A Report on Hydrographic Activities Following the Great East Japan Earthquake

The Great East Japan Earthquake (Mw9.0) on 11 March 2011 accompanied with a huge tsunami of more than 10 meters in height devastated many cities and ports along the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan, and claimed nearly 20,000 lives with many of them still missing. This report reviews actions taken by the Japan Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department (JHOD) after this unprecedented disaster. Immediately after the earthquake, the JHOD carried out hydrographic surveys for the urgent need to help clear the passage in ports due to sunken debris swept away by the tsunami. These surveys have enabled the vessels with relief supplies on board for the affected areas to enter the ports. The JHOD revisited the affected ports for the next stage of hydrographic surveys. These surveys will contribute to revised nautical charts based on new data collected after the earthquake, and includes the ongoing restoration and reconstruction work of quays and port facilities. This stage includes the re-determination of the datum level of the affected ports, which is necessary because of large subsidence being reported in the areas. All of these efforts by the JHOD clearly demonstrate the significance of the hydrographic activities in case of the post-quake emergency situation, not only for the safety of navigation but also for economic recovery

Gender differences in the use of transportation services to community rehabilitation programs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prevention and reduction of disability among community-dwelling older adults have been an important health policy concern in Japan. Moreover, it has also become a gendered issue due to the recent rapid growth in older females than males with disability living in their own homes. The aim of this study is to examine whether there is a gender difference in the use of community rehabilitation programs in Japan, and if so, whether the lack of transportation services and accompanying caregivers are the reasons for the gender difference.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study was based on surveys of the program administrators and the primary caregivers of the program participants from 55 randomly selected community rehabilitation programs (CRP) in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Questions included sociodemographic characteristics of program participants, types of transportation services provided by the CRP, caregiver's relationship to participant, and the nature of family support. Bivariate statistical analysis was conducted.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although there were more females than males with disability residing in communities, our findings showed that females were less likely to use CRP than males (1.3% and 2.3%, respectively; <it>X</it>²= 93.0, p < 0.0001). Lower CRP use by females was related to lower availability of transportation services (36% without transportation service and 46% door-to-door services) and fewer caregivers accompanying the participants to CRP.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study builds on previous research findings, which suggest gender inequality in access to CRP.</p

地方都市中学生における食育課題の男子・女子間の比較検討

OBJECTIVE: We investigated dietary consciousness, dietary behavior, dietary environment and students feeling about their own health in Japanese male and female junior high school students, and examined the differences and similarities between the two gender groups to understand what we need to do in dietary education. METHODS: The survey was conducted during the month of October, 2006. Participants: The subjects were 477 junior high school boys (257) and girls (220) (age 12-14 years). Measure:1.We gave subjects a questionnaire of 68 questions asking about their perceptions of their own weight, dietary consciousnesses, dietary behavior, dietary environment, how healthy they believed themselves to be, and their lifestyles.2.Age, height and body weight were measured or supplied by the subjects teachers. Subjects whose weight was greater than or equal to 120% of the baseline degree of obesity as determined by the Ministry of Education were considered to have a tendency toward obesity, and subjects whose weight was less than or equal to 80% of the Ministry of Educations baseline degree of obesity were considered underweight. The TANITA scale was used and BMI was calculated based on the degree of obesity as established by the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity. RESULTS:1.Significant differences were observed between the two gender groups in the disparities between their classification of their own body types and their actual BMI scores (p<0.001). Many girls perceived themselves as overweight even though their weight was at an appropriate level.2.Significant differences were observed between the two groups in the subjective symptoms (p<0.001). Many girls claimed that their health condition was poor.3.Significant differences were observed between the two groups in their cooking skills (p<0.01). Fewer boys are able to cook than girls.4.Some other noteworthy results were obtained between the two groups about the degree of satisfaction with their lives and homes

地方都市と大都市における女子生徒の食育課題検出のための研究

OBJECTIVE: In this study we investigated dietary consciousness, dietary behavior, dietary environments, life-style and subjects evaluation of their own health in Japanese urban and suburban adolescents to get ideas for improving dietary education for these groups.METHODS: The survey was conducted in October and November, 2006. Participant: The subjects were 262 urban junior high school girls (Age 13-14 yrs) and 220 suburban junior high school girls (Age 12-14 yrs). Measure: 1.The questionnaire consisted of 76 questions related to subjects dietary behavior, dietary environments, lifestyles, and their evaluation of their own health.2.Age, height and body weight were measured by their teacher. Subjects body weight was checked using the TANITA scale. And subjects BMI was calculated based on the degree of obesity as established by the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity. RESULTS 1.In urban areas a lot of students thought that they are overweight. They perceived themselves to be overweight even when they were not.2.More students in urban areas than in suburban areas did not understand how much one should eat and what would constitute overeating. 3.More than 50% of both suburban and urban subjects reported feeling irritated. Subjects also reported experiencing headaches, stiff shoulders, and backaches.4.All subjects reported being basically satisfied with their lives and families.5.Significantly fewer urban subjects than suburban subjects reported having breakfast and supper with their families. 6.50% of both groups reported having conversations with their families during meals and that they are happy at home

都市部女子中高生の食育課題の検討 : 食意識・食行動・食環境,食事調査分析結果

OBJECTIVE: In this study we investigated dietary consciousness, dietary behavior, dietary environment and dietary intake in Japanese urban schoolgirls and their mothers, and examined some useful indicators for their dietary education. METHODS: The survey was conducted during Sept 2005. Participants: The subjects were 262 junior high school girls (age 12-13yrs) and 240 mothers, 145 senior high school girls (age 15-16yrs) and 90 mothers, total subjects were 737. OUTCOME: 1. The questionnaire asked about their weight perception, eating behavior, environment, habits, and health condition in 76 questions. 2. Energy intake was assessed by 2 day dietary record method. 3. Age, height and body weight were measured by a teacher. Those with a tendency towards obesity were ≧120, and those underweight were ≦80%, based on the baseline degree of obesity by the Ministry of Education. A TANITA scale was used and BMI was calculated based on the degree of obesity in the Japanese Obesity Association. RESULTS: 1. Significant correlation coefficients were obtained between the body type classification and the degree of obesity, (junior high school girls: p<0.001, senior high school girls: p<0.001). Many schoolgirls perceived themselves overweight notwithstanding that weights were at an appropriate level. 2. Significant correlation coefficients were obtained between the self-rated energy intakes and the degree of obesity, (junior high school girls: p<0.001, senior high school girls: p<0.01). 3. Energy intakes by 2day dietary record method were not enough compared to their EER (estimated energy requirement), junior high school girls: 1685±410kcal, senior high school girls: 1670±433kcal. Micronutrient intake of Ca, Fe, VC and dietary fiber were less than DG (tentative dietary goal), but the ratio of fat energy was over the UL (tolerable upper intake level), junior high school girls: 32.5%, senior high school girls: 34.6%. 4. Energy intake of the mothers significantly correlated with that of their children in evening meals (breakfast: r=0.23, lunch: r=0.21, evening: r=0.35, total intake: r=0.25). 5. Correlation of between-item by Theory of quantification III showed 2 patterns. One correlated to the healthy dietary behavior, perception and environment, the other one had contradictory pattern that correlated to "overeat", "overweight" and "dieting practice" (η^2=0.13). DISCUSSION: In this study we describe probable associations which may provide an understanding of some aspects of nutrition education for Japanese urban schoolgirls

Population structure, egg production and gut content pigment of large grazing copepods during the spring phytoplankton bloom in the Oyashio region

As a basis for analyzing development of six large grazing copepods (Eucalanus bungii, Metridia pacifica, M. okhotensis, Neocalanus cristatus, N. flemingeri and N. plumchrus) in the Oyashio region, quasi-daily twin-NORPAC net (0.33 and 0.10 mm mesh) hauls were taken through the upper 150 m and 500 m at a station southwest of Hokkaido before (9-14 March) and after (6-30 April) the onset of the phytoplankton bloom in 2007. Based on additional fresh specimens collected from 0-150 m, egg production of E. bungii, M. pacifica and M. okhotensis, and gut pigments of late copepodid stages in each species were evaluated. Total zooplankton biomass was greater from 10 April onward by a factor of 2- to 8-fold the previous levels. This increase of the 0-150 m biomass was caused by development of Neocalanus spp. copepodids and upward migration of resting E. bungii. Egg production of E. bungii peaked on 18 April, while abundance of its nauplii and C1 peaked on 20 and 25 April, respectively. Sex ratio and C6-female gonad maturation index of E. bungii showed new recruitment to C6 during 20-30 April, likely derived from a population that over-wintered as C3 or C4. Egg production and hatchability of M. pacifica and M. okhotensis were highly variable and no temporal trend was detected. Comparison with field abundance data for Metridia spp. suggests that our estimates of egg production and hatchability are too low, despite care with experimental conditions. All the Neocalanus species utilize the bloom as energy for juvenile growth. Neocalanus cristatus developed from C2 through C4, and stage duration of C3 was estimated to be 24 days. Neocalanus flemingeri also developed from Cl through C3, and stage durations of C1 and C2 were estimated to be 7-9 days. Neocalanus plumchrus occurred in small numbers from mid-April onward. The stage duration estimates for Neocalanus spp. are similar to those reported from the high-nutrition southeastern Bering Sea shelf. Gut pigment variation clearly showed nocturnal feeding by Metridia spp., while no diel changes in gut pigment were recognized for E. bungii or Neocalanus spp. The diel changes in gut pigment of Metridia spp. were related to their diel vertical migrations. The calendar of sequential responses of copepods to the phytoplankton bloom is summarized

Diel and ontogenetic variations in vertical distributions of large grazing copepods during the spring phytoplankton bloom in the Oyashio region

Short-term changes in vertical distributions of copepods during the spring phytoplankton bloom were analyzed based on day and night vertically stratified sampling (9 strata between 0-1000 m) with a fine-mesh (60 μm) VMPS in the Oyashio region on five occasions: 8 March, 5, 11, 23 and 29 April 2007. Responses to the bloom were varied and species-specific. Eucatanus bungii C3-C6 were resting around 400 m on 8 March. They had aroused from rest by 5 April, more completely for C6F than for C3-C4. On 29 April, newly recruited C1-C4 stayed in near surface layers (0-50 m). Both Metridia pacifica and Metridia okhotensis showed strong diel vertical migrations (DVM). When the amount of sinking flux was sufficient (23 and 29 April), juveniles ceased DVM and stayed close to 300 m throughout the day and night, while the C6F continued DVM. Continuous DVM behavior of Metridia spp. C6F is likely related to spawning in the surface layer at night. The growth phase of juvenile Neocalanus spp. occurred shallower than 250 m. Within this depth range, vertical partitioning was observed among the species: Neocalanus flemingeri and Neocalanus plumchrus occurred above 50 m, while Neocalanus cristatus was distributed from 75-250 m. The boundary between two patterns was around 50-75 m. These findings are comparable to those in the eastern subarctic Pacific