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.

Dissipation-induced squeezing

Watanabe, Gentaro,Mä,kelä,, Harri American Physical Society 2012 Physical review. A. Atomic, molecular, and optical Vol.85 No.2

Design and Applications of Buckling-Restrained Braces

Watanabe, Atsushi Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat Korea 2018 International journal of high-rise buildings Vol.7 No.3

Buckling-Restrained Braces (BRBs) have been widely applied to tall buildings in seismic areas in the world. In this paper the author summarizes representative types of BRB compositions and shows two cases of special applications of BRBs. In the first case, BRB diagonals for tall building were used to provide stable cyclic nonlinear hysteresis and also used to limit forces generated at columns, connections and walls. The top outriggers are pre-loaded by jacks to resolve long-term differential shortenings between the concrete core wall and concrete-filled steel box columns. The second case is the retrofit work for a communication tower by replacing the insufficiently strong members with BRBs in Japan.

Anti-dementia Effects of Gouteng-san and Si-Wu-Tang

Watanabe, Hiroshi The Korean Society of Toxicology Korea Environment 2001 Toxicological Research Vol.17 No.-

Recently, a traditional medicine called Gouteng-san, which consists of eleven herbs, was reported to be effective in treating vascular dementia with a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Gout-eng-san is also used for patients with vascular dementia in combination with Si-Wu-Tang. The effect of Gouteng-san and Si-Wu-Tang on deficit of learning behavior was investigated using step-down passive avoidance task in mice. Hot-water extract of Gouteng-san (1.5 and 6 g/kg, p.o.) significantly prolonged the step-down latency shortened by scopolamine. The extract of Uncaria hook (150 mg/kg, p.o.), one of the component herb of Gouteng-san, significantly prevented the decrease in the latency after scopolamine. Hot-water extract of Si-Wu-Tang (1.5 and 6 g/kg of dried herbs, p.o.) prevented dose-dependently scopola-mine-induced disruption qf learning behavior. Si-Wu-Tang also prevented the ischemia-induced deficit of learning behavior. Both hot water extract of peony and angelica (1.5 g/kg, p.o.), which are component herbs qf Si-Wu-Tang, prevented the scopolamine-induced learning behavior deficit. Scopolamine (10 uM) suppressed long-term potentiation (LTP) of population spike in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampal slices. Peoniflorin (0.1~ 1uM) extracted from paeony root significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced inhibition of LTR These results suggest that improvement of deficit of learning behavior by Gouteng-san and Si-Wu-Tang is mediated by direct and/or indirect activation of the cholinergic system in the brain.

Association Between Mobilization Level And Activity of Daily Living Independence in Critically Ill Patients

Watanabe Shinichi,Liu Keibun,Kozu Ryo,Yasumura Daisetsu,Yamauchi Kota,Katsukawa Hajime,Suzuki Keisuke,Koike Takayasu,Morita Yasunari 대한재활의학회 2023 Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine Vol.47 No.6

Objective: To examine the association between the mobilization level during intensive care unit (ICU) admission and independence in activity of daily living (ADL), defined as Barthel Index (BI)≥70. Methods: This was a post-hoc analysis of the EMPICS study involving nine hospitals. Consecutive patients who spend >48 hours in the ICU were eligible for inclusion. Mobilization was performed at each hospital according to the shared protocol and the highest ICU mobility score (IMS) during the ICU stay, baseline characteristics, and BI at hospital discharge. Multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusted for baseline characteristics, was used to deter-mine the association between the highest IMS (using the receiver operating characteristic [ROC]) and ADL. Results: Of the 203 patients, 143 were assigned to the ADL independence group and 60 to the ADL dependence group. The highest IMS score was significantly higher in the ADL independence group than in the dependence group and was a predictor of ADL independence at hospital discharge (odds ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.38; adjusted p=0.002). The ROC cutoff value for the highest IMS was 6 (specificity, 0.67; sensitivity, 0.70; area under the curve, 0.69). Conclusion: These results indicate that, in patients who were in the ICU for more than 48 hours, that patients with good function in the ICU also exhibit good function upon discharge. However, prospective, multicenter trials are needed to confirm this conclusion.

Relationship between water-holding capacity and intramuscular fat content in Japanese commercial pork loin

Watanabe, Genya,Motoyama, Michiyo,Nakajima, Ikuyo,Sasaki, Keisuke Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2018 Animal Bioscience Vol.31 No.6

Objective: The relationship between water-holding capacity (WHC) and intermuscular fat (IMF) was studied in Japanese commercial pork. Methods: Longissimus muscles of pigs (n = 62), obtained from two meat packing plants, were analyzed for IMF content, moisture content, drip loss, cooking loss, and pH. Pairwise relationships among these traits were determined using correlation analyses. Results: IMF content was significantly correlated with moisture content (r = -0.88; p<0.01) and pH (r = 0.32; p<0.05), but not with drip loss (r = -0.23; p = 0.07) or cooking loss (r = -0.10; p = 0.42). In contrast, drip loss was significantly (and negatively) correlated with pH (r = -0.57; p<0.01). Conclusion: IMF content was not significantly correlated with WHC in pork, and so ultimately, we consider pH to be one of the most important factors influencing WHC in pork meat.

Degassing of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy Powders as Studied by Gas Chromatography

Watanabe Ryuzo,Choi Duk-Sun,Kawasaki Akira 한국분말야금학회 2006 한국분말야금학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2006 No.1

Gas release behavior from aluminum and Al 7075 alloy powders during heating in argon was investigated by in-situ gas chromatography. Water vapor, hydrogen, carbon mono-oxide were detected as individual evolution spectra against heating temperature and time. The mechanisms of water and hydrogen evolutions were studied in detail for the determination of effective degassing condition. Magnesium in the alloy powder was found to lower the hydrogen evolution temperature to enhance overall hydrogen release.

Optimal Operation for Green Supply Chain Considering Demand Information, Collection Incentive and Quality of Recycling Parts

Watanabe, Takeshi,Kusukawa, Etsuko Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers 2014 Industrial Engineeering & Management Systems Vol.13 No.2

This study proposes an optimal operational policy for a green supply chain (GSC) where a retailer pays an incentive for collection of used products from customers and determines the optimal order quantity of a single product under uncertainty in product demand. A manufacturer produces the optimal order quantity of product using recyclable parts with acceptable quality levels and covers a part of the retailer's incentive from the recycled parts. Here, two scenarios for the product demand are assumed as: the distribution of product demand is known, and only both mean and variance are known. This paper develops mathematical models to find how order quantity, collection incentive of used products and lower limit of quality level for recycling affect the expected profits of each member and the whole supply chain under both a decentralized GSC (DGSC) and an integrated GSC (IGSC). The analysis numerically compares the results under DGSC with those under IGSC for each scenario of product demand. Also, the effect of the quality of the recyclable parts on the optimal decisions is shown. Moreover, supply chain coordination to shift the optimal decisions of IGSC is discussed based on: I) profit ratio, II) Nash bargaining solution, and III) Combination of (I) and (II).

Optimal Ordering Policy in Dual-Sourcing Supply Chain Considering Supply Disruptions and Demand Information

Watanabe, Naoki,Kusukawa, Etsuko Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers 2015 Industrial Engineeering & Management Systems Vol.14 No.2

It is necessary for retailers to determine the optimal ordering policy of products considering supply disruptions due to a natural disaster and a production process failure as quality and machine breakdowns. Under the situation, a dualsourcing supply chain (DSSC) is one of effective SC for retailers to order products reliably. This paper proposes the optimal ordering policy of a product in a DSSC with a retailer and two manufacturers. Two manufacturers may face supply disruptions due to a natural disater and a production process failure after they received the retailer's order of products. Here, two scenarios of demand information of products are assumed: (i) the demand distribution is known (ii) mean and variance of the demand are known. Under above situations, two types of DSSC are discussed. Under a decentralized DSSC (DSC), a retailer determines the optimal ordering policy to maximize his/her total expected profit. Under the integrated DSSC (ISC), the optimal ordering policy is determined to maximize the whole system's total expected profit. Numerical analysis investigates how demand information and supply disruptions affect the optimal decisions under DSC and ISC. Besides, profitability of supply chain coordination adjusting the wholesale price is evaluated to encourage the optimal decision under ISC.