poor) was estimated to be 1610 under the present state (2015) and decreased to 1212 (25 % reduction) in Scenario A, 619 (62 % reduction) in Scenario B, and 50 (97 % reduction) in Scenario C, with the improvements mainly in small branch rivers. The effects of improved disposal rates were mainly evident in areas with relative high population densities using single-type OWTSs outside of areas with a sewage system, and measures taken in these areas were shown to be effective.

Pathogen Profiles in Outpatients with Non-COVID-19 during the 7th Prevalent Period of COVID-19 in Gunma, Japan.

The identification of pathogens associated with respiratory symptoms other than the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can be challenging. However, the diagnosis of pathogens is crucial for assessing the clinical outcome of patients. We comprehensively profiled pathogens causing non-COVID-19 respiratory symptoms during the 7th prevalent period in Gunma, Japan, using deep sequencing combined with a next-generation sequencer (NGS) and advanced bioinformatics technologies. The study included nasopharyngeal swabs from 40 patients who tested negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using immuno-chromatography and/or quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) methods. Comprehensive pathogen sequencing was conducted through deep sequencing using NGS. Additionally, short reads obtained from NGS were analyzed for comprehensive pathogen estimation using MePIC (Metagenomic Pathogen Identification Pipeline for Clinical Specimens) and/or VirusTap. The results revealed the presence of various pathogens, including respiratory viruses and bacteria, in the present subjects. Notably, human adenovirus (HAdV) was the most frequently detected virus in 16 of the 40 cases (40.0%), followed by coryneforms, which were the most frequently detected bacteria in 21 of the 40 cases (52.5%). Seasonal human coronaviruses (NL63 type, 229E type, HKU1 type, and OC43 type), human bocaviruses, and human herpesviruses (human herpesvirus types 1-7) were not detected. Moreover, multiple pathogens were detected in 50% of the subjects. These results suggest that various respiratory pathogens may be associated with non-COVID-19 patients during the 7th prevalent period in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Consequently, for an accurate diagnosis of pathogens causing respiratory infections, detailed pathogen analyses may be necessary. Furthermore, it is possible that various pathogens, excluding SARS-CoV-2, may be linked to fever and/or respiratory infections even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Nosocomial Outbreak Caused by Human Rhinovirus Species A Type 61 in a Welfare Facility in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Human rhinovirus (HRV) infections are generally referred to as the common cold, and are the main cause of mild symptoms. HRV is less frequently implicated in the development of severe respiratory infections. This study reports a nosocomial outbreak of bronchitis and pneumonia caused by HRV in a hospital during the COVID-19 epidemic in September 2022 in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The patient continued to be symptomatic for nine days. During this outbreak, all 15 residents displayed respiratory symptoms. HRV-A was detected in 12 of the 12 samples, and phylogenetic analysis classified the strain as HRV-A type 61. HRV, COVID-19, and other respiratory infections cannot be differentiated based solely on clinical symptoms. A surveillance system to monitor them is thus needed.

Development of a short‐term solar irradiance forecasting using satellite image in combination with numerical weather prediction model

AbstractA short‐term solar irradiance forecasting method has been developed to provide highly accurate prediction, using satellite image prediction model in combination with numerical weather prediction model. This method was applied and evaluated using the solar irradiance observational site at the CRIEPI Akagi Testing Center (Gunma Prefecture, Japan). Based on historical forecasting and observation datasets at JMA observation sites in the computational domain, the best blending ratio between the satellite image prediction model and the numerical weather prediction model was selected and used. The developed method has shown high accuracy. Compared to satellite image forecasting, accuracy results averaged between three and 6 h of lead‐time showed improvements in the RMSE by 44% for the before‐sunrise case, 20% for the after‐sunrise case, and 8% for the noon to sunset case.

Categorization of the health status and its transition of community-dwelling older adults during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic

The purpose of this study was to categorize and clarify transitions in the health status of older adults living in the community during the coronavirus disease (coronavirus disease 2019: COVID-19) pandemic. The participants were older adults (≥65 years of age) who lived in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture. The survey items included basic information and subjective health perception (questionnaire for medical checkup of old-old). Latent class analyses were conducted for the first (baseline) and second surveys (6 months). The scores for each item were compared to identify the characteristics of each class at baseline and at 6 months. In addition, transitions in class affiliation from baseline to 6 months were summarized. A total of 434 of 1,953 participants (mean age: 79.1 years, 98 males and 336 females) completed the survey (22.2%). In both time periods, the responses were categorized into four classes: 1) good, 2) poor physical, oral and cognitive function, 3) poor social status and lifestyle, and 4) poor in all except social status and lifestyle. During 6 months of follow-up, a transition from the generally good class to the poor physical, oral and cognitive functions class was observed in many cases. The health status of the older adults living in the community was classified into four classes, and changes in health status occurred even within a short period of time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A New Species of Fossil Nymphalidae (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) from the Upper Pliocene Motojuku Group, Gunma Prefecture, Japan

In this study, we describe and illustrate a new fossil species of Nymphalidae (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea), Neptis kabutoiwaensis sp. nov., based on an impression fossil from the Upper Pliocene Motojuku Group, Gunma Prefecture, central Japan, which is the first fossil representative belonging to the subfamily Limenitidinae of Nymphalidae. In addition, our study is the first to report the discovery of a named Papilionoidea fossil from the Pliocene Series. The fossil shares characteristics, such as the reduced forelegs, open discal cell in the forewing, and short Sc + R1 vein in the hindwing, with the tribe Neptini of Limenitidinae. However, the presence of the CuP vein in the forewing suggests that the studied fossil is clearly different from known species of tribe Neptini. This is an important discovery that can assist us in exploring the evolution of the tribe Neptini during the Pliocene, because this new species has the possible ancestral characteristic of a CuP vein in its forewing.

Geochemical Characteristics of Non-volcanic Type Hot Spring Waters Related to Regional Tectonics in Japan

Occurrences of non-volcanic hot and mineral spring waters, found in Niigata and the surrounding areas, as well as central to southern Kinki District, are documented in relation to the local tectonics to discuss on the importance of plate tectonics as sources of heat and dissolved chemical compositions in the deep groundwater/fluid cycle. Fossil seawater was altered at different temperatures, and remains as low-temperature mineral waters in Gunma Prefecture, and as oil and gas field brine and related hot springs in Niigata Prefecture and surrounding areas. One of the hot springs in Niigata, i.e., Matsunoyama Hot Spring, is known to contain geo-pressure hydrothermal water. The brines in Niigata Prefecture are heated via tectonics at the boundary between the Eurasian and North-American plates without contaminating modern local meteoric water. In the Kinki District, hot spring waters > 40°C appear only in three regions: coastal area along the Sea of Japan, Arima and surrounding area of Osaka Basin, and southern part of Kii Peninsula. In this area, mantle-derived fluids, such as He and CO2, are upwelling with slab-derived saline waters from the subducting Philippine Sea Plate. Non-volcanic hot spring waters occasionally give the important information on heat and energy cycles at the plate boundaries, as well as valuable information for understanding the mechanisms of inland earthquakes related to the deep-fluid movements.

A Report on the Management and Use of After-school Childcare in Hilly and Mountainous Areas

In this report, we studied the management and use of after-school childcare （ASC） in hilly and mountainous areas （HMA）. The case areas of this research were depopulated towns and villages in Gunma Prefecture, particularly Nanmoku Village and Kanna Town, where depopulation is increasing rapidly. The results were as follows : 1）ASC was necessary not only in urban areas but also in HMA because many children return from school to an empty home in HMA. In particular, in areas that had fewer parks due to their steep hillsides and the long distance between the houses where children lived ; places providing ASC are highly valued as children can to go outdoors, interact, and play together. However, the towns and villages where childcare is not free and the ASC only allows registration for children whose parents are not at home when school hours end ; therefore, not all children enjoy the functions of ASC in HMA. In those areas, children use other institutions, including systems, such as after-school child classes. 2）In some towns and villages, regardless of their status with respect to depopulation, there was no fee for ASC to support families raise children. On the other hand, moderate to high fees in Gunma Prefecture would be needed for the use of ASC in towns and villages that were designated as depopulated areas. 3）In Nanmoku Village and Kanna Town, almost every child was registered with ASC. The reasons for this were the free provision of ASC for all children as there were fewer elementary school children than the capacity for ASC, and there are few parks in these areas, particularly in Nanmoku Village.

Geology and geochemistry of the Isobe gas field, Gunma Prefecture

Geology and geochemistry of the Isobe gas field, Gunma Prefecture

Current Status of Endoscopic Screening for Gastric Cancer in the Gunma Prefecture

Current Status of Endoscopic Screening for Gastric Cancer in the Gunma Prefecture

Factors associated with falls during voluntary self-isolation among community-dwelling older people: a longitudinal study.

[Purpose] We aimed to explore the factors that predict falls in community-dwelling older people over 6 months during their voluntary self-isolation for the coronavirus disease (SARS-CoV-2). [Participants and Methods] In this longitudinal study, we surveyed older people aged ≥65 years living in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, using a questionnaire. We investigated the relationship between the frailty screening index and fall rate. [Results] A total of 588 older adults (response rate, 35.7%) filled and returned the questionnaire during the study period. Of these, 391 participants who had not applied for long-term care insurance and had completed the data on the response items were included in the study. Based on their responses in the survey questionnaire, 35 (8.95%) participants were grouped into the fall group and 356 into the non-fall group. Subsequently, the "no" response to "Can you recall what happened 5 minutes ago?" and "yes" response to "Have you felt tired for no reason (in the past 2 weeks)?" were identified as the significant factors associated with falls. [Conclusion] It is important to pay attention to the subjective evaluation of patients' cognitive decline and fatigue to prevent falls owing to the implementation of SARS-CoV-2 countermeasures.

Kiryuite and gunmaite, two new minerals from Tsukubara, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan

Kiryuite and gunmaite, two new minerals from Tsukubara, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan

The culture of Shimonita created by geo-diversity in Shimonita, Gunma Prefecture:Geo-tour of Shimonita Geoparak

群馬県南西部の下仁田町は中心市街地が山々に囲まれた小盆地にあり，信州の山間地と関東平野の境界に位置する自然豊かな町で，下仁田ジオパークはこの下仁田町内全域がエリアにふくまれる．地質学的には，中央構造線や国内で最も典型的なクリッペやフェンスターなどを含めたナップ構造とその内部の褶曲構造などにより地殻の変動を感じられる．また，地形的にも古い火山の侵食地形やクリッペをなす山々が独特の景観をなしている．特産物には，下仁田ねぎとこんにゃくがあり，日本三大奇勝「妙義山」をはじめとした豊富な自然，世界文化遺産「荒船風穴」などの地形を利用した産業遺産などがエリア内に点在している．

Acid Rivers in Volcanic Regions and Efforts to Improve Their Water Quality

Acid river systems and the actual situation of river neutralization at the Kusatsu-Shirane volcano, Gunma Prefecture, and Ebino highlands of the Kirishima volcanoes, Miyazaki Prefecture, are reviewed. In the case of the acid river system at the Kusatsu-Shirane volcano, sources of acid water are volcanic acidic hot springs and acid mine drainage (AMD) from closed sulfur mines. Volcanic hot springs and AMD have different effects on the river environment. Arsenic is predominantly supplied from hot springs, and heavy metals such as lead are predominantly supplied from AMD. The river neutralization system at the Kusatsu-Shirane volcano targets water from Kusatsu hot springs, the region's largest source of acidic components, resulting in a significant water quality improvement in the downstream river. The system at the Kusatsu hot springs directly injects a neutralizer prepared from powdered limestone into the river. The neutralization products formed in river water are finally accumulated in a dam constructed to function as a sedimentation basin. Then, the dredged sediment from the dam is dumped at dedicated disposal sites. In the case of the Ebino Highlands (Iwoyama volcano), the Kirishima volcano complex, an eruption in 2018 caused river water pollution. Phreatic eruptions at the Iwoyama volcano triggered discharges of acidic hydrothermal fluids containing large amounts of arsenic and heavy metals from vents newly opened with the eruptive events, resulting in a deterioration of river water quality and significant damage to local agriculture. Because the discharge of acidic hydrothermal fluids from the vents continued even after eruptive activity ended, Miyazaki Prefecture decided to neutralize the river in the Ebino Highlands. After starting river neutralization, the water quality of downstream rivers improved significantly. Because the amount of treatment required for river neutralization at the Ebino Highlands is not very large, a passive treatment method was adopted to enable low-cost operation.