Total Diet Study to Assess Radioactive Cs and K Levels in the Japanese Population before and after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident.

We conducted a total diet study (TDS) of Cs, Cs, and K to assess their average dietary exposure levels in a Japanese adult population before and after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP) accident. Nineteen market baskets were evaluated in 2006-2011. In each basket, a TDS sample comprising tap water and 160-170 food items, which were combined into 13 groups, were collected for analysis by gamma-ray spectrometry.

[Screening method of pesticides in meat using cleanup with GPC and mini-column].

A multiresidue screening method using GC/MS and LC/MS was investigated for analysis of 202 pesticides (including metabolites) in meat. Many target pesticides with a wide range of polarity were successfully extracted with ethyl acetate-cyclohexane (1 : 1) from meat samples rich in lipid components. Matrix components such as cholesterol, monoglycerides and fatty acids were effectively eliminated by means of GPC and 2 kinds of mini-columns (PSA and Silica).

[Validity in estimating influenza patient numbers from National Epidemiological Survey of Infectious Diseases (NESID) data using Oseltamivir consumption in Hyogo Prefecture].

The National Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Diseases (NESID) estimates the number of influenza patients using sentinel medical institutions reports (NESID estimate) rather than the actual number of patients visiting medical institutions. We estimated Hyogo Prefecture influenza patient numbers using Oseltamivir consumption (Oseltamivir estimate) to determine NESID estimate validity for the Nov-May, 2003-2007 influenza seasons. We divided the seasonal Oseltamivir estimate by the NESID estimate to derive an estimated prescription rate assuming that the NESID estimate was accurate.

Hepatitis C virus NS5A protein interacts with and negatively regulates the non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase Syk.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major causative agent of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the precise mechanism underlying the carcinogenesis is yet to be elucidated. It has recently been reported that Syk, a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase, functions as a potent tumour suppressor in human breast carcinoma.

Quantitative modeling for risk assessment of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in bloody clams in southern Thailand.

A risk assessment of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in bloody clams (Anadara granosa) consumed in southern Thailand was conducted. This study estimated the prevalence and concentration of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus in bloody clams at harvest and retail stages; and during this process, methods to detect the total and pathogenic V.

Determination of 40 synthetic food colors in drinks and candies by high-performance liquid chromatography using a short column with photodiode array detection.

Forty synthetic food colors were determined in drinks and candies by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. The following food colors were analyzed within 19 min using a short analytical column (50 mm x 4.6 mm i.

Change of atmospheric condition in an urbanized area of Japan from the viewpoint of rainfall intensity.

The atmospheric condition in an urbanized area of Japan was examined from the viewpoint of a 14-year trend in the rainfall intensity. To cancel the wide-area meteorological phenomena such as a typhoon and a front, the rainfall datasets obtained not only in an urban area but also in a rural area was studied. The rainfall datasets collected on a 0.

Budgets of major ionic species and nutrients on a dam reservoir in forested watershed.

To evaluate the role of a dam reservoir in the runoff of pollutant loadings from a forested watershed, the input-output budgets in the Ikuno dam reservoir had been investigated for eight years since 1996. The T-N, T-P, TOC and major ionic species in the bulk precipitation, stream water, and outflow were measured. The residence time calculated by using the data of the inflow and outflow was 0.

Grouping and representativeness of monitoring stations based on wind speed and wind direction data in urban areas of Japan.

Data on wind speed and wind direction from 27 air pollution monitoring stations in an urban area of Japan were analyzed and studied for the future assessment of the urban heat island phenomenon. A cluster analysis clarified the regionality of the wind speed and wind direction. In the study area, land and sea breeze developed and controlled the wind direction.

Characteristic air temperature distributions observed in summer and winter in urban area in Japan.

The air temperature distributions in August (summer) and December (winter) were measured in an approximately 15 x 15-km urban area in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, in order to study the spatial distribution of the air temperature and to propose effective measures against the heat island phenomenon. The air temperature was measured mainly by using thermometer shelters installed in an elementary school and a junior high school. The characteristic air temperature distribution depended on the season.

Field survey of trans-boundary air pollution with high time resolution at coastal sites on the Sea of Japan during winter in Japan.

An intensive field survey, with 6-h measurement intervals, of concentrations of chemical species in particulate matter and gaseous compounds was carried out at coastal sites on the Sea of Japan during winter. The concentration variation of SO(2)(g) and HNO(3)(g) were well correlated, whereas the NH(3)(g) concentration variation had no correlation with those of SO(2)(g) and HNO(3)(g). The NH(4) (+) (p)/non-sea-salt- (nss-)SO(4) (2 -)(p) ratio in particulate matter was mainly affected by the location of the sampling site.

Analytical method for determining iminoctadine triacetate by LC/ESI/MS using hydrophilic interaction chromatography.

A target value for iminoctadine triacetate residues in tap water was set at 6 microg/l in Japan. We have developed a highly selective and sensitive analytical method for iminoctadine triacetate by solid phase extraction LC/ESI/MS using hydrophilic interaction chromatography. The recovery rates at concentration of 0.

Complement-mediated phagocytosis--the role of Syk.

Phagocytosis is a central event in the innate immune responses that are triggered by the association between ligands on the surface of pathogens and receptors on the membrane of phagocytes. Particularly, complement-mediated phagocytosis is accomplished by specific recognition of bound complement components by the corresponding complement receptors on the phagocytes. The protein-tyrosine kinase, Syk, plays a central role in Fcgamma receptor-mediated phagocytosis in the adaptive immune system.

[Study of pesticide residues in agricultural products for the "Positive List" system].

During a 3-year monitoring survey (April 2002-March 2005) of pesticide residues in agricultural products, 592 samples (324 domestic; 268 imported) collected in Hyogo prefecture, Japan were analyzed. The number of pesticides tested increased from 232 in FY 2002 to 323 in FY 2004. The purpose of the study was to clarify the residue status by accumulating information about pesticides detected frequently, to allow effective and efficient regulation under the new "Positive List" legislation to be implemented in FY 2006.

Comparative field study on precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, fog water, and atmospheric aerosol and gases at urban and rural sites in Japan.

Precipitation collected by a wet-only sampler (WP), precipitation collected by a filtering-type bulk sampler (BP), throughfall (TF), stemflow (SF), fog water (FW), and atmospheric aerosol and gases were collected at two sites with different site classifications: an urban site (Mt. Rokko) and a rural site (Mt. Awaga) to investigate canopy-atmosphere interactions and to study the chemistry of precipitation in forested areas located in different atmospheric conditions.

Analysis of sulfur in deposited aerosols by thermal decomposition and sulfur dioxide analyzer.

A thermal decomposition method that measures aerosol sulfur at the nanogram level directly from the collection substrate is described. A thermal decomposition apparatus was designed. A stainless steel strip was used as the aerosol collection substrate.

Development of a high-sensitivity quantitative analytical method for determining polycarbamate by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry incorporating temperature-programmable inlet on-column injection.

A highly sensitive analytical method was developed using GC/MS with temperature-programmable inlet on-column injection (TPI on-column GC/MS) for determining methyl dimethyldithiocarbamate (DMDC-methyl) and dimethyl ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (EBDC-dimethyl), which are methyl derivatives of alkali decomposed polycarbamate. This method makes it possible to quantify 0.3 microg/l of polycarbamate in tap water, which is a 1/100 of the residual target value of 30 microg/l in Japan.

Evaluation of a bedside immunochromatographic test for detection of adenovirus in respiratory samples, by comparison to virus isolation, PCR, and real-time PCR.

An immunochromatography (IC) kit for human adenovirus (HAdV) was evaluated with 138 patient nasopharyngeal samples. The samples were collected at a sentinel clinic in Japan from January through June 2003. Patients were diagnosed by clinical manifestation of pharyngoconjunctival fever (n = 38) or exudative tonsillitis (n = 100).

LAS in urban rivers and factors contributing to reduction of their concentrations.

LC/MS analysis with improved SPE preparation was applied to determine trace amounts of LAS in river waters. By using this procedure, the distribution of LAS was investigated and compared with the previous concentration level measured by HPLC in the Akashi River flowing through urbanized coastal areas in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan. Detected LAS were in the range of 0.

Rapid simultaneous determination of o-phenylphenol, diphenyl, thiabendazole, imazalil and its major metabolite in citrus fruits by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using atmospheric pressure photoionization.

A simple and rapid simultaneous analytical method of four post-harvest fungicides, o-phenylphenol (OPP), diphenyl (DP), thiabendazole (TBZ), imazalil (IMZ) and its major metabolite R14821 (IMZ-M) in citrus fruits was developed. These compounds were extracted under basic conditions with diethyl ether. The organic layer was washed with water and evaporated at moderate pressure adding methanol.

Development of a simultaneous analysis method for carbofuran and its three derivative pesticides in water by GC/MS with temperature programmable inlet on-column injection.

A simultaneous analytical method was examined for carbofuran and its derivative pesticides in water. Since carbofuran derivatives are hydrolyzed to carbofuran in water, the liquid-liquid extraction method was used to obtain an accurate concentration value. Moreover, since these compounds are easily decomposed at the GC/MS injection port, temperature programmable inlet on-column injection was used.

Simultaneous analysis of carbamate pesticides in tap and raw water by LC/ESI/MS.

Ten carbamate pesticides including four suspected endocrine disruptors, methomyl, benomyl (carbendazim), aldicarb and carbaryl, were simultaneously analyzed by LC/ESI/MS. The influence of the matrix on the variation of the ion signal intensities of (M + H)+ and adduct ions was investigated. Although the intensities of three oxamyl ions changed depending on the matrix, the variation in the concentration calculation of oxamyl was reduced by using the sum total of the area value of two ions.