Stay with Your Community: Bridges between Clusters Trigger Expansion of COVID-19

The spreading of virus infection is here simulated over artificial human networks. The real-space urban life of people is modeled as a modified scale-free network with constraints. A scale-free network has been adopted in several studies for modeling on-line communities so far but is modified here for the aim to represent peoples' social behaviors where the generated communities are restricted reflecting the spatiotemporal constraints in the real life. Furthermore, the networks have been extended by introducing multiple cliques in the initial step of network construction and enabling people to zero-degree people as well as popular (large degree) people. As a result, four findings and a policy proposal have been obtained. First, the "second waves" occur without external influence or constraints on contacts or the releasing of the constraints. These second waves, mostly lower than the first wave, implies the bridges between infected and fresh clusters may trigger new expansions of spreading. Second, if the network changes the structure on the way of infection spreading or after its suppression, the peak of the second wave can be larger than the first. Third, the peak height in the time series depends on the difference between the upper bound of the number of people each member accepts to meet and the number of people one chooses to meet. This tendency is observed for two kinds of artificial networks and implies the impact of the bridges between communities on the virus spreading. Fourth, the release of once given constraint may trigger a second wave higher than the peak of the time series without introducing any constraint from the beginning, if the release is introduced at a time close to the peak. Thus, both governments and individuals should be careful in returning to human society with inter-community contacts.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, 4 Tables. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2004.0937

Whole body counter surveys of Miharu-town school children for four consecutive years after the Fukushima NPP accident

Comprehensive whole-body counter surveys of Miharu town school children have been conducted for four consecutive years, in 2011-2014. This represents the only long-term sampling-bias-free study of its type conducted after the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident. For the first time in 2014, a new device called the Babyscan, which has a low $^{134/137}$Cs MDA of $< 50$ Bq/body, was used to screen the children shorter than 130 cm. No child in this group was found to have detectable level of radiocesium. Using the MDAs, upper limits of daily intake of radiocesium were estimated for each child. For those screened with the Babyscan, the upper intake limits were found to be <1 Bq/day for $^{137}$Cs. Analysis of a questionnaire filled out by the children's parents regarding their food and water consumption shows that the majority of Miharu children regularly consume local and/or home-grown rice and vegetables. This however does not increase the body burden.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure

Disappearing everyday materials:The displacement of medical resources following disaster in Fukushima, Japan

This study draws upon interviews of medical staff working in the city of Minamisoma, Japan, following the 2011 Triple Disaster. It investigates staff responses to the disruption of material resources as a consequence of the disaster and its management. The disruption of spaces, and the loss of oxygen supplies, food, and medications impacted upon staff experience and the ability of institutions to care for patients. This resulted in a restructuring of spaces and materials as workers made efforts to reconfigure and reestablish healthcare functions. This is one of the few qualitative studies which draws upon the experience and perspectives of health workers in understanding material disruption following disaster. This is particularly important since this case did not involve the breakdown of lifeline infrastructure, but rather, brought to attention the way everyday material objects shape social experience. In highlighting these effects, the paper makes the case for the social scientific investigation of the impact of disasters on healthcare, shedding light on an area of research currently dominated by disaster medicine

福島第一原子力発電所事故後における周辺地域住民の内部被ばくに関する研究

学位の種別: 課程博士審査委員会委員 : (主査)東京大学教授 古川 洋一, 東京大学教授 清野 宏, 東京大学准教授 中川 恵一, 東京大学連携准教授 森 臨太郎, 東京大学講師 犬塚 亮University of Tokyo(東京大学

Stable Iodine Distribution among Children after the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Disaster in Japan: An Observational Study

福島第一原発事故後の安定ヨウ素剤配布後の実態調査を実施 --安定ヨウ素剤の情報提供・内服指示に関する課題が浮き彫りに--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2019-01-10.Context: Intake of stable iodine helps prevent childhood thyroid cancer in nuclear emergencies but there is limited case information. Objective: We identified the intake rate and the factors associated with no intake among children who did not take stable iodine after the Fukushima disaster. Design: Retrospective observational study. Setting: Data were obtained from thyroid cancer screening performed in August–November 2017. Participants: Children in Miharu Town, Fukushima, Japan. Intervention: No intervention. Main Outcome Measures: We performed multilevel logistic regression analysis at the regional and individual levels. We qualitatively examined the reasons for no intake of stable iodine based on closed- and open-ended questions. Results: The rate of distribution was 94.9%, but the intake rate was only 63.5%. Intake was lower in those aged 0–2 years compared with those aged ≥3 years: odds ratio (OR), 0.21 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.11–0.36]. Parents’ intake was positively associated with their children’s intake [OR, 61.0 (95% CI, 37.9–102.9)]. The variance partition coefficient for regions was 0.021, suggesting that the intake of stable iodine was more likely affected by individual than by regional factors. The main reasons for avoiding intake were concern about safety, issues related to distribution, drug information sharing, and instructions for intake. There were no claimed adverse effects. Conclusions: The distribution and consumption of stable iodine occurred without claims of adverse effects after the Fukushima disaster. To prepare for future nuclear emergencies, it is important to explain to both children and parents the need for intake of stable iodine, particularly among young children

Five doses of the mRNA vaccination potentially suppress ancestral-strain stimulated SARS-CoV2-specific cellular immunity: a cohort study from the Fukushima vaccination community survey, Japan

The bivalent mRNA vaccine is recommended to address coronavirus disease variants, with additional doses suggested for high-risk groups. However, the effectiveness, optimal frequency, and number of doses remain uncertain. In this study, we examined the long-term cellular and humoral immune responses following the fifth administration of the mRNA severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine in patients undergoing hemodialysis. To our knowledge, this is the first study to monitor long-term data on humoral and cellular immunity dynamics in high-risk populations after five doses of mRNA vaccination, including the bivalent mRNA vaccine. Whereas most patients maintained humoral immunity throughout the observation period, we observed reduced cellular immune reactivity as measured by the ancestral-strain-stimulated ELISpot assay in a subset of patients. Half of the individuals (50%; 14/28) maintained cellular immunity three months after the fifth dose, despite acquiring humoral immunity. The absence of a relationship between positive controls and T-Spot reactivity suggests that these immune alterations were specific to SARS-CoV-2. In multivariable analysis, participants aged ≥70 years showed a marginally significant lower likelihood of having reactive results. Notably, among the 14 individuals who received heterologous vaccines, 13 successfully acquired cellular immunity, supporting the effectiveness of this administration strategy. These findings provide valuable insights for future vaccination strategies in vulnerable populations. However, further research is needed to evaluate the involvement of immune tolerance and exhaustion through repeated vaccination to optimize immunization strategies

Pengaruh Kandungan Lemak Dan Energi Yang Berbeda Dalam Pakan Terhadap Pemanfaatan Pakan Dan Pertumbuhan Patin (Pangasius Pangasius)

Pakan merupakan faktor terpenting dalam menunjang pertumbuhan dan perkembangan dalam kegiatan budidaya ikan, didalam pakan harus mengandung nutrisi yang lengkap. Penggunaan lemak dalam pakan sangat penting dalam menunjang pertumbuhan, karena lemak merupakan sumber energi yang memiliki nilai cukup tinggi dibanding protein dan karbohidrat. Pengunaan lemak sebagai “Protein sparing effect” yaitu pengganti protein sebagai sumber energi, sehingga penggunaan energi yang berasal dari protein dapat digunakan untuk menunjang pertumbuhan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kandungan lemak dan energi yang berbeda dalam pakan terhadap pemanfaatan pakan dan pertumbuhan patin (P. pangasius).Metode penelitian yang dilakukan adalah metode eksperimen dengan rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) yang terdiri dari 4 perlakuan dan 3 kali ulangan. Perlakuan yang diterapkan adalah perbedaan kandungan lemak dan energi antara lain pada perlakuan A (8%, 281,98 kkal); B (9%, 286,74 kkal); C (10%, 289,45 kkal); dan D (11%, 296,21 kkal). Ikan uji yang digunakan adalah patin (Pangasius pangasius) yang berasal dari Banjarnegara, Jawa Tengah. Ikan uji yang digunakan dengan bobot rata-rata 6,48±0,68 g/ekor, dengan padat tebar 1 ekor/liter. Pakan diberikan 3 kali dalam sehari yaitu pada sekitar pukul 08.00 WIB, pukul 12.00 WIB, dan pukul 16.00 WIB. Pemberian pakan diberikan secara at satiation.Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa kandungan lemak dan energi yang berbeda dalam pakan buatan, memberikan pengaruh nyata (P&lt;0,05) terhadap EPP, PER, dan RGR pada patin (P. pangasius), sedangkan pada variabel TKP dan SR tidak memberikan pengaruh nyata (P&gt;0,05). Perlakuan D diperoleh hasil tertinggi dengan nilai TKP (25,27±0,06g), EPP (54,62±0,93%), PER (1,82±0,03%), RGR (0,75±0,02%/hari), dan SR (95,83%).Kandungan lemak dan energi yang berbeda dalam pakan, memberikan pengaruh nyata terhadap EPP, PER, dan RGR; tetapi tidak memberikan pengaruh nyata terhadap TKP dan SR patin (P. pangasius). Feed played an important role in fish farming and therefor, it should contain complete nutrition. The use of fat in fish diet was required for energy supply and producing of growth. The fat was used to subtitute energy source from protein, so the use of protein for fish growth can be optimaled. This study was aimed to observe the influence of different fat and energy on the feed utilization and growth of P. pangasius.The experimental method used was completely randomized design, which consisted of 4 treatments and 3 replicats, that were trial diets with ratio of treatment A (8%, 281.98 kkal); B (9%, 286.74 kkal); C (10%, 289.45 kkal); dan D (11%, 296.21 kkal) respectively. The ratio of vegetable oil : animal oil was equal. The fish used was P. pangasius, which was quired from Banjarnegara, Central Java. It\u27s average body weight of 6.48±0.68 g. The fish was maintenance in 8 l-tanks for 35 days. with a stocking density of 1 fish/l. The fish were feed 3 times a day, at 08.00, 12.00, and 16.00 by appliying at satiation method.The fish fed on resulted on dietary of different fat and energy on the feed on values significantly different (P&lt;0.05) on the EPP, PER and RGR. But for feed in TKP and SR values (P&gt;0.05). TKP value (25.27±0.06g) EPP (54.62±0.93%) , PER (1.82±0.03%) , RGR (0.75±0.02%/day), and SR (95.83%).It was concluded that the influence of different fat and energy on the feed utilization and growth of pangasius in feed significantly effect on, EPP, PER, and RGR while for TKP and SR where not significantly different

Safety of SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 Vaccine in Elderly Patients from Japan - A Preliminary Assessment and A Call on Careful Pharmacovigilance

Vaccines are efficacious, effective and safe measures to control COVID-19. Despite phase 3 and 4 studies, some concerns should be addressed in certain populations regarding its specific vaccine safety. One of them is the safety of the elderly. The majority of enrollees in clinical studies on COVID-19 vaccines have been young to middle-aged individuals, with few exceptions

Assessment of drug needs and contributions of pharmacists in the aftermath of the 2011 triple disaster in Fukushima, Japan: A combined analysis

After a major disaster, drug logistics are crucial for maintaining medical care. Although pharmacists play a vital role in healthcare institutions, their role is not well defined, and their recognition from other healthcare professionals is lacking. This was evident at Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital in Fukushima, Japan, which was affected by the Great East Japan earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant accident. The supply of drugs and related information was severely disrupted. In response, two pharmacists were interviewed and the data was analyzed through a thematic approach. Additionally, prescription data collected by pharmacists was analyzed quantitatively. The results from the qualitative survey showed that pharmacists made efforts to supply drugs and collect information, despite facing various psychological challenges, such as confidence, responsibility, anguish, and conflicts. The “leadership” of the hospital's upper managers was instrumental in supporting the pharmacists. The prescription data revealed that drug supply continued for approximately one month without interruption, and the demand for antihypertensive and psychiatric drugs increased. A majority (72.3 %) of the patients (N = 3,518) were 60 years of age or older, which might have contributed to the demand for chronic disease drugs. This study provides an example of the role of pharmacists and drug logistics during major disaster situations, including nuclear accidents