Osaka Area Research Articles

MobCovid: Confirmed Cases Dynamics Driven Time Series Prediction of Crowd in Urban Hotspot.

Monitoring the crowd in urban hot spot has been an important research topic in the field of urban management and has high social impact. It can allow more flexible allocation of public resources such as public transportation schedule adjustment and arrangement of police force. After 2020, because of the epidemic of COVID-19 virus, the public mobility pattern is deeply affected by the situation of epidemic as the physical close contact is the dominant way of infection. In this study, we propose a confirmed case-driven time-series prediction of crowd in urban hot spot named MobCovid. The model is a deviation of Informer, a popular time-serial prediction model proposed in 2021. The model takes both the number of nighttime staying people in downtown and confirmed cases of COVID-19 as input and predicts both the targets. In the current period of COVID, many areas and countries have relaxed the lockdown measures on public mobility. The outdoor travel of public is based on individual decision. Report of large amount of confirmed cases would restrict the public visitation of crowded downtown. But, still, government would publish some policies to try to intervene in the public mobility and control the spread of virus. For example, in Japan, there are no compulsory measures to force people to stay at home, but measures to persuade people to stay away from downtown area. Therefore, we also merge the encoding of policies on measures of mobility restriction made by government in the model to improve the precision. We use historical data of nighttime staying people in crowded downtown and confirmed cases of Tokyo and Osaka area as study case. Multiple times of comparison with other baselines including the original Informer model prove the effectiveness of our proposed method. We believe our work can make contribution to the current knowledge on forecasting the number of crowd in urban downtown during the Covid epidemic.

Impact of information provision on tsunami evacuation behavior of residents and international tourists in Japan

Effective disaster management can help mitigate both human and financial damage. However, the absence of appropriate disaster preparedness and management efforts can increase the vulnerability of international tourists to natural disasters. International tourists differ from residents and local tourists in various ways, including limited knowledge of disasters and disaster responses, use of different languages, limited access to signs, and shelter locations and evacuation routes. This study developed an agent-based evacuation model to determine the differences in evacuation behaviors among international tourists, residents, and local tourists during a tsunami. Further, it clarified the impact of both soft and hard countermeasures such as information provision and shelter capacity expansion. Our case study was conducted in the Minato Bay area in Osaka, Japan. The simulation results revealed disparities in the evacuation behaviors between international tourists and residents in the arrival times at shelters. The enhanced sign accessibility and provision of signs in multiple languages significantly reduced the arrival time of international tourists at shelters. Consequently, it is necessary to improve disaster management plans that ensure information provision in multiple languages and the establishment of temporary shelters near tourism spots to support international tourists during disaster evacuation.

Historical trend of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a sediment core from Osaka Bay during the Meghalayan

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are produced by incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuel, yet PAHs have been rarely analyzed in coastal sediment cores as a tracer for human activities before industrialization. The aim of this study was to assess if the historical trend of PAHs can be related to past human activities. To this end, we have determined the concentrations of PAHs in a 9 m-long sediment core from Osaka Bay, which records history of the last 2400 years. The concentration of PAHs before the beginning of the 17th century CE, the beginning of the peaceful Edo period, was consistently low (<100 ng g−1) and mainly comprised of smoke-derived PAHs reflecting the natural background. A relative higher abundance of 4−6 ring PAHs from the early 17th century CE and a higher PAH concentration from the early 18th century CE until approximately 1800 CE agreed with a population increase, Cu smelting activities and increasing combustion of charcoal. The constant PAH concentration until the late 19th century CE overlapped with a decline in the population in the Osaka area. An increasing PAH concentration from the late 19th century CE marked the beginning of industrialization in the Modern age. The peak in PAH concentration in 1945 CE was likely caused by burning of wooden structures due to air raids on Osaka City. A second peak around 1980 CE indicated the introduction of cleaner energies. We conclude that PAHs in coastal sediment cores can be used to reconstruct past human activities.

Assessing the Hierarchical Diversity of Public Transportation Considering Connectivity and Its Implication on Regional Sustainability

Given a decreasing and aging population, there is a growing need to establish convenient public transportation systems that offer a variety of transportation modes seamlessly connected to one another. This study attempts to develop an index to assess the hierarchical diversity of public transportation, drawing an analogy between public transportation networks and ecosystems. By considering both hierarchical (meta-physical) and physical connections among respective modes, which are aspects that have not been addressed in previous studies, this study aims to enhance the spatial resolution of the analysis units in the index. The diversity indices were applied to the northern Osaka area in Japan as the study site. The results show a correlation between the diversity index, population, and public transportation modal share. We then discuss the influence of hierarchical diversity on the sustainability of public transportation systems and regional development.

The new aircraft noise monitoring system introduced at the three airports in the Osaka area

There are three airports in the Osaka area and each of them has been analyzing and evaluating aircraft noise and publishing its results. However, since these three airports are adjacent to each other, the airspace is complicated, and the monitoring range is wide, which caused so much manual work for data review before obtaining an accurate noise impact assessment. This paper introduces a new aircraft noise monitoring system that has been constructed to reduce the human workload and accurately and integrally monitor aircraft noise at the three airports with flight-track measurement. The new system reduces the time for noise analysis and evaluation using artificial intelligence, and it has become possible to publish accurate noise conditions more quickly and at a lower cost. In addition, since it is difficult for an airport operator to obtain air traffic control data, we constructed a system that can monitor the position coordinates of aircraft as recent as 15 seconds ago. By operating this system integrally with the noise system, we can now visually confirm the noise level at the measurement point and the position of aircraft on a map, and publish the real-time noise data online for residents living near the airports.

A Celebrity’s Fifteen-Year Reign and Reinvention of Kamigata Rakugo

From 2004 to 2017, Kamigata Rakugo Kyōkai (KRK) – the professional comic storytelling guild for the Osaka area – issued the magazine Nna aho na (That’s ridiculous). Concurrent with the tenure of one of the art’s most recognisable and progressive artists, Katsura Bunshi VI (b. 1943), as KRK chairperson, the magazine hailed Kamigata rakugo’s ‘new era’. It heralded the first dedicated rakugo hall open in Osaka in 60 years, as well as several other big-ticket enterprises. Nna aho na presented a brassy campaign of building and monument erection teamed with pageants and re-enactments of history, displays of tradition, and ritual. These served to promote Kamigata rakugo as a venerable art and one worthy of official recognition by Japan’s government. Examining the reforms that Bunshi VI orchestrated in the early twenty-first century, one sees a tension between ‘traditional’ and ‘new’ negotiated through an expedient trade-off. KRK was able to use Bunshi VI’s considerable star power to improve the art’s exposure, status, and infrastructure, while he became the face of the art, advanced his own agenda, and cemented his name in rakugo history.

Demand-supply balance of disaster medical care in Osaka City based on damage estimation for a Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake: A geographic information system-based analysis.

Studies have not fully examined whether the medical care system would be able to manage the high number of casualties due to a Nankai Trough earthquake, whose probability of recurrence in the next 30 years is ~70%. This study assessed the demand-supply balance of the disaster medical care system in Osaka city by integrating the data on damage estimation and disaster coping hospitals using a geographic information system. We obtained data on the distribution of casualties in two cases, high and low rates of evacuation from the tsunami, and available beds in Osaka city calculated from operating data of each disaster coping hospital. We expanded these data on a geographic information system and investigated the balance of medical care. The total number of available beds in the disaster medical care facilities was 5,559, and the shortage with evacuation rates being either low or high, would be 47,631 and 1,487, respectively. With a low evacuation rate, bed shortage is a common occurrence in coastal areas. With a high evacuation rate, bed shortage decreases, and problems with medical care arise in the eastern area of Osaka city. In the case of a low evacuation rate, greater bed shortage was found along the coast of Osaka Bay where the probabilities of flooding are high. In the case of a high evacuation rate, however, the number of casualties was much lower. A shortage of medical care did not occur along the coast, but in the eastern part of Osaka city.

2030 부산 세계엑스포의 성공적 유치를 위한 지역공동체의 협력 방안 – 2025 오사카-칸사이 엑스포 사례를 중심으로

This study aims to examine cooperation cases in the course of holding the Osaka-Kansai Expo in Japan in 2025 from the perspective of cooperation of the local community for the successful hosting of the 2030 Busan Expo. The system for analyzing cases of community cooperation was analyzed in three dimensions: civil society cooperation, economic community cooperation, and political community cooperation. From the point of view of civil society cooperation, the enthusiastic participation of citizens is a significant factor leading to successful attraction. In particular, the difference can be found in youth participation activities in the Osaka area. From the viewpoint of economic community cooperation, it is of great significance to citizens that various cooperative measures with local companies have emerged to achieve the goals linked to the SDGs, the basic ideology of the Expo. In terms of political community cooperation, the full support and collaboration of Osaka City officials and local councils stand out. It is likewise significant since it actively approaches local citizens and businesses, as well as councils in other regions.

ARTISTS AGAINST GENTRIFICATION: COORDINATORS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN AN INNER-CITY AREA OF OSAKA, JAPAN

Gentrification, often characterised by an influx of new residents who displace established locals, has impacted cities across the world and is accelerated by the growth of global capital and the development of neoliberal governments. Artists can counter the process by using their art to promote justice and community development. This paper explores the influence of artists on the community of Baika-Shikanjima, an inner-city area of Osaka, where many creative individuals have aggregated for more than a decade. At present, the area seems to be untouched by gentrification. The findings of this field study indicate that most artists earn an income through other part-time jobs or by managing small businesses. Despite their meagre earnings, these artists live comfortably thanks to affordable housing, products, and services in the area. The artists exhibit or perform their work for other artists, tourists, and residents. The audience members or participants interact with each other during these performances. The study suggests that artists in this area counter the course of gentrification simply by pursuing their activities and rooting them in the community and daily life of the area. Furthermore, their activities seem to create public spaces through which marginalised groups and individuals are provided the opportunity to engage with other residents. The artists could be regarded as outsiders or authentic tourists who integrate into the local community. Although globalisation accelerates gentrification in many areas of Osaka city, this case study shows that a more sustainable inner-city development is possible if artists are involved in community life.

Regional dissemination of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae accompanying with enhanced resistance in Northern Osaka, Japan

With the rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has been reported worldwide as a major concern because of limited treatment options. Carbapenem resistance is mainly due to carbapenem-ase, a carbapenem-degrading enzyme, which is mainly encoded on a plasmid to spread across bacterial species. However, there have been only small-scale attempts to determine the similarities or accommodations of the plasmids disseminating regionwide. We analysed the 230 CRE isolates carrying blaIMP from 43 medical facilities in the northern Osaka area focusing on the plasmids, the main carriers of the drug resistance genes. Combination of whole genome sequencing and Southern blotting revealed the predominant dissemination of blaIMP-6 by the pKPI-6 plasmid among genetically distinct isolates, as well as the emergences of derivatives that acquired various advantages. We iden-tified heteroresistance likely causing stealth transmissions, which was generated by the transcriptional regu-lation of blaIMP-6, stabilization of blaIMP-6 through chromosomal integration, enhanced carbapenem resistance through plasmid multimerization, or broadened antimicrobial resistance due to a single point mutation in blaIMP-6. In this article, I dis-cussed the mechanisms of regional spread of CRE and enhancement of carbapenem resistance providing the insights to prevent their disseminations.

Abstract 10001: The Systemic Inflammation-Based Glasgow Prognostic Score Predicts Prognosis in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Patients with Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: A Multicenter Study

Background: A systemic inflammatory state caused by comorbidities has been shown to play a key role in pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The inflammation-based prognostic score termed Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), combining C-reactive protein and albumin, has been reported to provide prognostic information in patients with cancer or heart failure. However, little is known about the usefulness of the GPS for the prediction of prognosis in patients with HFpEF who are admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Methods: Patients' data were extracted from The Prospective mUlticenteR obServational stUdy of patIenTs with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (PURSUIT-HFpEF) study, which is a prospective multicenter observational registry for ADHF patients with LVEF ≥50% in Osaka area. We studied 1017 patients who survived to discharge. The GSP was calculated at discharge as follows: patients with both elevated C-reactive protein (>1.0mg/dL) and hypoalbuminemia (<3.5g/dL) were allocated a score of 2, patients with one of these abnormalities were allocated a score of 1, and patients with neither of these were allocated a score of 0. The endpoint was all-cause death. Results: During a follow-up period of 1.5±1.2 years, 178 patients had all-cause death. At multivariate Cox analysis, GPS 1 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-2.56, p=0.0090) and GPS 2 (HR 2.42, 95% CI 1.51-3.88, p=0.0003) were independently associated with all-cause death after the adjustment for major confounders. There was significant difference in the rate of all-cause death when the patients were stratified according to the GPS (Figure). Conclusions: In this multicenter study, the systemic inflammation-based GPS was shown to be useful for the prediction of prognosis in HFpEF patients admitted for ADHF.

Abstract 9433: The Combination of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratios as a Novel Predictor of Cardiac Death in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: A Multicenter Study

Background: Inflammation plays a central role in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are novel inflammatory markers which have been shown to predict post-discharge outcome in patients with HF. However, there is no information available on the combined usefulness of NLR and PLR in patients with HFpEF who are admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Methods: Patients' data were extracted from The Prospective mUlticenteR obServational stUdy of patIenTs with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (PURSUIT-HFpEF), which is a prospective multicenter observational registry for ADHF patients with LVEF ≥50% in Osaka area. We studied 1011 patients who survived to discharge. NLR and PLR were measured at the time of admission. The NLR was calculated as the ratio of the neutrophil count to the lymphocyte count, and the PLR was calculated as the ratio of the platelet count to the lymphocyte count. The endpoint was cardiac death (CD). Results: During a follow-up period of 539±423 days, 81 patients had CD. Both NLR and PLR were significantly higher in the patients with than without CD. The optimal cut-off values of NLR and PLR were 4.5 and 193 on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, respectively. At multivariate Cox analysis, higher NLR (hazard ratio [HR] 2.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49-4.22, p=0.0006) or higher PLR (HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.15-3.19, p=0.0130) were independently associated with CD. Moreover, the combination of higher NLR and higher PNR was the strongest predictor of CD (HR 2.84, 95% CI 1.56-5.17, p=0.0007). There was significant difference in the rate of CD among the three groups stratified by NLR and PLR values. Conclusions: In this multicenter study, the combination of NLR and PLR was shown to be a useful marker for the prediction of post-discharge outcome in patients with HFpEF admitted for ADHF.

Results of mass screening for neuroblastoma in 18-month-old infants in Osaka area, Japan.

In 2004, the Japanese government halted nationwide mass screening for neuroblastoma in 6-month-old infants as it led to overdiagnosis of localized tumors with favorable prognoses and failed to reduce neuroblastoma-related mortality. However, a new mass screening program for neuroblastoma in 18-month-old infants (18MS) was conducted in the Osaka prefecture. We assessed the efficacy of the 18MS in screening unfavorable cases. Public health centers in Osaka prefecture, excluding the Osaka city area, provided test kits to the guardians of infants who received a check-up at 18months of age between 2004 and 2017. For patients whose standardized urinary levels of vanillylmandelic acid or homovanillic acid exceeded the threshold, they were further examined and treated in two specific hospitals Osaka University Hospital and Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital. Screening-positive patients with and without neuroblastoma were retrospectively reviewed. Among 142,423 children screened during the 18MS, 85 tested positive, and 14 were diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Twelve patients were classified as very low risk, while 2 were classified as high risk, based on the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group risk classification. The 18MS did not screen unfavorable cases with neuroblastoma efficiently, although few participants benefited from it.

Practical use of a multicenter clinical research support system connected to electronic medical records

BackgroundElectronic medical records (EMRs) are widely used, but in many cases, they are used within a network physically separated from the Internet. Multicenter clinical studies use Internet-connected electronic data capture (EDC) systems to collect data, where data entered into the EMR are manually transcribed into the EDC system. In addition, medical images for clinical research are also collected manually. Variations in EMRs and differing data structures among vendors hamper the use of data for clinical research. MethodsWe solved this problem by developing a network infrastructure for clinical research between Osaka University Hospital and affiliated hospitals in the Osaka area and introducing a clinical data collection system (CDCS). In each hospital's EMR network, we implemented a CRF reporter that accumulated data for clinical research using a template and then sent the data to a management server in the Osaka University Hospital Data Center. To organize the patient profile data and clinical laboratory data stored in each EMR for use in clinical research, the data are retrieved from the template by an interface module developed by each vendor, according to our common data output interface specification. The data entered into the CRF reporter template for clinical research are also recorded in the EMR progress notes and sent to the data management server. This network infrastructure can also be used as a medical image collection system that automatically collects images for research from PACS at each hospital. These systems are managed under common subject numbers issued by the CDCS. ResultsA network infrastructure was established among 19 hospitals, and a CRF reporter was incorporated into the EMR. A medical image transfer system was introduced in 13 hospitals. Since 2013, 28 clinical studies have been conducted using this system, and data for 9,987 cases have been collected as of December 31, 2020. ConclusionIncorporating a CRF reporter with medical image transfer system into the EMR has proven useful for collecting research data.

Seismic collapse fragility of low-rise steel moment frames with mass irregularity based on shaking table test

The collapse risk of building structures has been one of the major factors causing casualties and huge economic losses for earthquake disaster prevention. This paper presents a shaking table test on low-rise steel moment frames with consideration of mass irregularity in the elevation direction. The frames are subjected to naturally observed and artificial seismic waves. As indicated from the test results, the specimen with the irregularity of additive-mass (additional 5% of the roof mass) on the top floor showed considerable amplification on the acceleration and drift responses at the bottom storey when subjected to over-design earthquakes. A numerical model with degraded stress–strain relation is built in terms of fiber elements and calibrated by test results. Incremental dynamic analyses are performed to evaluate the probabilities exceeding three limit states related to immediate occupancy, life safety, and collapse prevention. The seismic fragility curves through a suite of near-fault ground motions in the Uemachi area of Osaka are obtained for the numerical models with and without mass irregularity on the roof, and the vertical mass irregularity tends to play significant roles in the seismic design for collapse prevention.

G20 Summit and emergency medical services in Osaka, Japan

AimTo assess the impact of the Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy held in Osaka City, Japan (G20 Osaka Summit) on the emergency medical services (EMS) system.MethodsThis study used the ORION database with its population‐based registry of emergency patients comprising both ambulance and in‐hospital records in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The G20 Osaka Summit was held in Osaka City from 28 to 29 June, 2019. Changes in the EMS system and traffic regulations in Osaka were made during the period from 27 to 30 June, but we focused on the two summit days as the G20 period. The control periods comprised the same calendar days 1 week before and 1 week after the G20 period. We evaluated differences in the number of emergency transports, difficulties in obtaining hospital acceptance of patients, deaths among hospitalized emergency patients, and ambulance transport times between the two periods.ResultsIn total, 2,590 cases in the G20 period and 5,152 cases in the control periods were registered. The relative risk of cases during the G20 versus control periods was 1.01 (0.96–1.05). Significant decreases were observed in the number of traffic accidents as ambulance calls (relative risk = 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.64–0.91). There were no significant differences in difficulties in obtaining hospital acceptance or deaths among hospitalized emergency patients between the G20 and control periods. In addition, ambulance transport times during the G20 period were not significantly longer than those in the control periods.ConclusionThe G20 Osaka Summit did not adversely impact the provision of emergency medical care in the Osaka area.

Special Issue on Real World Robot Challenge in Tsukuba and Osaka

The Tsukuba Challenge is an open experiment of autonomous mobile robots in the real world. In its third stage since 2018, it is now to be held on a new course that starts at the Tsukuba City Hall. New tasks that require functions expected for autonomous travel in the real world have now been added, including passing checkpoints announced a day before the event, starting two vehicles simultaneously, traveling in an unmeasured environment, and strictly observing stop lines in the course. Also, in the spirit of the Tsukuba Challenge, the Nakanoshima Challenge, an open demonstration experiment project, has been held in the city of Osaka since 2018. As the only event in which autonomous mobile robots travel in the urban area of Osaka, the Nakanoshima Challenge is expected to identify new issues peculiar to autonomous navigation in real urban environments and to find solutions to them. This special issue includes a review paper on the Tsukuba Challenge, four research papers on the results of experiments done in the Tsukuba Challenge, four research papers related to the Nakanoshima Challenge, and three development reports. This special issue provides its readers with the frontline issues and the current status of development of autonomous mobile robots in real-world environments. We hope that the innovative efforts presented in this special issue will contribute to the development of science and industry.

A Study on Interregional Differences in Elderly Person’s Remote Care in Terms of Traveling Time and Expense: Comparative Consideration in TOKYO Area and OSAKA Area

A Study on Interregional Differences in Elderly Person’s Remote Care in Terms of Traveling Time and Expense: Comparative Consideration in TOKYO Area and OSAKA Area

Crime Control in Japan: Exceptional, Convergent or What Else?

Abstract Theories about crime control in Japan have largely been based around two opposing traditions. On the one hand, cultural explanations have emphasized the exceptional attributes of Japanese social relations that contribute towards shaming and re-integrative processes. On the other hand, more recent explanations assert that Japanese crime control is converging with other countries, particularly towards penal populism. Both approaches tend to reduce explanations to a monolithic characterization that disguises variegation within Japan. Through considering the governance of illegal drug use and the Kamagasaki area of Osaka, a ‘geo-historical’ perspective is advocated to better capture the complexity and contradictions of globalizing processes and social culture and their resulting manifestations in crime control within contemporary Japan.

Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Adult T Cell Leukemia-Lymphoma in a Nonendemic Metropolitan Area: A Retrospective Analysis of the Population-Based Osaka Cancer Registry.

Adult T cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) is a mature T cell malignancy associated with human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1), a retrovirus that is endemic in southwestern Japan. Because of population migration, cases of ATL are expected to increase in nonendemic areas. Here, to clarify the outcomes of patients with ATL in the nonendemic metropolitan area of Osaka, we retrospectively analyzed data from the population-based Osaka Cancer Registry from 2010 to 2015. This analysis included 91 patients age ≤70 years who received chemotherapy for ATL. With a median follow-up of 988 days in surviving patients, the probability of 2-year overall survival (OS) was 21.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.1% to 30.9%) and the median OS was 9.8 months (95% CI, 7.3 to 13.5 months). The probability of 2-year OS was 22.2% in the nontransplant group (n=63) and 21.4% in the transplant group (n=28), without a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. Allogeneic transplantation was not a favorable prognostic factor in patients with ATL in propensity score-adjusted analysis (P=.86, log-rank test). More clinical studies are needed to improve the clinical outcomes of patients with ATL in nonendemic areas.