Journal of UOEH
Online ISSN : 2187-2864
Print ISSN : 0387-821X
ISSN-L : 0387-821X
Volume 29, Issue 1
Displaying 1-9 of 9 articles from this issue
  • Kayo YAMAMOTO, Hiroyuki IZUMI, Masaharu KUMASHIRO
    Article type: Original
    2007Volume 29Issue 1 Pages 1-26
    Published: March 01, 2007
    Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2017
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The aim of this study is to reveal the effect of the balance between operators' processing abilities and the time constraints imposed upon them in simple repetitive work. In the present study, three experimental conditions for the same tasks which are original pattern recognition ones, but with different ways of setting time limits, were prepared: one time limit was adjusted to each subjects' ability, the second was a uniform and relatively strict time limit, and the third was a uniform and relatively lax time limit. For these three experimental conditions, comparisons were made of task performance indices, subjective indices (NASA-TLX: NASA-Task Load Index, SACL: Stress-Arousal Checklist), and physiological indices (frontal midline theta activity at Fz and the fast α activity at Pz in EEG, and heart rate in ECG). The results showed that individual differences were extremely large in terms of time pressure (TP) effects on task performance and operators' psycho-physiological state if a uniform and strict time limit was imposed on operators with different abilities. Meanwhile, the negative effects of TP on operators were small if they were given a uniform time limit but with enough allowance time. In addition, the results from the frontal midline theta activity in EEG suggest that the patterns in changes of concentration of attention on tasks were different according to the way that the time constraints were set.
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  • Shimpei YAMADA, Shinji MlYAKE
    Article type: Original
    2007Volume 29Issue 1 Pages 27-38
    Published: March 01, 2007
    Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2017
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    This study examined the effects of long term mental arithmetic on physiological parameters, subjective indices and task performances to investigate the psychophysiological changes induced by mental tasks. Fifteen male university students performed six successive trials of a ten-minute mental arithmetic task. They took a five-minute resting period before and after the tasks. CFF (Critical Flicker Fusion frequency) and subjective fatigue scores using a visual analog scale, POMS (Profiles of Mood States) and SFF (Subjective Feelings of Fatigue) were obtained after each task and resting period. The voices of participants who were instructed to speak five Japanese vowels ( ‘ a ’, ‘ i ’, ‘ u ’, ‘ e ’, ‘ o ’ ) were recorded after each block to investigate a chaotic property of vocal signals that is reported to be changed by fatigue. Subjective workload ratings were also obtained by the NASA-TLX (National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index) after the task. Physiological signals of ECG (Electrocardiogram), PTG (Photoelectric Plethysmogram), SCL (Skin Conductance Level), TBV (Tissue Blood Volume) and Respiration were recorded for all experimental blocks. The number of answers, correct rates and average levels of task difficulty for each ten-minute task were used as task performance indices. In this experiment, the task performance did not decrease, whereas subjective fatigue increased. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system was suggested by physiological parameters.
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  • Kazumasa FUKUDA, Tsuyoshi ICHIHARA, Kazuaki KORIYAMA, Hatsumi TANIGUCH ...
    Article type: Original
    2007Volume 29Issue 1 Pages 39-49
    Published: March 01, 2007
    Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2017
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    In order to evaluate the risk of bacterial infection to workers from the sludge in a sewage pit of UOEH Hospital, a bacterial flora analysis based on the molecular-technique using the 16S rRNA gene was performed. Sludge samples taken from five different points in the pit were used. Bacterial numbers of each sludge sample were detected in the range of 1.9 × 107 cells/g to 4.4 × 108 cells/g. The results of bacterial flora analysis showed that the proportion of known bacteria (similarities of 16S rDNA sequences to that of type strain being 97% or more) and that of unclassified bacteria in the sludge samples were about 20 and 80%, respectively. Regarding the pathogenic bacteria, two Legionella species were detected in two samples, and one Mycobacterium species was detected in one sample. Since the frequency of pathogenic bacteria was equivalent to normal soil, it was concluded that the risk of bacterial infection from the sludge was low.
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  • Kazumasa FUKUDA, Tsuyoshi ICHIHARA, Naoko UEDA, Kazuaki KORIYAMA, Mido ...
    Article type: Original
    2007Volume 29Issue 1 Pages 51-62
    Published: March 01, 2007
    Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2017
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The bacterial flora of 8 sediment samples taken from Doukai Bay in Kitakyushu City in May, 2006 was analyzed by using the culture-independent molecular method. The total bacterial numbers determined by epifluorescence microscopic method were in the range of 2.6 × 108 to 6.4 × 108 cells/g. The results of bacterial flora analysis suggested that unknown bacterium comprised over 80% of total bacterial flora in the sea sediment samples. Regarding the pathogenic bacteria, although 8 of the Vibrio species, 1 of the Staphylococcus species, and 2 of the Mycobacterium species were detected in the sediment samples, their frequency was low. A large proportion of bacteria related to sulfur circulation, such as sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (10.9~30.5%) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (19.6~25.1%), was detected in all of the samples from sea sediment. A remarkable difference in bacterial flora between ground soil and sea sediment was clarified by this experiment.
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  • Koji MURATA, Yoshiki TOKURA
    Article type: Review
    2007Volume 29Issue 1 Pages 63-71
    Published: March 01, 2007
    Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2017
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The etiology of acne vulgaris is complicated and characterized by two aspects, non-inflammatory and inflammatory mechanisms. The non-inflammatory aspect is represented by follicular occlusion by sebaceous materials and resultant formation of comedo. On the other hand, acne features the continuing occurrence of inflammation, which yields reddish popular or nodular lesions. Therefore, acne is not a simple infection with Propionibacterium acnes, but subsequent inflammatory changes are the nature of acne. New quinolones, macrolides and tetracyclines are used for the treatment of acne as topical or systemic drugs. Recent accumulated evidence has suggested that these drugs exert their therapeutic effects by not only bacteriocidal actions but also anti-inflammatory or anti-immunological actions. These effects include antioxidative action toward neutrophils, inhibition of cytokine/chemokine production and adhesion molecule expression by keratinocytes, and suppression of the antigen-presenting ability of Langerhans cells. Drugs possessing these anti-inflammatory capacities are clinically beneficial for the treatment of inflammatory acne.
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  • Ayumi ANAN, Masako YAMAGUCHI
    Article type: Review
    2007Volume 29Issue 1 Pages 73-85
    Published: March 01, 2007
    Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2017
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    This study used a literature review to examine the process of parental acceptance regarding disability in a child. Our results identify two main theoretical concepts, stages of grief and chronic sorrow, which describe the emotional responses that parents express following the diagnosis of a child's disability. Stages of grief involve a long-term process through which parents struggle to accept their child's condition, eventually leading to acceptance of their child's disability. Alternately, chronic sorrow describes parental life-long sadness throughout their child's lifetime, periodically repeating at critical times in their child's development. Researchers in Japan have developed a disability acceptance model that combines both concepts. This study found that analysis and interpretation of the parental acceptance process varied with each researcher. It is essential for health care professionals who provide support to children with disabilities to understand the process which parents as primary caregivers undergo to accept the conditions of their child's disability. Knowledge of the main theoretical concepts will give them a broader perspective of the parental acceptance experience. Additional systematic studies are recommended to further understand this issue.
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  • Hidetaka URAMOTO, Chikako SHIBAKI
    Article type: Short Report
    2007Volume 29Issue 1 Pages 87-90
    Published: March 01, 2007
    Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2017
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    At present, one-third of people die of cancer and the number is still increasing in Japan. Recently, the discovery of new drugs and the development of medical oncology promote outpatient treatment for cancer patients. In the near future, the working style by employees receiving cancer chemotherapy is expected to increase. In this article we discuss the role of the industrial physician in factories in the consultation for working staff with cancer or anxieties of cancer.
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  • Ichiro YOSHIKAWA
    Article type: Report
    2007Volume 29Issue 1 Pages 91-92
    Published: March 01, 2007
    Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2017
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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  • University of Occupational and Environmental Health
    Article type: Abstracts
    2007Volume 29Issue 1 Pages 93-130
    Published: March 01, 2007
    Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2017
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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