Area Of Prefecture Research Articles

Recent changes in the trends of seasonal influenza outbreaks in the Nagano Prefectural area of Japan: an oseltamivir effect?

We carried out a study to assess the pharmacological role of oseltamivir in the regulation of influenza epidemics in Japan, examining data for the years 1998 to 2006 from Nagano Prefecture. Oseltamivir is effective for the treatment of influenza, and its use in Japan has increased in the 3 years from 2003 to 2006. We found that, in the Nagano Prefectural area, the peak in the number of influenza infections showed a deviation to later periods after the 2003 season. and after 2003, it also took a longer time to reach the end of the seasonal epidemics of influenza infections compared with data from 1998 to 2002. To prevent influenza outbreaks having a long duration, we believe that the period of isolation in patients receiving anti-influenza drugs has to be reconsidered.

Using GIS & Multicriteria Decision analysis in landslide susceptibility mapping - a case study in Messinia prefecture area (SW Peloponnesus, Greece)

The purpose of this study is to assess the susceptibility of landslides at the eastern part of Messinia prefecture using GIS and Multicriteria Decision Analysis. Analytic Hierarchy Process and Weighted Linear Combination method were used to create a landslide susceptibility map for the study area. The produced map provides valuable information concerning the stability conditions of the territory and may serve as the first step in a complete hazard assessment towards the mitigation of natural landslide disasters in Messinia Prefecture area. Particularly the intention is to transfer effectively information regarding slope stability to non-geologists who take decisions for future land use planning processes and major construction projects.

岡山県、中国・四国、全国の魚介類の摂食状況の比較

岡山県、中国・四国、全国の魚介類の摂食状況の比較

Epidemiology of primary focal dystonias in the western area of tottori prefecture in Japan: Comparison with prevalence evaluated in 1993

An epidemiological survey of primary focal dystonias in the western area of Tottori Prefecture in Japan was conducted in 2003, and the results were compared with those of a previous survey in 1993. The service-based prevalence of primary focal dystonia was 13.7 per 100,000 population, representing an increase from that found in the 1993 survey. In 1997, botulinum toxin type A was approved for use in Japan to treat blepharospasm, and the increased number of patients now being evaluated and diagnosed with focal dystonias at medical centers throughout Japan may be responsible for this increased prevalence. Prevalence by subtype per 100,000 population was as follows: facial dystonia, 6.5; spasmodic torticollis, 2.0; writer's cramp, 4.4; and other focal dystonias; 0.8. Facial dystonia showed the most marked increase in service-based prevalence among these subtypes.

A human resource management approach to motivation and job stress in paramedics

In this study, the questionnaire investigation related to the motivation and job stress targeting paramedics in Japan was carried out in 2003. Valid respondents were 115 paramedics from several areas of Chiba prefecture in Japan. For the analysis, the method of covariance structure analysis was adopted in order to examine the cause and effect on relationships of several complex constructs at the same time. The first model investigated the job satisfaction variables leading to stress. So, there is much room to improve the model, after increasing the subject from now on. The second model investigated the confidant variables leading to stress. As a result, time factors decrease the stress of paramedics positively and human relations at work as co-workers influence the health conditions significantly. In a few decades, several health problems have allegedly been associated with physical working conditions. A great concern has been raised in the business organization and particularly among factory workers. In the near future, much attention should be paid to the medical staff, especially to paramedics who play important roles in medical scenes.

Association Between Moringness‐Eveningness Preference and Mental/Physical Premenstrual Symptoms in Japanese Females 12 to 31 Years of Age

This study investigates the relationship between circadian typology, i.e., morningness‐eveningness (M‐E) preference, and the occurrence and severity of premenstrual mental and physical symptoms among 154 young Japanese female university students (range, 18 to 31 yrs; mean±S.D., 20.69±3.69 yrs) and 417 junior high school students (range, 12 to 15 yrs; mean±S.D., 14.29±0.67 yrs) living in an urban or suburban area of Kochi prefecture. Female university students experienced melancholy mood more frequently than did males, and the female university students who frequently became melancholy were more evening‐typed than those who did not experience melancholy. Female university students who experienced frequent fluctuations in mood and/or menstrual pain were more evening‐typed than those who were not so affected. M‐E preference of junior high school students was not correlated with stability of mood or frequency of menstrual pain. In urban areas, however junior high school students who had very stable menstrual cycles were significantly more morning‐typed than those whose menstrual cycles were not stable. In suburban areas, the bedtimes of female junior high students who had stable menstrual cycles were significantly earlier than those whose menstrual cycle duration was not stable. A physiological relationship between the circadian system, M‐E, and attributes of the menstrual cycle seems to be present in adolescent female Japanese junior high school students.

Mutagenicity of Surface Soils in Urban Areas of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, and Bangkok, Thailand

To clarify the contamination levels of surface soil with mutagens in urban areas of Aichi prefecture, Japan, and Bangkok, Thailand, 60 and 67 surface soil samples were collected in Aichi and Bangkok, respectively, and mutagenicities of the organic extracts from these soil samples were examined in the Ames assay using Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) TA98 and TA100 with and without a mammalian metabolic system (S9 mix). Most of the soil samples collected in both areas showed mutagenicity in TA98 with and without S9 mix and in TA100 with S9 mix. Thirteen (22%) soil samples collected in Aichi showed high mutagenicity (more than 1000 revertants/g of soil) in TA98 with and/or without S9 mix, and six soil samples induced more than 4000 revertants/g of soil in TA98. Mutagenic potencies of most of the soil samples from Bangkok were moderate (100‐500 revertants/g of soil) or low (less than 100 revertants/g of soil) in both strains with and without S9 mix, and only one sample induced more than 1000 revertants/g of soil in both strains. In the characterization of mutagens, organic extracts of two and one soil samples from Aichi and Bangkok, respectively, were separated on an octadecylsilyl (ODS) column for HPLC, and mutagenicities of the resulting fractions were examined using S. typhimurium YG1024 without S9 mix. For the two soil samples from Aichi, retention times of the distinct mutagenic fractions were similar at 40‐74 min, and especially high mutagenicities were detected in three fractions corresponding to dinitropyrene isomers. In contrast, distinct mutagenicities were detected at retention times of 6‐29 min for the sample from Bangkok, and marked mutagenicity was found in the fraction corresponding to another nitroarene. These results indicate that surface soils in urban areas in Aichi and Bangkok are commonly contaminated with mutagens, but major mutagenic constituents in the surface soils are different.

日光国立公園尾瀬地区における利用者数変動要因分析

This study aims to determine both the factors which account for the fluctuation in the number of visitors and the effect of decentralizing visitors in the Oze area of Nikko National Park. After clarifying the fluctuation in the number of visitors to the Oze area over the past fifteen years, the multiple regression equation was used to examine the fluctuation in the number of visitors in terms of social factors, nature factors and traffic control factors in the Oze area of Gunma prefecture over the last three years. The analysis showed that decentralizing visitors on weekdays had a clear effect on all areas of Oze, and there was an obvious dispersion of visitors away from crowded entrance spots in the area of Oze located in Fukushima prefecture. The analysis showed that decentralizing visitors on weekdays had a clear effect on all areas of Oze, and there was an obvious dispersion of visitors away from crowded entrance spots in the area of Oze located in Fukushima prefecture. The flowering period of the giant skunk cabbage seems an increase in the number of visitors to Hatomachitohge, as do weekend for Ohshimizu. The analysis further showed that controlling the number of private cars and sightseeing buses had some effect on the decentralization of visitors in areas of Gunma prefecture.

県境地域における地域連携計画の分析

This study is the analysis for the characteristics of regional linking plans which are around prefecture borders. The analysis is based on questionnaires and a case study for 9 regional plans created by organizations which are linked around the prefecture borders. The followings are the findings of the study. 1) Conceptual Plan for General field (CPG), Conceptual Plan for Specific field (CPS) and Action Plan for Regionally linked organization (APR) are demanded by the local governments office which are in the prefecture boarder regions. 2) CPG is influenced by the national government plan. The vitalization of industry and information/communication are the main fields of CPG Each projects of CPG tend to concentrate into the prefecture border region. 3) CPS is based on the ideas from the prefecture border area. The promotion of tourism and related business is the main purpose of CPS. Each projects of CPS tend to concentrate into individual prefecture. 4) APR planed for the projects which the prefecture border linked organizations are able to carry out. Each projects of APR tend to concentrate in inner/outer-area of the prefecture border region.

A Proposal to Improve the Patient Survey Focusing on the Recent Trend of Increase in the Missing Data

The Patient Survey is a designated statistical survey conducted every three years with the objective of obtaining basic data on the current status of patients in medical institutions in Japan. One of the most important items in the report of this survey is the estimated number of patients with various diseases in each prefecture or secondary medical area. This paper shows that the amount of missing data has increased recently and has reduced the precision in the estimation of patient numbers. We propose to adopt variable weighting for ratio estimation dependent on the differences in the institutional sampling rate instead of the currently used constant weighting, as the proposed method can be adapted to take account of the increases in missing data. The proposed method can improve the precision in the estimation of patient numbers in most diseases, based on quantitative assessment conducted using the actual data from the 1996 and the 1999 Patient Survey.

Characteristics of Reference Services in Leading Public Libraries : Based on Comparison of Shiga Prefecture and Tama Area in Tokyo

Characteristics of Reference Services in Leading Public Libraries : Based on Comparison of Shiga Prefecture and Tama Area in Tokyo

女子学生の初夏・初冬の飲み物の飲用実態と意識

In July and November in 2000 and 2001, situation of taking soft drinks by female studentsliving in Shiga prefecture, Hanshin area, Kagoshima prefecture and Shizuokaprefecture was investigated depending on drinking opportunities, areas and seasons. Also, preferred soft drinks and situation and consciousness of taking soft drinks in relaxationtime and treatment for visitors were investigated.Then differences in the obtaineddata among areas and seasons were discussed.As a result, the following facts are clarified.1. The situation of taking soft drinks largely differed between early summer and earlywinter.This is because, in early winter, a larger number of subjects had no drink betweenmeals and green tea was taken more frequently in meals while the frequencies oftaking water, oolong tea and barley tea were lowered, compared in early summer.2. Differences in the situation of taking soft drinks among areas were observed bothin early summer and early winter. This is because the subjects in Shiga prefecture andHanshin area took barley tea more frequently but green tea less frequently than the subjectsin Kagoshima prefecture and Shizuoka prefecture. In Shizuoka prefecture, green tea was taken most frequently among the four areas investigated.3. No difference was observed in preferred soft drinks between early summer andearly winter.In Shiga prefecture, preference for green tea was comparable to preferencefor black tea.In Hanshin area, many subjects preferred black tea, while many subjectspreferred green tea in Kagoshima prefecture and Shizuoka prefecture.4. Since the images of the subjects concerning soft drinks taken at relaxation timechanged depending on seasons in Shiga prefecture and Hanshin area, a seasonal differencewas observed in the images of soft drinks taken in relaxation time. In Kagoshimaprefecture and Shizuoka prefecture, in contrast, many subjects imagined green tea bothin early summer and early winter and thus no seasonal difference was observed.5. Since the images of the subjects concerning green tea and black tea served fortreating visitors changed depending on seasons in Shiga prefecture and Hanshin area, aseasonal difference was observed in the images of soft drinks at the treatment for visitors. In Kagoshima prefecture and Shizuoka prefecture, in contrast, many subjects imaginedgreen tea as the soft drink served for treating visitors both in early summer and early winter and thus no seasonal difference was observed.

The present state and issues concerning the school lawns of public elementary and junior high schools in the northeast area of Chiba prefecture

The present state and issues concerning the school lawns of public elementary and junior high schools in the northeast area of Chiba prefecture

Relationship between soil condition and turf state in schoolyards in the northeast area of Chiba prefecture

Relationship between soil condition and turf state in schoolyards in the northeast area of Chiba prefecture

Measurements of Radon Concentration in Water of Campus, Dormitory and Student Home in South Area of Gifu Prefecture and Northwest Area of Aichi Prefecture

Measurements of Radon Concentration in Water of Campus, Dormitory and Student Home in South Area of Gifu Prefecture and Northwest Area of Aichi Prefecture

The 2000 Western Tottori Earthquake—Seismic activity revealed by the regional seismic networks—

On October 6, 2000, the 2000 Western Tottori Earthquake (Mjma 7.3) occurred in the western Tottori prefecture area, southwestern Japan. It initiated at a depth of 12 km at the bottom of the seismogenic zone, which was derived from aftershock distribution. The aftershocks extend over a 35 km length in a north-northwest direction. Spatial and temporal distribution of the aftershocks exhibits local characteristics in the fault region. The northern part consists of earthquake clusters while the southern part consists of a rather simple lineament of aftershocks, and the spreading and decaying rate of the aftershocks is slower in the northern part. This contrast is possibly due to the heterogeneity of the fault system and probably affected the rupture process of the mainshock. Two swarm sequences occurred in the surrounding region after the mainshock. One initiated 48 hours after the mainshock 25 km southwest of the main aftershock distribution. The other started 20 hours after the mainshock northeast of the mainshock on the southeast flank of Daisen volcano. These activities are probably induced seismicity due to stress changes in the focal region. Pre-seismic swarm activities occurred in the focal region from 1989 and deep low-frequency earthquakes were observed since 1999. It is important to understand the relationship between these possible precursory phenomena and the occurrence of the mainshock.

岐阜県平坦地域における斑点米カメムシ類の発生種とその消長

岐阜県平坦地域における斑点米カメムシ類の発生種とその消長

A report of emergency countermove at a local health center against the “heavy rain disaster on west-southern area of Kochi prefecture

A report of emergency countermove at a local health center against the “heavy rain disaster on west-southern area of Kochi prefecture

長野県西部地域における地殻内地震の下限深度とその場の温度

長野県西部地域における地殻内地震の下限深度とその場の温度

Leaf Spot Disease of Broad Bean Caused by Alternaria tenuissima in Japan.

In April 1999, a leaf spot of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) was observed in commercial fields in Shimane prefecture of Western Japan. Lesions were concentric and brown in color. Older leaves were particularly affected. In later stages of the disease, plants defoliated as leaves blighted from margin to the center. Isolation was made from infected leaf tissue. The isolated fungus produced conidia on V8 medium (2) either in dark or under continuous irradiation of near ultraviolet radiation (NUV) from BLB fluorescent lamps. Conidial chains were unbranched or rarely formed a few lateral branches with a few conidia. The conidia of the fungus grown under continuous NUV were dark and smoothly tapered into the apical beak, and each conidium had a conspicuously thickened primary septum with a constriction of the conidial wall and often a darker median transverse septum. The conidia measured 21.2 to 45.5 μm (mean = 32.9 μm) × 7.3 to 17.7 μm (mean = 11.4 μm ) on V8 medium. Conidia produced on leaves and stem collected from field were similar in size and appearance. The fungus was identified as Alternaria tenuissima based on its cultural and morphological characteristics (2). An isolate was also sent to CABI Bioscience Identification Services (Egham, UK), which also identified the fungus as A. tenuissima. A conidial suspension (107 spores/ml) was prepared and used to inoculate detached leaves and intact plants of broad bean. Intact plants were inoculated by spaying with spore suspension and covered with polyethylene bags for maintaining high humidity. Detached leaves in moist petri dishes were inoculated with drops of spore suspension. Symptom developed on both detached and intact leaves 3 to 4 days after inoculation. Reisolating the pathogen from infected leaves completed Koch's postulates. In June 2000, the leaf spot was observed in all 15 fields surveyed in other areas of Shimane prefecture. In some fields, plants were defoliated and stems and pods were also infected. Isolates of A. tenuissima also were obtained from those fields. This pathogen has been isolated from other hosts in Japan (1). This is the first report of A. tenuissima on broad bean in Japan.