San-in Region Research Articles

Retrospective Analysis of Neonatal Surgery at Tottori University over the Past Ten Years.

In recent years, the number of neonatal surgeries has been on the rise despite the decline in the number of births, and we examined the actual trends and problems at Tottori University Hospital located in the Sanin region. Medical records were retrospectively searched for patients who underwent major surgery during the neonatal period (within 30 days of age) at the Tottori University Hospital over the past 10 years (Jan. 2011 to Dec. 2020). Sixty-five cases were included. Early birth infants (< 37 gestational weeks) comprised 15 cases (23%) and low birth weight (< 2500 g) infants involved 27 cases (42%). In the latter half (2016-2020), early birth and low birth weight infants were significantly less than in the first half (2011-2015). The common diseases were anorectal malformation (14 cases), esophageal atresia (10), duodenal atresia (10), and diaphragmatic hernia (9). Prenatal diagnosis was obtained in 26 cases (40%), with high diagnostic rate obtained in duodenal atresia (100%), abdominal wall defect (100%), ileal atresia (75%), meconium peritonitis (67%), and diaphragmatic hernia (67%). Fifty-five cases (85%) were operated on within 7 days of age. Other major malformations were associated in 23 cases (35%). There were 6 deaths (9%), of which 3 cases were low birth weight infants with gastrointestinal perforation, 2 cases with severe chromosomal abnormalities (esophageal atresia, omphalocele), and 1 case with diaphragmatic hernia with severe pulmonary hypertension. Home medical care has been required with gastrostomy tube in 2 cases. Neonatal surgery at Tottori University has been well performed as required with acceptable results along with the progression of other perinatal care. However, further investigation for improvements in premature delivery or organ hypoplasia may be required.

Text-Mining Analysis of Qualitative Characteristics of the Substantial Community-Based Master Plan in an Unfavorable Area in Japan: A Case of the Sanin Region

This study examines the qualitative characteristics of the substantial community-based master plan using a text-mining analysis based on free descriptions of master plans in the Sanin region of the Chugoku area in Japan. We obtained the following results: First, community activities play an essential role in formulating a community-based master plan. Second, the relevance of frequent words varies with the scale of farmland preservation in a district. In areas with unfavorable farming conditions, the measures differ in each district because of the different farmland conditions, farm types, and conditions for accepting new farmers. In addition, local resources, farmland liquidation, and agricultural infrastructure significantly influence paddy field agriculture in hilly and mountainous areas. Rural revitalization measures in each region should consider the characteristics of the region so that the implementation of policy responses is based on residents’ awareness.

A Study of Chikaraishi in Sanyo and Sanin region (2)

A Study of Chikaraishi in Sanyo and Sanin region (2)

A Survey of Epilepsy-related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Home Healthcare Nurses in the San-in Region of Japan

Comprehensive care is necessary for people with epilepsy (PWE) to lead a fulfilling life at home and in the community. The purpose of this study was to determine the epilepsy-related knowledge, attitudes and practices of home healthcare nurses (HHNs) in the San-in region of Japan. A questionnaire survey was conducted by mail of 546 HHNs working in Tottori and Shimane Prefectures. The questionnaire assessed the epilepsy-related knowledge, attitudes and practices of HHNs. For the analysis, simple and cross tabulation of questionnaire responses were conducted, and the chi-squared test was used for statistical testing. A total of 285 HHNs participated in the study. Of the respondents, 43.9% had experience taking care of PWE in a home healthcare nursing setting. Regarding the cause of epilepsy, in descending order the percentage of correct responses were 86.7% for stroke, 85.3% for head injury, and only 13.3% for dementia. Concerning how to respond to an epileptic seizure, almost all respondents answered correctly, but 29.8% gave the incorrect answer of "place something inside the mouth." Regarding the practices of HHNs in relation to caring for PWE, nurses scored 52.0% for collaborating with the attending physician, indicating the need for improvement. The score for "provide information about social resources" was low at 18.4%. Of the respondents, 95.8% answered that epilepsy-related knowledge and technical skills were necessary for home healthcare nursing practice, and 87.7% were interested in participating in a workshop on epilepsy. The study revealed an inadequate level of knowledge of epilepsy with dementia and corresponding epileptic seizures, a low awareness of nursing care in collaboration with physicians, and the importance of providing information about social resources. There is a need to offer information and education on the latest knowledge about epilepsy to HHNs.

Estimation of adhered salinity ratio on the steel surface based on measuring atmospheric salinity concentration in San-in region

Estimation of adhered salinity ratio on the steel surface based on measuring atmospheric salinity concentration in San-in region

A Study on the Factors of Uneasiness-feelings of Sanin Region and Adjacent Rural Areas in Japan

A Study on the Factors of Uneasiness-feelings of Sanin Region and Adjacent Rural Areas in Japan

Environmental designs with adaptation to climate in the San-in region

Environmental designs with adaptation to climate in the San-in region

Surveillance of Avian Paramyxovirus in Migratory Waterfowls in the San-in Region of Western Japan from 2006 to 2012

ABSTRACTRelatively little is known about the distribution of avian paramyxoviruses (APMVs) among wild birds in Japan. Surveillance of APMV in migratory waterfowl was conducted in the San-in region of western Japan during winters of 2006 to 2012. A total of 16 avian paramyxoviruses consisting of 3 lentogenic Newcastle disease viruses (NDVs), 12 APMV-4 and 1 APMV-8 were isolated from 1,967 wild-bird fecal samples. The results show that NDV and APMV-4 are relatively widely distributed among wild waterfowl that migrate to Japan from northern regions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that there was no genetic relationship between the isolates from wild birds and domestic poultry in Japan. However, surveillance of APMVs in wild waterfowl needs to be conducted due to the pathogenic potential of these isolates in domestic poultry.

鳥取県西部地震(2000年10月)と山陰地方の地震活動-その特異性の検討

鳥取県西部地震(2000年10月)と山陰地方の地震活動-その特異性の検討

Investigation of information sharing by Twitter users during the 2011 heavy snow disaster in San-in region of western Japan

Investigation of information sharing by Twitter users during the 2011 heavy snow disaster in San-in region of western Japan

Surveying awareness of hand hygiene guidelines in the Sanin region of Japan

Given the history of the 2002 CDC guidelines usage in Japan, we surveyed the awareness and adoption of WHO Guideline on Hand Hygiene in Health Care published in 2009, particularly the Five Moments of Hand Hygiene tool by healthcare workers (HCWs) in Japan.

An Evaluation of Grasslands for Conserving Endangered Plant Species in the San-in Region, Western Japan

An Evaluation of Grasslands for Conserving Endangered Plant Species in the San-in Region, Western Japan

等質条件を付与した農業地域区分法の開発 階層的クラスター分析法の応用

Ordinarily, when we divide a whole region into some homogeneous subregions, hierarchical cluster analysis is often used. But, applying the ordinary cluster analysis, such a division that unit districts belonging to a cluster form a subregion which is composed of only unit districts satisfying conditions necessary to characterize it about homogeneity among the unit districts set on the basis of the object of the division, cannot be realized. According to the object, there are also the divisions which have to satisfy such conditions about the homogeneity in a subregion. Then, in this paper, the author tried to devise a modified cluster analysis method which is able to realize such a division, and applied the method to the division of the 98 municipalities in San-in region from the standpoint of agricultural homogeneity.In order to realize such a division, it become necessary to judge whether any two clusters satisfy the conditions or not in case that the two clusters are fused. If the two clusters don't satisfy the conditions, they cannot be fused. In this paper, applying such a criterion, the fusion was accomplished. Only the pairs of two clusters whose unit districts satisfy the conditions in case that the two clusters are fused become subjects of the fusion at each fusing stage of the clusters. Other fusing ways are the same with those of the ordinary cluster analysis method. Applying the method, the author divided the above 98 municipalities into 18 subregions (clusters) which satisfy the conditions set in the division.The author also presented such a method that not only the conditions about the homogeneity but also the condition about contiguity mentioned in the previous paper can be satisfied in a division. The author divided the 98 municipalities into 25 subregions (clusters) which satisfy both kinds of the conditions, applying the method. The methods, which were devised in this paper, are important and effective if such conditions are necessary. But, the establishment of the conditions means that strict conditions are imposed on the fusing process. Then, we have to be careful that many subregions are necessary if we need many conditions among unit districts belonging to the same subregions.

クラスター分析を応用した隣接型地域区分法の開発 等質的農業地域区分への適用

Ordinarily, when we divide a whole region into some homegenious subregions, cluster analysis is often used. But, by the application of the ordinary cluster analysis, such a division that unit districts belonging to a cluster form a subregion which is composed of only one locational block cannot be realized. According to the object of the division, there are divisions which have to satisfy such a condition. Then, in this paper, the author tried to devise such a dividing method that satisfies the condition by the application of the cluster analysis, and applied the method to the division of the all 98 municipalities in San-in region from a standpoint of agricultural homegeneity.In order to satisfy the condition, it become necessary to judge whether any two clusters are neighboring to each other or not. Then, in this paper, the judegement was accomplished based on whether any two unit districts which belong to different clusters to each other are neighboring or not. Only the pairs of two clusters whose unit districts satisfy this criterion become subjects of the fusion at each fusing stage of the clusters. Other fusing processes are the same with those of the ordinary cluster analysis. By the application of the method, the author divided the above 98 municipalities into 15 groups (clusters) which satisfy the condition.The author also presented the method in the case that there are differences in the degree of the contiguities between any two unit districts. In this case, two ranks of the degree were set up.The method which is devised in this paper is important and effective if unit districts belonging to a cluster have to form a subregion which is composed of only one locational block. Moreover, the method has a capability that we can add other various conditions for the fusion. But, the establishment of the conditions means that strict conditions are imposed on the fusing process. Then, we have to be careful that more subregions are necessary if we need similarity among unit districts belonging to a subregion as much as that in the case of the ordinary cluster analysis.

Decrease of Leaf Water Potential and Leaf Injury of Tea Plant(Thea sinensis L.) Subject to Cold Winter Wind in Sanin Region of Japan. II. Increase of water flow resistance inside the plant contributes to decrease of leaf water potential.

前報において, 地表にわずかな積雪があり, 気温0～-4.4℃, 風速4～7ms-1のもとで葉身に葉枯れ, 落葉が生じ, この時夜間の葉身水ポテンシャル (ΨL) が-1.2MPaに, 翌日の昼間ではさらに最低-2.3MPaまで低下したことを報告した. そこで本報告は, 人工的に1年生苗の茶樹に低気・地温, 強風条件を与え, ΨLの低下と寒風による被害発生との関係, 及びΨLの低下の原因を明らかにしようとした. その結果, 低気・地温, 強風の組み合わせに暗黒後照明条件のもとでΨLは-0.7～-1.8MPaに低下し, 照明条件下で圃場と類似した枯死被害が生じた. また, 低温照明条件下では蒸散速度の増大に伴うΨLの低下が大きいことから, このΨLの著しい低下は低温による植物体内の水の通導抵抗 (R) の増大にもとずくものと考えられた. そこでさらに葉身, 茎, 根各部分への加圧と出液速度との関係を求めて各器官のRを推定したところ, 葉身と根のRは0℃では10℃に比較し約1.6倍, 20℃に比較して約3.2倍大きくなった. 以上から, 山陰地域における茶樹の寒風による被害は低気・地温によって特に葉身と根のRが著しく増大している時に, 強風, 及び翌日の日射により蒸散が促進されて, その結果, 葉身ΨLの著しい低下, 葉身組織の脱水が生じて引き起こされるものと推定された.

Decrease of Leaf Water Potential and Leaf Injury of Tea Plant(Thea sinensis L.) Subject to Cold Winter Wind in Sanin Region of Japan. I. Response of leaf water potential and leaf injury under field conditions.

Tea leaf sometimes receives serious damage as leaf blight or defoliation by winter cold wind in Sanin region of Japan. When wind of 4-7ms-1 blew, air temperature decreased to 0∼-4.4°C and a little snow remained on the ground, leaf water potential (ΨL) of tea plant (cv. Yabukita) was lowered to -1.2MPa in mid night and decreased to -2.3MPa in daytime of the next day. Leaf blight appeared one or two days after the condition. This temperature is a little higher than that causing freeze damage of tea leaves. However, when wind speed was lower that, air temperature was near 3-5°C and there was no snow, ΨL decreased only to -1.0MPa and leaf injury was not observed. ΨL did not decrease under -1.1MPa even in a hot summer day. We observed relationships between pressure rate and leaf injury of tea leaves pressurized with a pressure chamber in order to make analogous comparisons with decreases of ΨL by the cold winter wind. Leaf death started from pressurized rate 1.0MPa and 1.8MPa in winter and summer tea leaves, respectively, and the death was urged by more increase of pressurization rate. We suggested that the cold wind injury is caused by water deficiency of tea leaf as indicated by decrease of ΨL under the strong cold wind and low temperature condition, and, in particular, winter tea leaves more easily receive damage because winter leaves are sensitive to decrease of ΨL more than other seasons leaves.

The Locational Patterns of Branch Offices of Multi-Locational Enterprises in the San-in Region, Western Japan

In Japan, the agglomeration of branch offices of large enterprises has been recognized as one of the most important elements for the growh of main provincial cities since the mid 1960s. Urban geographers have early studied it especially in the relation to the hierarchy of cities under the post-industrialization. However, the theoretical explanation for the locations of branch offices have been little presented. So, the author tried to make an explanation for the locations of branch offices from the point of view of the economic location theory and presented the following four principles ruling the locations of branch offices. 1) Territoriality of branch office, 2) the threshold of demand for locating a branch office, 3) the minimization of travelling cost for marketing activities and 4) the orientation to the site with the largest agglomeration of demand. Furthermore, the author presented the following hypothesis. The optimal locations of branch offcies change when their territories are differently established. Many enterprises, however, establish territories of their branch offices on the administrative regionalization. As a result of this, the common territories of branch offices among many enterprises become to emerge. In this way, many branch offices of enterprises become to concentrate in particular cities.This paper is to examine the locational patterns of branch offices in the San-in region in order to confirm the above hypothesis. As the result of examination, the following findings were obtained.1) In this study, the San-in region was conveniently defined to the area of two prefectures, Shimane and Tottori. In this region there are three main cities with the similar size in population and retailing sales: Matsue, Tottori and Yonago. For instance, the populations of the three cities in 1985 are 140, 005 in Matsue, 137, 060 in Tottori and 131, 792 in Yonago, respectively. Other cities in this region are smaller ones with fifty thousand people and/or less, excluding Izumo with eighty thousand people. Matsue and Tottori are the prefectural capitals. Yonago, belonging to the Tottori prefecture, is the nodal point in traffic networks in this region. Most of branch offices established in the region by nationwide enterprises are located in some ones of the three cities. However, there are a large difference in the number of branch offices between Matsue, Tottori and Yonago; Matsue has the largest number of branch offices among the three cities.2) A large number of branch offices of nationwide enterprises in the San-in region have territories covering the San-in region or one prefecture. Most of branch offices with territory covering the whole region are located in Matsue or Yonago, owing to the principle of minimization of travelling cost. That is, the two cities are situated in the central area of San-in region. On the contrary, Tottori is situated in the east end of the region, so that such branch offices are not located in the city. As a result of this, the number of branch offices in Tottori are smaller, compared with that in Matsue although each of the two cities is a prefectural capital.3) On the other hand, branch offices with the territory covering a prefectural area tend to be located in Matsue in the Shimane prefecture and Tottori in the Tottori one. So, Yonago has a smaller number of this type of branch offices. Yonago is competetive with Tottori city for locations of the above branch offices in Tottori prefecture. Yonago and Tottori are situated at the west and east end of Tottori prefecture, respectively. However, in the travelling cost for selling within the territory, Yoango is second to Tottori. In this way, the total number of branch offices in Yonago is smaller than that in Matsue, although Yonago has a lot of branch offices with the territory covering the San-in region as well as Matsue.

ストロンチウム同位体比からみた日本列島弧の火山岩類の成因

The aspects of the development of isotopic methods that are pertinent to the origin of volcanic rocks are introduced. This paper deals with studies on strontium isotopes and related elements which have provide their usefulness in the field of isotope geology.In the Northeast Japan arc, a number of Quaternary volcanoes form a long, narrow belt, parallel to the Japan Trench. Decreasing 87Sr/86Sr ratios across the arc were confirmed over a wide area of Northeast Japan. In the southwest Japan, the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of Cenozoic basaltic rocks are clearly different between the San-in and the northwest Kyushu regions. The higher 87Sr/86Sr ratios of basalts from the San-in region than that of basalts from the northwest Kyushu region also reflect the different properties of the upper mantle, which means there is regional heterogeneity of Sr isotopic ratios under the southwest Japan arcs. Furthermore, the relatively high and variable 87Sr/86 ratios of volcanic rocks are partticularly concentrated in the southwestern Japan arcs which have probably more continental properties than the northeastern Japan arcs.Arc volcanism is characterized by prevalence of calc-alkaline rock suites as well as island-arc tholeiites. Various models have been proposed to interpret its genesis of the calcalkaline rocks. 87Sr/86Sr ratios vary remarkably within individual rock sultes as well as volcano and volcano. In some volcanic suites, the date points in 87Sr/86Sr ratios vs. SO2, SI and Rb/Sr plot accord with a model to produce more silisic differentiates by combined processes of crystal fractionation and wall rock assimilation in Mount St. Helens volcano. Adatara and Kirishima volcanoes in the Japanese island arcs, both the tholeiite series (pigeonitic rock series, P-series) and the calc-alkaline rock series (hypersthenic rock series, H-series) have been shown to have erupted from one volcano and difference in 87Sr/86Sr ratios shows that the H-series has lower 87Sr/86Sr rotios than the P-series, and also that each series had a separate crystal fractionation process. The results reveal that the nature of the primitive magmas of the H-series and the P-series seems to generate from individual source materials.Many Tertiary volcanic rocks from the northeastern Japan were determined for strontium isotopic ratios for the purpose of examining the genesis among the volcanic rocks. Two distinct suites of volcanic rocks occur in the northeastern Japan : the rocks older than 16 Ma of predominantly intermediate composition volcanics and the rocks younger than 16 Ma with bimodal suite of mafic and felsic rocks. Initial values of 87Sr/86Sr in the Tertiary volcanic rocks from the northeastern Japan, lie in the range from 0.7033 to 0.7068. High (87Sr/86Sr) I ratios are observed for the rocks older than 16 Ma from the Japan Sea side (H zone). It is noteworthly lower (87Sr/86Sr) I ratios in the Dewa Hill, Japan Sea coast and North Akita areas (L zone). The rocks younger than 16 Ma from the L zone can also be interpreted as having been originated as a mantle-diapir associated with the spreading of the Japan Sea basin.

隠岐島後火山岩類のストロンチウム同位体比

The isotopic composition of strontium and the abundances of rubidium and strontium in volcanic rocks from Dogo of the Oki Islands and Takashima in the northwest Kyushu, West Japan, and Ulrungdo of Korea, have been determined. The rubidium and strontium contents for alkaline basalts range from 27.6 to 51.2 ppm and 444 to 723 ppm, and 148 to 208 ppm and 3.7 to 205 ppm for intermediate to felsic suites, respectively. The alkaline basalts are divided into two groups with 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the restricted ranges of 0.70481-0.70496 and 0.70540-0.70575, respectively. However, the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of intermediate to felsic rocks of Dogo are relatively high and variable ranging from 0.70706 to 0.71019, which probably reflect the contamination and/or produced by body or partial melting of the basement rocks in this area without crustal assimilation of basaltic magma. In addition, the lead isotopic results indicate that the melting of Precambrian basement rocks possibly yields less radiogenic lead. In the southwest Japan, the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of Cenozoic basaltic rocks are clearly different between the San-in and the northwest Kyushu regions, which includes Jeju island, The higher 87Sr/86Sr ratios of basalts from the San-in region than that of basalts from the northwest Kyushu region also reflect the different properties of the upper mantle, which means there is regional heterogeneity of Sr isotopic ratios under the southwest Japan arcs. Furthermore, the relatively high and variable 87Sr/86Sr ratios of volcanic rocks are particularly concentrated in the southwestern Japan arcs which has probably more continental properties than the northeastern Japan arcs.

Strontium Isotopic Ratios of the Volcanic Rocks in the Western Part of the San-in Region and the Surrounding Area, Southwest Japan

Strontium Isotopic Ratios of the Volcanic Rocks in the Western Part of the San-in Region and the Surrounding Area, Southwest Japan