A Case Study of Risk Assessment of Ozone Impact on Forest Tree Species in Japan

Watanabe, Makoto,Yamaguchi, Masahiro,Matsumura, Hideyuki,Kohno, Yoshihisa,Koike, Takayoshi,Izuta, Takeshi Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment 2011 Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment (AJAE) Vol.5 No.4

Ozone ($O_3$) is a main component of photochemical oxidants and a phytotoxic air pollutant. Although the current levels of tropospheric $O_3$ in East Asia could adversely affect productivity of forest tree species, risk assessments of $O_3$ impact were limited. In this paper, we summarize the methodology of risk assessment of $O_3$ on forest tree species based on our two previous studies, risk assessments of $O_3$ impact on the growth of Fagus crenata by Watanabe et al. (2012) and on the annual carbon absorption of three representative conifers, Cryptomeria japonica, Pinus densiflora and Larix kaempferi by Watanabe et al. (2010). $O_3$ sensitivity of each tree species obtained from an experimental study, $O_3$ exposure and atmospheric N deposition based on field monitoring and vegetation survey were integrated by geographic information system method. Based on the results, we conclude that the area with high risk of $O_3$ impact does not necessarily correspond to the area with high $O_3$ exposure. The varieties of tree habitat, tree sensitivity to $O_3$ and annual carbon absorption among the tree species, and N deposition-induced change in the $O_3$ sensitivity of F. crenata are raised as the factors of discordance between areas with high risk and those with high $O_3$ exposure. In the last part of this paper, we discuss the present uncertainty and perspectives of risk assessment for the future studies on the impact of $O_3$ on forest tree species in East Asia.

A Case Study of Risk Assessment of Ozone Impact on Forest Tree Species in Japan

Makoto Watanabe,Masahiro Yamaguchi,Hideyuki Matsumura,Yoshihisa Kohno,Takayoshi Koike,Takeshi Izuta 한국대기환경학회 2011 Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment (AJAE) Vol.5 No.4

Ozone (O_3) is a main component of photochemical oxidants and a phytotoxic air pollutant. Although the current levels of tropospheric O_3 in East Asia could adversely affect productivity of forest tree species,risk assessments of O_3 impact were limited. In this paper, we summarize the methodology of risk assessment of O_3 on forest tree species based on our two previous studies, risk assessments of O_3 impact on the growth of Fagus crenata by Watanabe et al. (2012) and on the annual carbon absorption of three representative conifers, Cryptomeria japonica, Pinus densiflora and Larix kaempferi by Watanabe et al. (2010). O_3 sensitivity of each tree species obtained from an experimental study, O_3 exposure and atmospheric N deposition based on field monitoring and vegetation survey were integrated by geographic information system method. Based on the results, we conclude that the area with high risk of O_3 impact does not necessarily correspond to the area with high O_3 exposure. The varieties of tree habitat, tree sensitivity to O_3 and annual carbon absorption among the tree species, and N deposition-induced change in the O_3 sensitivity of F. crenata are raised as the factors of discordance between areas with high risk and those with high O_3 exposure. In the last part of this paper, we discuss the present uncertainty and perspectives of risk assessment for the future studies on the impact of O_3 on forest tree species in East Asia.

Aerosol Deposition and Behavior on Leaves in Cool-temperate Deciduous Forests. Part 1: A Preliminary Study of the Effect of Fog Deposition on Behavior of Particles Deposited on the Leaf Surfaces by Microscopic Observation and Leaf-washing Technique

Watanabe, Yoko,Yamaguchi, Takashi,Katata, Genki,Noguchi, Izumi Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment 2013 Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment (AJAE) Vol.7 No.1

To establish the method for investigating the behavior of aerosol particles deposited on the leaf surface against fog water under natural conditions, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis and wash water analysis by ion chromatography after the washing treatment were performed using leaves of white birch collected from low part of the tree crown and the top of the tree in Sapporo City, Hokkaido, northern Japan. Each of collected leaves was divided into two parts according to the treatment performed: leaf surface (adaxial side) was 1) untreated, and 2) washed with deionized water with a pipette. In untreated samples, many particles of various shapes, including soil particles and organic debris, were deposited on the surface. Particles containing S were found on the surface of samples collected from only low part of the tree crown. After the washing treatment, SEM-EDX analysis revealed that soil particles and particles containing S had been washed off with water, although some particles such as soil particles and organic debris still remained on the leaf surface. The major anion such as $SO{_4}^{2-}$ was detected in wash water of all samples, although the peak of S in X-ray spectra was not detected from samples collected at top of the tree. The combination of SEM-EDX analysis with wash water analysis indicated that $SO{_4}^{2-}$ was deposited on the leaf surface in dissolved state and/or in state of submicron particles. These results suggested that fog water could remove soil particles and particles containing S and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ from the leaf surfaces, but not all particles. There was no difference in sampling position in the tree crown. Our study suggested that combination with SEM-EDX analysis and wash water analysis would be effective for investigation of the behavior of particles on the leaf surface against fog water.

Fragment Molecular Orbital Method: Application to Protein-Ligand Binding

Watanabe, Hirofumi,Tanaka, Shigenori Korean Society for Bioinformatics 2010 Interdisciplinary Bio Central (IBC) Vol.2 No.2

Fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method provides a novel tool for ab initio calculations of large biomolecules. This method overcomes the size limitation difficulties in conventional molecular orbital methods and has several advantages compared to classical force field approaches. While there are many features in this method, we here focus on explaining the issues related to protein-ligand binding: FMO method provides useful interaction-analysis tools such as IFIE, CAFI and FILM. FMO calculations can provide not only binding energies, which are well correlated with experimental binding affinity, but also QSAR descriptors. In addition, FMO-derived charges improve the descriptions of electrostatic properties and the correlations between docking scores and experimental binding affinities. These calculations can be performed by the ABINIT-MPX program and the calculation results can be visualized by its proper BioStation Viewer. The acceleration of FMO calculations on various computer facilities is ongoing, and we are also developing methods to deal with cytochrome P450, which belongs to the family of drug metabolic enzymes.

SIGNIFICANCE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Watanabe,Yoshimasa 嶺南大學校 環境問題硏究所 1991 環境硏究 Vol.10 No.2

From the presented arguments it appears that Environmental Biotechnology can contribute significantly to the avoidance and diminishing of Environmental problems. However it has also been shown that. - Environmental Biotechnology is only one other available technologies. - Development of new technologies is lengthy ( 5-10 years ) and costly.

Dynamic Wave Response Analysis of Floating Bodies in the Time-domain

Watanabe, Eiichi,Utsunomiya, Tomoaki,Yoshizawa, Nao Computational Structural Engineering Institute of 2002 Computational structural engineering Vol.2 No.1

This paper presents a method to predict dynamic responses of floating bodies in the time domain. Because of the frequency-dependence of the radiation wave forces, the memory effect must be taken into account when the responses are evaluated in the time domain. Although the formulations firstly developed by Cummins (1962) have been well-known for this purpose, the effective numerical procedure has not been established yet. This study employs FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) algorithm to evaluate the memory effect function, and the equations of motion of an integro-differential type are solved by Newmark-β method. Numerical examples for a truncated circular cylinder have indicated the effectiveness of the proposed numerical procedure.

PILOT PLANT STUDY OF AN UPGRADED ROTATING BIOLOGICAL CONTACTOR

WATANABE,Y.,MASUDA,S.,IWASAKI,Y. 嶺南大學校 環境問題硏究所 1994 環境硏究 Vol.14 No.1

This paper deals with experimental results obtained by the pilot plant of an upgraded Rotating Biological Contactor(RBC). This is a two-story RBC which is designed to simultaneously achieve the biological oxidation and removal of detached biomass in the trough. The authors constructed a three-stage pilot plant with an octagonal stainless mesh contactor 2m across to collect the design information of an upgraded RBC. The municipal wastewater treatment was conducted to examine the RBC's performance. According to experimental results, with a contactor rotating speed of 2rpm, the effluent TOC and NH₄-N concentrations were about 10g/㎥ and 5g/㎥, respectively, at the hydraulic loading of 70L/㎡/d, corresponding to a BOD loading of about 8g/㎡/d. The electrical power consumption of the RBC was 0.005kwh/㎡/d at a contactor rotating speed of 1rpm. A jet mixed separator(JMS) was used as the physico-chemical pre-treatment unit of the RBC. With the addition of a coagulant, simultaneous flocculation and sedimentation of the suspended particles occurred in the JMS. This combined system of the JMS and RBC produced a clean effluent.

Bioavailability of Gentamicin from a New Rectal Dosage Vehicle in Rabbits

WATANABE, YOSHITERU,MATSUMOTO, YOSHIAKI,KIRIYAMA, MIYUKI,KAKUHARI, TAKESHI,MATSUMOTO, MITSUO,KU, YOUNG-SOON,OBAYASHI, MASAHIKO,ANJOU, SAEKO 梨花女子大學校 藥學硏究所 1994 藥學硏究論文集 Vol.- No.4

The bioavailability of gentamicin (GM), a model drug of aminoglycoside antibiotics, from a new rectal dosage vehicle, hollow-type suppositories containing GM and fatty acids (sodium salts) with different acyl chain lengths in their chemical structure, was investigated in rabbits. Fatty acids with chain lengths varying from 6 to 12 carbon atoms (C_6-C_12) enhanced GM absorption in the rectum. Consequently, it was observed that an optimum length of the acyl chain of between C_8 and C_10 enhanced the extent of GM absorption. The absorption-enhancing effect of valproic acid (VPA), a C_8 branched-chain molecule, was less than that of octanoic acid (OA), a C_8 straight-chain molecule. Branching of the acyl chain of the fatty acid seems to decrease the absorption-enhancing effect. This study demonstrates that the C_8- C_10 acyl group appears to play an essential role in the mechanism of GM absorption enhancement. The hollow-type suppositories containing GM and fatty acids, particularly decanoic acid (DA) and OA, are one of the most promising and practical dosage vehicles for rectal delivery of aminoglycoside antibiotics such as GM, instead of the use of injection dosage form.

FROM RIEMANNIAN GEOMETRY TO KÄHLER AND QUATERNIONIC KÄHLER STRUCTURES

WATANABE, YOSHIYUKI 경북대학교 기초과학연구소 1997 International Workshop on Differential Geometry Vol.1997 No.-

아시아의 천연가스 및 LNG시장과 일본의 역할

Watanabe H 한국에너지협의회 1995 에너지協議會報 Vol.36 No.-