Low-Cost Sensor Deployment on a Public Minibus in Fukushima Prefecture.

This study analyzed radiation dose data to observe the annual decline in ambient radiation doses and assess the factors contributing to fluctuations in reconstructed areas of the Fukushima prefecture. Utilizing a novel mobile monitoring system installed on a community minibus, the study employed a cost-effective sensor, namely, Pocket Geiger which was integrated with a microcontroller and telecommunication system for data transfer, access, visualization, and accumulation. The study area included the region between Okuma and Tomioka towns.

A survey of monitoring tap water hardness in Japan and its distribution patterns.

We conducted a comprehensive overall tap water hardness assessment for Japan. Tap water was collected from 665 points throughout Japan, and its standing position was quantitatively clarified by prefecture. The mean and median hardness of tap water in Japan was 48.

Landside tritium leakage over through years from Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant and relationship between countermeasures and contaminated water.

There has been tritium groundwater leakage to the land side of Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plants since 2013. Groundwater was continuously collected from the end of 2013 to 2019, with an average tritium concentration of approximately 20 Bq/L. Based on tritium data published by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) (17,000 points), the postulated source of the leakage was (1) leaks from a contaminated water tank that occurred from 2013 to 2014, or (2) a leak of tritium that had spread widely over an impermeable layer under the site.

Radioactive Games? Radiation Hazard Assessment of the Tokyo Olympic Summer Games.

We conducted a comprehensive radiation hazard assessment of the Tokyo Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020, postponed to 2021). Our combined experimental and literature study focused on both external and internal exposure to ionizing radiation for athletes and visitors of the Games. The effective dose for a visit of 2 weeks ranges from 57 to 310 μSv (including flight dose).

Source evaluation of Cs in foodstuffs based on trace Cs radioactivity measurements following the Fukushima nuclear accident.

We performed gamma-ray analysis to determine the amount of radioactive cesium-134 (Cs) and cesium-137 (Cs) in 259 foodstuffs five years after the Fukushima nuclear accident of 2011. Using measurements of trace Cs radioactivity, we investigated the contribution ratio of Cs derived from the Fukushima accident on 2011 and pre-Fukushima. The median detected concentration of radiocesium (Cs + Cs) in foodstuffs was 0.

Reduction process of Cr(VI) by Fe(II) and humic acid analyzed using high time resolution XAFS analysis.

The initial reduction behavior of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) has not been clearly understood due to its rapid reduction reaction. In order to study the reduction process of Cr(VI) in detail, we applied quick X-ray absorption fine structure (QXAFS) analysis to observe how Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) by Fe(II) and humic acid (HA) with time. The Cr(VI) concentration was analyzed every 60s, and the plots of ln(Cr(VI)/Cr(VI)0) versus time were used to evaluate the reduction process based on their linearity.

Chronic stress induces neurotrophin-3 in rat submandibular gland.

Purpose: Plasma neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) levels are associated with several neural disorders. We previously reported that neurotrophins were released from salivary glands following acute immobilization stress. While the salivary glands were the source of plasma neurotrophins in that situation, the association between the expression of neurotrophins and the salivary gland under chronic stress conditions is not well understood.

Emodin has a cytotoxic activity against human multiple myeloma as a Janus-activated kinase 2 inhibitor.

Emodin is an active component of a traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine isolated from the root and rhizomes of Rheum palmatum L. Here, we show that emodin significantly induces cytotoxicity in the human myeloma cells through the elimination of myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1). Emodin inhibited interleukin-6-induced activation of Janus-activated kinase 2 (JAK2) and phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), followed by the decreased expression of Mcl-1.

Effect of nitric oxide on gamma-ray-induced micronucleus frequency in RAW264.7 cells.

The effect of low-dose nitric oxide (NO) on gamma-ray-induced micronucleus (MN) frequency was investigated in RAW264.7 cells. Treatment of RAW264.

Genistein induces cell growth inhibition in prostate cancer through the suppression of telomerase activity.

Aim: To clarify the mechanism of the anticancer effect of genistein, we examined the effect of genistein on telomerase activity in prostate cancer cells. We hypothesized that genistein may exert its anticancer effect by modifying telomerase activity in prostate cancer cells.

Methods: Prostate cancer (LNCaP) cells were cultured with genistein and the number of viable cells was counted.

Combination treatment with 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 9-cis-retinoic acid directly inhibits human telomerase reverse transcriptase transcription in prostate cancer cells.

The vitamin D(3) receptor, which is the nuclear receptor for 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (VD(3)), forms a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor (RXR), which is the nuclear receptor for 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA). The heterodimer binds to a specific response element consisting of two directly repeated pairs of motifs, AGGTGA, spaced by three nucleotides [direct repeat (DR) 3] and modulates the expression of VD(3)-responsive genes. Telomerase activity, which is seen in most immortal cells and germ cells, is a complex of enzymes that maintain the length of telomeres.

Adhesion of a chondrocytic cell line (USAC) to fibronectin and its regulation by proteoglycan.

Background: Chondrocytes produce various extracellular matrices during chondrogenesis. Fibronectin and proteoglycan are major extracellular matrix proteins in cartilage tissue, but the interactions between them are not clear.

Methods: Recently, we succeeded in establishing a cell line (USAC) with phenotypes of chondrocytes from a human osteogenic sarcoma of the mandible.