Time trends in radiocaesium in the Japanese diet following nuclear weapons testing and Chernobyl:implications for long term contamination post-Fukushima

Estimation of time changes in radiocaesium in foodstuffs is key to predicting the long term impact of the Fukushima accident on the Japanese diet. We have modelled >4000 measurements, spanning 50 years, of 137Cs in foodstuffs and whole diet in Japan after nuclear weapons testing (NWT) and the Chernobyl accident. Broadly consistent long term trends in 137Cs activity concentrations are seen between different agricultural foodstuffs; whole diet follows this general trend with remarkably little variation between averages for different regions of Japan. Model blind tests against post-NWT data for the Fukushima Prefecture showed good predictions for radiocaesium in whole diet, spinach and Japanese radish (for which good long term test data were available). For the post-Fukushima period to 2015, radiocaesium in the average diet followed a declining time trend consistent with that seen after NWT and Chernobyl. Data for different regions post-Fukushima show a high degree of mixing of dietary foodstuffs between regions: predictions which assumed that only regionally produced food was consumed significantly over-estimated empirical data. Predictions of average committed effective internal doses from dietary 137Cs (2011 to 2061) in nonevacuated parts of the Fukushima Prefecture show that average internal dose is relatively low. This study focuses on average regional ingestion dose rates and does not attempt to make site specific predictions. However, the temporal trends identified could form a basis for site specific predictions of long term activity concentrations in agricultural products and diet both outside and (to assess potential re-use) inside currently evacuated areas

Napping after complex motor learning enhances juggling performance

AbstractThe present study examined whether a nap after complex motor learning enhanced the following day's physical performance. Eighteen volunteers met the inclusion criteria and were assigned to either a nap (n=9; men=5; mean age=21.0±1.5) or no-nap group (n=9; men=5; mean age=21.9±0.3). Participants practiced juggling in the morning and were tested immediately afterwards. Participants of the nap group were given a 70-minute nap opportunity after juggling practice, while the no-nap group stayed awake. Juggling performance was then tested in the evening (retest-1) and the next morning (retest-2). Two-way analysis of variance (group: nap, no-nap×time: test, retest-1, retest-2) found there was a significant effect of test time and a significant group×time interaction. The juggling performance of both groups improved from test to retest-1, respectively. However, the juggling performance level of the nap group was higher than that of the no-nap group at the retest-1. As predicted, a nap promptly after learning motor skills was associated with subsequently improved performance. Moreover, the juggling performance of the nap group showed additional significant improvements in the retest-2. In the no-nap group, however, there were no significant improvements in the juggling performance after nocturnal sleep. These results demonstrate that the benefits of a nap following learning were further enhanced after nocturnal sleep. The present results may provide justification for introducing nap periods into daily athletic training as an active method to improve performance

The Holistic Aspect of the Phenomenon of Entanglement

It is my aim to compare the conceptual and historical paths that led Bohr and Schrödinger to develop their positions with regard to the phenomenon of entanglement. For this purpose, the concept of holism and non-separability in relation to the views of Bohr and Schrödinger will be crucial for reconstructing their standpoints. The idea will be upheld that the concept of non-separability underlies the phenomenon of entanglement. Furthermore, I shall place emphasis on the divergences between Bohr and Schrödinger in spite of their shared holistic world view

Removal of Radiocesium from Food by Processing: Data Collected after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident -13167

ABSTRACT Removal of radiocesium from food by processing is of great concern following the accident of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Foods in markets are monitored and recent monitoring results have shown that almost all food materials were under the standard limit concentration levels for radiocesium (Cs-134+137), that is, 100 Bq kg -1 in raw foods, 50 Bq kg -1 in baby foods, and 10 Bq kg -1 in drinking water; those food materials above the limit cannot be sold. However, one of the most frequently asked questions from the public is how much radiocesium in food would be removed by processing. Hence, information about radioactivity removal by processing of food crops native to Japan is actively sought by consumers. In this study, the food processing retention factor, F r , which is expressed as total activity in processed food divided by total activity in raw food, is reported for various types of corps. For white rice at a typical polishing yield of 90-92% from brown rice, the F r value range was 0.42-0.47. For leafy vegetable (indirect contamination), the average F r values were 0.92 (range: 0.27-1.2) after washing and 0.55 (range: 0.22-0.93) after washing and boiling. The data for some fruits are also reported

Decomposition and ergosterol content of the moss Hylocomium splendens litter under various climatic conditions

We examined the differences in the decomposition rate and fungal biomass in the litter of Hylocomium splendens among forests under different climatic conditions. The samples were collected from one boreal forest in Canada, three subalpine forests on Mt. Fuji and one cool temperate forest on Mt. Tsurugi, Shikoku in Japan. The decomposition rate in the cool temperate forest was much faster than those in the boreal and subalpine forests. Ergosterol, which is a component of fungal cell membranes, was used as an indicator of fungal biomass. Ergosterol was detected not only from brown moss litter but also from green shoots of the moss. In spite of the faster decomposition rate, ergosterol content of the moss litter of the cool temperate forest was about one half of those of the boreal and subalpine forests. The results suggest that the relationship between fungal biomass and decomposition rate differs significantly among forest types

Breadand Effervescent Beverage Productions with Local Microbes for the Local Revitalization

Local microbes such as yeasts fungi and bacilli, were isolated and used to apply for the food processing (bread making) and the production of an effervescent beverage (fruits kvass) for promotion of the local revitalization. Our yeast isolates could contribute to make the breads that can sell in alocal bakery shop.  Furthermore, the same yeasts could be used for making the fruit kvass (a Russian effervescent beverage which was fermented by yeast) with local fruit products (lemon, dry grape, mandarin orange and apple that were produced in Hiroshima prefecture in Japan). Development of merchandise having the local brand, which was made with only products of Hiroshima prefecture was attempted. Results of these activities demonstrate that the search of local microbes can help to establish the regional brand product related to its local area. They also showed that the local microbes have the potential ability to lead the local revitalization and the local brand product

Determination of U isotopic ratios in environmental samples by ICP-MS

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been used for the determination of trace elements in a variety of materials. For uranium, the concentration of 238U can be measured with a detection limit of less than 0.1 ppt in a few minutes. However, because of the extremely low 234U concentrations in environmental materials, it is necessary to separate U from the matrices and to remove interfering elements from the sample solution for measurement of the 238U/234U ratio by ICP-MS. In this study, a simple and rapid separation method for U with an extraction chromatographic resin (TEVA resin) was developed for ICP-MS and the U isotopic ratios in phosphogypsum samples, collected in Spain, were measured. The resin efficiently retained U in 6 M HCl medium and more than 98% of the U was easily eluted with the first 30 mL of 0.1 M HNO3. The separated solutions were free from most of the matrix elements and the concentrations of U in the solutions ranged from 35 to 70 ppb. The 238U/234U isotopic ratios in the solutions were measured by ICP-MS. Moreover, due to the presence of a higher number of 235U atoms in comparison with 234U, the 238U/235U isotopic ratios were also determined with high precision by ICP-MS. The results obtained agreed well with the ratios measured by alpha-spectrometry. The method for this determination is more rapid than alpha-spectrometry, and is considered to be more suitable for environmental monitoring

Venture into Cross-Cultural Psychology

A peer-reviewed book based on presentations at the XXIII Congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology, 2016, Nagoya, Japan. (c) 2018, International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychologyhttps://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/iaccp_proceedings/1001/thumbnail.jp