Kagoshima City Research Articles

Asthma-like disease in the children living in the neighborhood of Mt. Sakurajima.

We conducted self-administered questionnaire surveys of school children living in the vicinity of Mt. Sakurajima using ATS-DLD questionnaire. In this paper, we report the results of analysis comparing the proportion of children with asthma-like disease in the area exposed to the volcanic ash and gases released by Mt. Sakurajima and control areas. Asthma-like disease was ascertained using ATS-DLD questionnaire and the definition proposed by the study group established by Environmental Protection Agency in Japan. The proportion of children with asthma-like disease was not different between the exposed and control groups. The odds ratio of asthma-like disease comparing the exposed and control groups was 1.1 and its 95% confidence interval was 0.7-1.8 (P = 0.583). When the exposed area was divided into Tarumizu city. Sakurajima town and Kagoshima city, none of them showed an elevated proportion of children with asthma-like disease when compared with the control area. In the entire study population including both the exposed and control groups, the proportion of children with asthma-like disease was 6 and 3% in boys and girls, respectively. These values were quite similar to those obtained from a survey of 45,674 school children in western districts in Japan in 1992. In conclusion, the present study indicates that the proportion of children with asthma-like disease is not elevated in the exposed area. Further investigations are necessary to confirm our conclusions.

Relationship between ambient sulfur dioxide levels and neonatal mortality near the Mt. Sakurajima volcano in Japan.

We examined the association between neonatal mortality and ambient sulfur dioxide (SO2) levels in the neighborhood of Mt. Sakurajima, Yamashita public health district of Kagoshima City, during the period between 1978 and 1988. The analysis using Poisson regression models showed that the monthly average level of SO2 was positively associated with the neonatal mortality (P = 0.002). When the SO2 levels were categorized into four groups to estimate the relative risk (RR) of neonatal mortality using the lowest exposure category as a reference, the RR increased with elevated exposure levels (P for trend < 0.001) and was the highest in the group with the highest level of exposure (RR = 2.2, 95% confidence interval; 1.2-4.1). Other than SO2, we also examined the number of eruptions, the amount of ashfall, and the average level of suspended particulate matter. None of these factors was associated with neonatal mortality. Although the present study suggests that increase in SO2 levels has had an adverse effect on neonatal mortality in the neighborhood of Mt. Sakurajima, it is difficult to determine the source of the SO2. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of the excess neonatal mortality probably associated with the volcanic SO2 levels.

当院におけるガス壊そに対する治療

We report eight cases of gas gangrene experienced from 1988 to 1997 in Kagoshima city Hospital and allied hospitals. The injured sites were lower extremity in seven (four cases with popliteal artery injury) and the palm in one. The period from the injury to onset was 2 to 7 days (average; 4.5 days). Our criteria for diagnosis of gas gangrene are as follows; fever, secretion with foul odor, crepitation, serious inflammatory reaction and roentgenogrophic gas. Six patients were treated by amputation of the affected limbs and two cases received a surgical limb salvage procedure. All patients were also treated by hyperbaric oxygen and antibiotics. The hyperbaric oxygen therapy seemed to be effective for borth clostridium and non-clostridium gas gangrene. The prophylactic hyperbaric oxygen therapy for gas gangrene seemed to be effective for cases with diabetes mellitus or poplitial artery injury.

The effects of human behavior on natural ventilation rate and indoor air environment in summer — a field study in southern Japan

Residents completed a questionnaire survey assessing indoor environment and residents' behavior (i.e. when they opened windows/doors, when they operated air conditioners, and so on) during the period of ventilation measurement. The purpose of this study is to measure the ventilation rate in occupied dwellings in Kagoshima City, located in the southern part of Japan, using the tracer gas method and to investigate the relationship between the occupants' behavior in each dwelling and the energy consumption for air conditioning during the summer period. Based on the continuous measurement of the ventilation rate in eight dwellings, the proportion between the total ventilation rate (ventilation rate during occupancy of the dwellings) and the basic ventilation rate (ventilation rate during non-occupancy and with door/windows closed) is discussed. The measuring principle applied is the constant concentration tracer gas method. The main conclusion is that there is a large difference between the mean basic ventilation rate and the mean total ventilation rate. If the size of the basic ventilation rate and the user-influenced ventilation rate in the investigated dwellings are compared, it can be seen that 87% of the total air change rate is caused by the behavior of the occupants.

Historical studies on the five stone-masonry bridges over the Kotsuki river

The five stone-masonry arch bridges over the Kotsuki river in Kagoshima city were constructed around 150 years ago and were in use till recently. But two of them were washed out due to the record rainfall which fell in August 1993. Therefore it was decided to carry out river conservation works and move the three remaining bridges to a different place and preserve them there. This paper investigates the changing conditions of the five stone-masonry arch bridges in relation to the variations in social environment from a historical perspective. An attempt is made to understand the cultural significance of present civil engineering structures. The procedure for general agreem6nt regarding the preservation and conservation of historical structures is also discussed.

On Technical and Historical Discussions about the Five Stone-Masonry Arch Bridges over the Kotsuki River

There were five major stone-masonry arch bridges across the Kotsuki river in Kagoshima City till recently. Two of them were seriously damaged due to heavy rains which fell on the region on Augist 6, 1993. For carrying out the river conservation works and for avoiding the collapse of the remaining three bridges in future, it was decided to move these bridges to a new place. Therefore the bridges were dismembered physically and were investigated in detail.This paper presents a comparative study of those results in relation to stone-masonry arch bridges of China, Korea and Europe. By clarifying the fundamental differences between these arch bridges, an attempt is made to understand the characteristics and the contents of the arch bridges across the Kotsuki river from technological history perspective.

The Construction and the Background of Five Stone-Masonry Bridges over the Kotsuki River

The five stone-masonry bridges over the Kotsuki River, which flows along the center of Kagoshima City, have provided a historical outlook to this City. Among them, the Nishida Bridge has ornamental balustrade with beautifully designed balusters and this bridge is very famous as the main gateway bridge of the old Satsuma province. This paper investigates why these stone-masonry bridges were chosen for construction in kagoshima, which lies at the southern edge of Kyusyu, the circumstances of construction of these bridges and so on.

Some Considerations on Preservation of Masonry Arch Bridge

In this paper the authors discussed the preservation of a masonry arch bridge “Nishida Bridge” over the Kotsuki River in Kagoshima City. This bridge will be soon removed for river improvement purpose. A masonry arch bridge is a valuable structure which not only plays its own role but harmonizes the environment. The authors made a historical value study and technical investigation about the Nishida Bridge. Flood control projects built for a short time flood prevention purpose possibly impairs historical masonry arch bridges and rows of houses and stores on streets which were preserved for a long time. As a result the authors proposed a construction of underground river tunnel by which preservation of the historical civil engineering heritage may be compatible with prevention of city disasters.

鹿児島市竜ケ水，平松地区の山地崩壊と地質 平成５年８月の豪雨被害

On 6 August 1993, Kagoshima City was struck by the record-high torrential rain of 90mm/hour. A number of landslides occurred along Route 10, leaving some 800 vehicles confined in an 8-kilometer distance between Iso and Hiramatsu. Also, Ryugamizu railroad station, where a train had made an emergency stop, was hit by one of debris flows and buried in earth and sand with the crashed train.Investigations of the Ryugamizu area after the accident show that its geological formation consists of andesite, basalt, Kekura formation and welded tuff. It was also found that the collapse was triggered by Iso tuffaceous member, component of the upper Kekura formation. Most of debris flows were identified as basalt and welded tuff. In addition, it was revealed that the Hiramatsu area geologically consists of Osakibana andesite, clastic andesite and tuiTaceous sand layer. Another finding was that a large amount of collapse occured to the Osakibana andesite which is featured by its platy joints.

Echovirus type 9 epidemic in Kagoshima, Southern Japan

An outbreak of aseptic meningitis caused by echovirus type 9 occurred between March and October, 1990, in Kagoshima, Southern Japan. Clinical manifestations and laboratory data of 259 children with aseptic meningitis who were admitted to the outpatient clinic of pediatrics in the Kagoshima City Hospital were analyzed (other diseases caused by echovirus type 9 were not investigated). The patients' age ranged from 1 month to 15 years and the highest incidence was in 4-year-old children. The male:female ratio was 1.3:1. Frequencies of headache (69%), vomiting (64%), neck stiffness (36%) and rash (195%) were lower than those in the previous reports in the United States or in the Europe. Pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid increased with increasing age in the younger children. A predominance of neutrophils in cerebrospinal fluid lasted for 3 days or more after onset in 16% of the patients. Seroepidemiologic study suggested that the accumulation of susceptible children < 5 years of age had predisposed to the epidemic.

福井市及び鹿児島市の新築・戸建て住宅における住宅平面構成要素からみた住宅規模格差の要因分析 : 北陸地方と南九州地方の比較研究 その4

福井市及び鹿児島市の新築・戸建て住宅における住宅平面構成要素からみた住宅規模格差の要因分析 : 北陸地方と南九州地方の比較研究 その4

Estimation of Land Surface Temperature Based on Satellite Image Data.

An attempt was made to predict the land surface temperature of Kagoshima city using LAND-SAT-5/TM and NOAA-11/AVHRR data. In employing NOAA-11/AVHRR data, it is desirable to use the atmospheric correction taking an attenuation effect of the water vapor in the atmosphere into account. Among the existing relations, that of Sakaida and Kawamura, which consists of the brightness temperatures and the zenith angle, is superior to the others. Although LANDSAT-5/TM data contain a very high resolution level of the land, the estimated land surface temperature is higher than the measured value. It was also found that improved accuracy of the surface temperature is achieved if LANDSAT-5/TM data are used together with NOAA-11/AVHRR.

What are parents of obese children concerned about in their children?

We retrospectively examined the issues that concern parents of obese children to determine the most effective means of motivating them to seek treatment for obesity in their children. Children with an obesity index > or = 40%, aged six to 12 years, were screened in Kagoshima City in 1992. Parents were notified if their children needed an evaluation that included a family history and measurements of the blood pressure, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, atherogenic index (ASI), triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Parents were informed of the results of the evaluation and invited to attend a lecture on the treatment of obesity in children. A total of 378 obese children were evaluated. However, the parents of only 39 children attended the lecture. Children whose parents attended had higher mean total levels of cholesterol (190 +/- 25 vs 175 +/- 28, P < 0.01) and ASI values (3.2 +/- 0.9 vs 2.7 +/- 0.9, P < 0.02) than those whose parents did not attend. There were no significant differences in other factors. Only 4.2% of parents whose children showed no abnormal values, except for obesity, attended the lecture, compared with 20.3% (P < 0.01) or 16.9% (P < 0.05) of parents whose children had abnormal levels of cholesterol or abnormal ASI. Parents may be more concerned about hypercholesterolemia or arteriosclerosis than obesity per se. We should perhaps use the total cholesterol or ASI values, not just the severity of obesity, to motivate parents to enter their children into treatment programs for obesity.

Impact of serum antibodies to p40tax gene product in the intrafamilial transmission of human T cell leukemia virus type I.

We examined the sera of family members of human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) seropositive pregnant women who had visited Kagoshima City Hospital since 1986, and studied the routes of transmission of HTLV-I. A new enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting the antibody to an HTLV-I tax gene product, p40tax, has recently been developed. By this ELISA method, the positive rate of anti-p40tax among HTLV-I seropositive subjects, including 96 pregnant women (index subjects), 26 mothers, 13 husbands, and 13 children was investigated. The percentage positive for anti-p40tax among pregnant women, mothers, husbands, and children was 41.6, 50, 53.8 and 53.8%, respectively. This means that the positive rate of anti-p40tax remains almost constant with increasing age. The rate of mother-to-child transmission of HTLV-I was significantly higher in p40tax seropositive (29.6%) than in seronegative mothers (8.1%). The positive rate of anti-p40tax in transmission from husband to wife (29%) and through blood transfusion (17%) was lower than the overall prevalence (46%). Thus, these data suggest that p40tax antibodies are associated with the frequency of HTLV-I transmission and with the differences in the transmission routes.

福井市及び鹿児島市の新築・戸建て住宅における世帯構成からみた居住水準比較 : 北陸地方と南九州地方の比較研究 その2

This paper aims to clarify the characteristics of the dwelling spaces of newly built, detached housing in view point of household types in Fukui and Kagoshima City. Main conclusions are as follows; 1.In case of the same household type, the dwelling space in Fukui City is much larger than that of Kagoshima City, and its tendency is much greater for the households with the elderly. 2.The differences of the dwelling space between two cities have a clear relation to the differences of the number of the surplus rooms which is not used in everyday life. 3. The mean number of surplus rooms in Fukui City are 1.8 while it is 1.0 in Kagoshima City. 4.The ratio of two and more surplus rooms in Fukui City is much higher than that of Kagoshima City. 5.These surplus rooms are mainly used as Japanese style suite of rooms for guest rooms. 6.As are results, the difference of the dwelling spaces in two cities could be explained by the differences of their needs to the Japanese style suite of rooms.

鹿児島市における新築・戸建て住宅の平面類型 : 北陸地方と南九州地方の比較研究 その3

鹿児島市における新築・戸建て住宅の平面類型 : 北陸地方と南九州地方の比較研究 その3

The 6m mm-VLBI telescope at Kagoshima, Japan

VLBI observations of millimeter wavelengths can probe the broad line emission and jet forming regions of quasars, and the scale of an accretion disk around massive black holes in nearby active galaxies, which are self-absorbed at longer wavelengths. Therefore, the extension of the mm-VLBI network is timely and urgent problem. We are now planning to move Nobeyama 6 m mm VLBI telescope to Kagoshima. The telescope will be placed at Kinkohwan park in Kagoshima City in late 1992 and will be operated in 1993. The frequencies for VLBI observations will range from 22 GHz to 100 GHz.To date, there are two mm-VLBI facilities in Japan: Nobeyama 45 m and Kashima 34 m, However, the longest baseline is only about 200km EW which provides a fringe separation of 17 mas. This is not sufficient for high resolution mapping. A 10 m telescope which is under construction at Mizusawa, 400 km north from Kashima which will be usable up to 43 GHz and will add a north-south baseline, which is very important for astrometrie measurement.

Use of rice response characteristics in area estimation by LANDSAT/TM and MOS-1 satellites data

Satellite image interpretation for LANDSAT/TM and MOS-1 data was conducted for identification and area estimation of rice fields for Hishikari Town in Kyushu Island near Kagoshima City, Japan. The results were confirmed by video-recorded aerial photographs and by ground observations. The rice field identification, which was carried out by computer-implemented MDM classification using LODIA software, created some confusion between different test sites. However, the digitally processed image of the LANDSAT/TM 4 and 5 band difference index, discriminated the rice fields very well. The estimated rice areas were observed to be fairly close to the statistical reports made by the town office. The present study shows the potential of image processing for the identification and area estimation by rice response characteristics.

南九州地方県庁所在都市における新築・戸建て住宅の規模及び室構成 : 北陸地方と南九州地方の比較研究 その1

This paper aims to clarify the characteristics on the dwelling spaces and composition of rooms of newly built, detached housing in prefectural government cities in South Kyusyu region, that is, Miyazaki and Kagoshima City. Main conclusions are as follows; 1. Typical site areas are 150 to 300 m^2 in Miyazaki City, and are 150 to 250 m^2 in Kagoshima City. 2. Typical areas of floor spaces are 100 to 140 m^2 in Miyazaki City and are 80 to 120 m^2 in Kagoshima City. 3. The mean areas of dwelling floor spaces in Kagoshima City is 115.3 m^2 and is smaller than Hokuriku region by 30 to 45 m^2. 4. The mean number of dwelling rooms in Kagoshima City is 5.24 rooms and is fewer than Hokuriku region by 0.6 to 1.0 rooms. 5. Typical compositions of dwelling rooms are LDK and one Japanese room in the first floor, and two or three bed rooms in the second floor.

１９９３年８月の鹿児島市竜ケ水地区における土石流および斜面崩壊について

Huge debris flows and slope failures occurred at Ryu-ga-mizu district, Kagoshima City on August 6, 1993. They were directly induced by a long rainfall of over 2, 000 mm, continuing at a rate of 259.5 mm per day. The topographical factor of the slope angles from 30 degree to 40 degree in the wall of Aira caldera also contributed to the disaster. We estimated three mechanisms of the occurrence of those debris flows and slope failures as a result of field survey. These mechanisms are as follows;1) Rain water penetrated into well-permeable pumice flow deposit layer and permeable welded tuff layer superposed on non-permeable silt layer. Then, because of an increasing ground water flow rate, collapsing occurred at surface of pumice flow deposit layer and welded tuff layer.2) Collapsing of pumica flow deposit layer occurred on account of an increased gush out of ground water through the boundary between silt layer and pumice flow deposit layer.3) Rain water penetrated into pumice flow deposit layer. Increasing pore-water pressure in the layer caused the collapsing.