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Objectives To obtain suggestions for improving disaster-prevention literacy, this study elucidated the daily information-gathering behavior of residents living in areas affected by two Japanese natural disasters (the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 and the Kanto-Tohoku Heavy Rainfall Disaster in September 2015) and examined factors affecting life backgrounds and disaster experiences.Methods In June 2017, we administered a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire to 1,065 households in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Kanto-Tohoku Heavy Rainfall. One person in each household responded to the questionnaire. Of 362 respondents (response rate 34.0%), 336 with definite attributes were analyzed. After ascertaining their daily information-gathering behavior, we applied binary logistic regression analysis, incorporating-as dependent variables-three variables previously used in times of disaster.Results Of the respondents, 179 were men (53.3%); the average age (standard deviation) was 65.5 (10.6) years. Information-gathering modes used by more than half the subjects were "television," "newspaper," "conversation/word of mouth," "radio," and "community magazine" in descending order of use. Examination of the factors of the three variables revealed the following. (1) Four variables were significantly and positively correlated with "conversation/word of mouth": "woman" (1.82 odds ratio [OR]; 1.05-3.15 95% confidence interval [CI]); "I have" a co-resident family member (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.06-5.72); "I can expect" mutual aid from community residents (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.27-4.21); and "I feel more" fear of typhoons and heavy rains now than before (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.04-3.18). (2) "Radio" has two variables with significant and positive correlations: "I have" a co-resident family member (OR, 3.22; 95% CI, 1.35-7.67) and "I was affected" by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Kanto-Tohoku Heavy Rainfall Disaster (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.01.2.97). (3) Two variables are significantly correlated with "Internet service": "Age" has a negative correlation (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.88-0.94); "I can expect" mutual aid from community residents has a positive correlation (OR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.19-5.93).Conclusion Damage and fear instilled by natural disasters influence subsequent information-gathering behavior. Disaster prevention literacy in ordinary times can be improved because of the correlation between awareness of mutual aid in local communities and information-gathering behavior.

Background: The objectives of this study were to assess the quality of life (QOL), nutritional and health status, physical fitness and daily physical activity level (PAL) of elderly residents living on a remote island in Japan and to reveal factors associated with QOL scores and PAL. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that targeted elderly residents dwelling on an island whose population is aging and rapidly decreasing. Fifty-two subjects (20 men and 32 women; mean age, 74 years) were evaluated for anthropometry (nutritional status), blood pressure (health status) and handgrip strength (physical fitness). QOL was investigated using the World Health Organization-QOL questionnaire. In addition, 24-h acceleration monitoring was conducted in eight subjects on 3 consecutive days to determine PAL. Results: Women tended to be obese compared with men (BMI, 25.6 vs 23.6 kg/m2, P

Residential power-frequency magnetic fields (MFs) were labeled as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer panel. In response to great public concern, the World Health Organization urged that further epidemiologic studies be conducted in high-exposure areas such as Japan. We conducted a population-based case-control study, which covered areas inhabited by 54% of Japanese children. We analyzed 312 case children (0-15 years old) newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) in 1999-2001 (2.3 years) and 603 controls matched for gender, age and residential area. Weekly mean MF level was determined for the child's bedroom. MF measurements in each set of a case and controls were carried out as closely in time as possible to control for seasonal variation. We evaluated the association using conditional logistic regression models. The odds ratios for children whose bedrooms had MF levels of 0.4 microT or higher compared with the reference category (MF levels below 0.1 microT) was 2.6 (95% CI=0.76-8.6) for AML+ALL and 4.7 (1.15-19.0) for ALL only. Controlling for some possible confounding factors did not alter the results appreciably. Even an analysis in which selection bias was maximized did not fully explain the association. Most of the leukemia cases in the highest exposure category had MF levels far above 0.4 microT. Our results provided additional evidence that high MF exposure was associated with a higher risk of childhood leukemia, particularly of ALL.

It has been pointed out that desired family size and contraceptive prevalence are most important in considering proximate determinants of fertility. The former was much reported from many surveys, but the later was little reported. This study attempted to estimate the parameter in relation to contraceptive prevalence in Bangladesh, using the simulation model developed in the previous study. The parameters in the model were estimated from abridged life table and DHS (Demographic and Health Survey) in 1993. The parameter settings estimated form the empiricaldata were divided into two groups by the area of residence, i.e. rural and urban. Results showed that the simulation model developed in the previous study closely matched observed data in Bangladesh in rural and urban area. From the results of comparing the simulation-generated data with empirical data, it was shown that the model could estimate the unknown rate of contraception practice when married couple reached the desired family size.

We conducted a survey on bone mineral density of adult males living in Japan, for the purpose of clarifying the differences in factors that affect bone mineral density among different age groups and contribute to prevention of osteoporosis. Bone mineral densities of 916 men aged 20 to 69 were measured by dual energy Xray absorptiometry and their lifestyle was examined. The relationship of bone mineral density with BMI (body mass index) and lifestyle factors was examined by applying to the mean value for each item by the unpaired t-test or oneway ANOVA. Multiple regression analysis, in which the bone mineral density was treated as the dependent variable and BMI and lifestyle factors as the independent variables, was applied to evaluate the effects of them. In the age group of 20-29 years old, BMI (p

In planning a distribution system for an urban area, when a feeder is newly installed, the route of the feeder must be determined among many candidates, considering investment cost and constraints. However, it is difficult for planners to find the optimal route of the newly installed feeder, because too many candidate routes exist which can be constructed along roads in the service area of the power company, and it must be considered whether the end part of an existing feeder can be used as a part of a newly installed feeder within specified loaded value. In this paper, in order to support planners' decision making in selecting an optimal route for newly installed feeders, the authors have formulated the problem mathematically, and propose a new solution algorithm to find the optimal route by the Dijkstra method. Through numerical examples, the authors demonstrate the validity of the proposed method. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 129(3): 40–50, 1999

Background. Anterior transabdominal exploration has traditionally been advocated as the standard procedure for pheochromocytoma. However, some authors claim that a flank extraperitoneal approach with accurate unilateral localization is justifiable. Methods. Retrospective analysis was performed on 87 patients with pheochromocytoma to determine the appropriateness of extraperitoneal exploration. Results. There were 45 men and 42 women with a mean age of 44.7 years (range, 16 to 83 years). Fifteen patients (17.5%) had pheochromocytoma as a part of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A, and four had familial pheochromocytoma, von Hippel-Lindau disease, or von Recklinghausen's disease. All tumors detected by preoperative localization studies were correctly identified and were resected through flank extraperitoneal (45 patients), transabdominal (28), thoracoabdominal (13), and posterior (1) approaches. Tumors were extraadrenal in 14, multiple in 22, bilateral in 12, and unequivocally malignant in 2 patients at the initial operation. Two patients died during the immediate postoperative period, giving an operative mortality of 2.3%. Two patients had persistent disease. During follow-up within a mean period of 5 years (range, 1 months to 13,7 years) 8 patients (9.1%) experienced recurrence or metastasis. Other than the patients with MEN 2, recurrence was not attributable to the operative approach. Conclusions. If a preoperative localization study is accurate, an extraperitoneal approach is justifiable for many patients with pheochromocytomas.

The colon is the very rare site of metastasis of breast cancer. We emphasize that the intestine should be considered as a possible metastatic lesion of the advanced breast cancer from our experience. A 56-year-old women underwent a standard radical mastectomy for a right breast tumor on July 1990. Pathological diagnosis was infiltrating ductal breast cancer: T1n1 b m0-stage II. The patient was treated with 51 Gy local radiotherapy and chemoendocrinotherapy after surgery as an outpatient. Around February 1991, a tumor marker started to increase. Careful examination could not detect any evidence of recurrence of the breast cancer. However, multiple enlargment of para-aortic lymphnodes was found by CT, and a colon cancer was suspected by barium enema in January 1992. Right hemicolectomy was performed. Histologically, it was found that the breast cancer metastasized to the ascending colon.

Background: The strength of the association between brain tumors in children and residential power-frequency magnetic fields (MF) has varied in previous studies, which may be due in part to possible misclassification of MF exposure. This study aimed to examine this association in Japan by improving measurement techniques, and by extending measurement to a whole week.Methods: This population-based case-control study encompassed 54% of Japanese children under 15 years of age. After excluding ineligible targeted children, 55 newly diagnosed brain tumor cases and 99 sex-, age-, and residential area-matched controls were included in the analyses. The MF exposures of each set of matching cases and controls were measured in close temporal proximity to control for seasonal variation; the average difference was 12.4 days. The mean interval between diagnosis and MF measurements was 1.1 years. The weekly mean MF level was defined as the exposure. The association was evaluated using conditional logistic regression analysis that controlled for possible confounding factors.Results: The odds ratios (95% CI) for exposure categories of 0.1 to 0.2, 0.2 to 0.4, and above 0.4 µT, against a reference category of

The paper describes potential of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Malaysia focussing in particular the use of Advanced Sodium Sulfur (NAS) Battery. NAS-BESS is considered because of its special characteristics and capability that enables hybrid use of load levelling and power quality improvement. Various applications of BESS will be described together with case studies of potential benefits to utility and customers in Malaysia. Even though the use of energy storage system is not yet critical in Malaysia, this paper will attempt to present analysis and potential benefits of BESS applications for TNB and its large power users.

少子高齢化が急速に進むわが国において、高齢者福祉は緊急課題である。2006年に見直しが行われた介護保険制度は利用者主体のサービスであるにもかかわらず、対象者である高齢者の認識は高いとはいえない。本研究は高齢者が主体となる介護保険について、高齢者自身がその制度を認識しているかどうかを明らかにし、その要因を探索することを目的とした。宮城県内の離島に住む高齢者90名を対象に健康教室を含む調査を実施し、有効回答者46名に対して身体計測、および質問紙による面接調査を実施した。その結果、(1)介護保険制度の認識について、半数以上が「制度をよく知らない」と回答した。知っている内容は「介護保険料」が最も多かった。(2)介護保険制度認識状況とそれに関わる要因では、「生活の変化」と、「外出頻度」が強く影響を与えることがわかった。高齢者の生活に変化が見られるかどうか,そして外出を含めた行動を保健師が観察し、それをふまえた関わりを持つことで、介護保険に関する情報が必要かどうかを判断する一つの材料となる事が示唆された。, Welfare for the elderly is an urgent issue as the decline in birthrate and the aging of the population in Japan continue steadily. The long-term care insurance system is not understood well by elderly people who live on remote islands. In our research, we studied 90 elderly inhabitants of remote islands in Miyagi Prefecture through health consultations and other methods. We measured the physical characteristics of the 46 people who had provided a valid response. We also had them complete a questionnaire and interviewed them for information on their awareness of the long-term care insurance system. Some of our findings are as follows. (1) More than a half of our subjects answered "they did not know the system well." The item which was most heard about was the 'insurance premiums'. (2) Of the factors which affect the level of awareness of the insurance system, a 'change in life' and the 'frequency with which they go out' ranked highest. These findings suggest that the awareness level could be raised if the public health nurses know how their elderly patients perceive their own life and what kind of life they live.