•The previous studies on Urban Environmental Climate Maps (UECMs) are organized.•The three types of UECMs that should be made in the future are shown by the organizing previous studies.•The factors ...of temperature distribution patterns are analyzed by using the measurement data.•The temperature distribution patterns affected by sea breeze are analyzed by using the meso-scale meteorological model (WRF).•UECMs with recommendations for planning and usable climatic resources are designed.
Urban planning incorporating mitigation of the urban warming which is due to urban heat island phenomena and climate change is needed. However, such planning is not realized. That is apparently because the urban climate phenomenon is difficult to understand for stakeholders: citizens, planners, architects, specialists, and so on. Urban Environmental Climate Maps (UECMs) are therefore proposed as one of the decision support tools for the urban warming mitigation. Accordingly, the authors intend to produce UECMs in Hiroshima as the final goal of this study. Therefore, for the production of UECMs, this study aims to analyze the relationship between spatial temperature distribution and the comprehensive factors using observed data and numerical simulation results and perform climate zoning based on these results in Hiroshima. This study progressed via the following steps: 1) classifying Hiroshima area into the plain area and the mountain area; 2) analysis on the causes of temperature distribution based on observed data in the plain area; 3) analysis on the effect of sea breeze on summer diurnal temperature distribution patterns; 4) analysis on the causes of temperature distributions based on observed data in the mountain area; and 5) urban climate zoning and construction of UECMs.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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•We assess UHI effects before and after the implementation of the Hanoi Master Plan 2030.•The UHI effect due to the master plan becomes significant, especially at night.•The proposed ...green strategies are not effective at cooling all of built-up areas.•It is important to cool the hot westerly Foehn wind before entering the city.
Hanoi City, Vietnam, presented the Hanoi Master Plan 2030 in 2011 to cope with rapid population growth and urbanisation. The main objective of this two-part study was to investigate the impacts of land use changes from the master plan on urban climate in Hanoi by 2030. This paper focuses on the assessment of the proposed green strategies in the master plan. Firstly, numerical simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting were conducted for the present land use condition as well as the condition proposed by the master plan under the same extremely hot summer conditions of June 2010. Secondly, the results of the master plan condition were further compared with other scenarios comprising different green strategies for assessing their cooling effects. Based on the results, the daytime peak air temperature in the master plan condition was projected to maintain almost the same level as the current condition. However, the high temperature areas with temperature of 40–41°C, would expand widely over the planned built-up areas. Further results showed that the green strategies were not necessarily effective at cooling all of the built-up areas, though these strategies largely reduced the air temperature within the green spaces, particularly at night.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Temperatures in urban area rise; therefore, it is necessary to consider the mitigation of urban warming. Considering that, in coastal areas such as Yokohama, an effective mitigation could be based on ...sea breeze patterns during summer daytime, this study aims at analyzing the relationship between temperature distributions and sea breeze fronts. Eventually, the target of this paper could be the creation of an Urban Environmental Climate Map (UECM) showing mitigation measures for each zone. Firstly, fine weather days are extracted and the sea breeze blowing patterns are classified in the target area. Secondly, the wind and temperature distribution patterns are mapped using WRF. The results obtained enable the mapping of the sea breeze fronts and the analysis of the relationship between temperature distributions and sea breeze fronts. Finally, a spatial zoning is performed. The results are presented as follows: 1) Sea breeze blowing patterns are classified into three patterns; 2) Based on the numerical simulation results and the temperature data observed in coastal areas, southwest wind has a cooling effect; 3) The target area is classified into “Sea breeze arrival zone” and others based on the presence of a see breeze; 4) An UECM showing proper mitigation measures is proposed.
•For mitigating urban warming in Japan, it is effective to use the sea breeze cooling effect during summer daytime.•Sea breeze front and its cooling effect are estimated using simulation results from meso-scale meteorological model (WRF).•In coastal area, the factors of temperature distribution patterns are analyzed using measurement temperature data.•An Urban Environmental Climate Map (UECM) showing proper mitigation measures is proposed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Green Infrastructure (GI) which utilizing various function of natural recourses for resolving social issue is necessary to correspond with the bad effects seems to be caused by climate change, such ...as urban warming and increasing floods in recent year. This study aims to proposing design guideline for using small valley called “Yato” as GI effectively and we evaluated the thermal (air temperature) and water environment (flow rate) in some of them in Yokohama. All Yato in Yokohama are also classified six types based on these results, and countermeasures to improving thermal and water environment were suggested for each type.
Abstract We describe a 4-year-old boy with posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome associated with hemolytic-uremic syndrome. He exhibited bloody stool by Escherichia coli O157: H7 ...infection with acute renal failure. He subsequently presented high blood pressure, followed by visual disturbance and loss of consciousness. Brain MRI revealed bilateral occipital high intensities by T2-weighted images and high value by apparent diffusion coefficient map, thus we made a diagnosis of posterior reversible leukoencephaly syndrome associated with hemolytic-uremic syndrome. In spite of immediate blood pressure control, occipital lesions developed day by day, resulting in multiple subcortical cavitations. Although posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome is originally characterized by reversible vasogenic edema, this case rarely resulted in irreversible changes with cystic formation. We concluded that precipitating factors, i.e., clotting abnormalities, Shiga toxin, vasospasms and endothelial dysfunction might have synergistically induced irreversible brain infarcts, and caused unusual cavitations.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Abstract Postprandial hyperglycemia induces prolonged hyperinsulinemia, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Foods with a low glycemic index blunt the rapid rise in postprandial ...plasma glucose and insulin levels. We herein investigated the effects of a novel, palatinose-based liquid diet (Inslow, Meiji Dairy Products, Tokyo, Japan) on postprandial plasma glucose and insulin levels and on the rate of substrate oxidation in 7 healthy men. Furthermore, to examine the effects of Inslow on the second-meal effect, we quantified our subjects' postprandial plasma glucose, insulin, and free fatty acid levels for up to 7 hours after they ingested a breakfast containing Inslow or control formula, followed by a standard lunch 5 hours later. Our results showed that peak plasma glucose and insulin levels 30 minutes after Inslow loading were lower than after control formula loading. Postprandial fat oxidation rates in the Inslow group were higher than in the control formula group ( P < .05). In the second-meal effect study, plasma glucose and insulin levels after lunch in the Inslow group were lower than in the control formula group ( P < .01), although the peak levels in these groups were not different. The free fatty acid concentration in the Inslow group immediately before lunch was significantly lower than in the control formula group ( P < .05). In conclusion, consumption of Inslow at breakfast appears to improve patient glycemic control by reducing their postprandial plasma glucose and insulin levels after lunch (second-meal effect).
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Urban greening is vital for environmental sustainability and human welfare, but assessing its impact can be challenging due to traditional methodologies' limitations. These methods usually focus on ...singular metrics, giving a constrained understanding of urban green spaces. This study presents an innovative methodology that overcomes traditional research constraints, providing a comprehensive view of urban green spaces. The approach integrates longitudinal and cross-sectional assessments, remote sensing images, and Google Street View data. It leverages geodata processing and semantic segmentation models for key metrics—green coverage rate and green view index—while classifying various landscape types through an image model. Osaka City has been selected as the study's exemplar to integrate topographic variables and validate this novel methodology. The study results showed that Osaka has conditions such as uneven distribution of green spaces and different quality of green spaces. Targeted suggestions such as focusing on areas with low green visibility and improving the quality of existing green spaces need to be developed accordingly based on the results, paving the way for strengthening the city's urban greening initiatives. Subsequent research must tackle limitations like data quality and model accuracy, spotlighting the crucial role of green spaces in sustainable urban development.
•Integrated method for urban green spaces fills research gaps, enabling targeted enhancement of underused areas.•Remote sensing images & Google Street View offer a detailed green space assessment via geospatial & image classification.•Uses unique city geography, including topography, to refine analysis of urban greening trends.•Measures district green coverage rate & green view index for insights on green space distribution.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
A study explored the role of private organizations in community development that utilizes public space by understanding the content and structure of the efforts of four private organizations that are ...engaged in public-private partnerships. The private organizations are expected to: (1) develop a vision for the area and promote and control the development and utilization of public space through repeated practice; (2) promote the permanent use of public space through social experiments and coordinate the use of the space with the involvement of local businesses; (3) work to deregulate the use of the space while cooperating with neighborhood associations and taking charge of its management; and (4) develop high-quality space and support the entities that use public space and support the development and use of the space.
In this study, I analyzed the planning and design properties of interaction spaces in station squares located in urban areas from the viewpoint of daily interaction. In terms of planning properties, ...the interaction space-centered type and the interaction space-connected type were also identified. These two types have interaction space at a high level, ranging from 10% to 40%, and the layouts with high connectivity between the station and the interaction space. In terms of design properties, it can be said that, for the individual comfort, such as drinking and eating, it is effective to install a circular seat with a step, plantings, and lighting in the front, and plantings in the back. For intimate interaction, it is effective to install the seat in a location that is close to a flow line. In addition, for indirect interaction with others, such as watching people, it is effective to install the seat in a space where they can see a busy flow line or a square where people are playing.
1 Departments of Clinical Nutrition, and 2 Clinical Biology and Medicine, University of Tokushima School of Medicine, Tokushima, Japan
Submitted 2 October 2006
; accepted in final form 25 April 2007
...The hepatoportal region is important for glucose sensing; however, the relationship between the hepatoportal glucose-sensing system and the postprandial rapid phase of the insulin response has been unclear. We examined whether a rapid-phase insulin response to low amounts of intraportal glucose infusion would occur, compared that with the response to intrajugular glucose infusion in conscious rats, and assessed whether this sensing system was associated with autonomic nerve activity. The increases in plasma glucose concentration did not differ between the two infusions at 3 min, but the rapid-phase insulin response was detected only in the intraportal infusion. A sharp and rapid insulin response was observed at 3 min after intraportal infusion of a small amount of glucose but not after intrajugular infusion. Furthermore, this insulin response was also induced by intraportal fructose infusion but not by nonmetabolizable sugars. The rapid-phase insulin response at 3 min during intraportal infusion did not differ between rats that had undergone hepatic vagotomy or chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine compared with control rats, but this response disappeared in rats that had undergone chemical vagotomy with atropine. We conclude that the elevation of glucose concentration in the hepatoportal region induced afferent signals from undetectable sensors and that these signals stimulate pancreas to induce the rapid-phase insulin response via cholinergic nerve action.
portal vein; autonomic nerve; glucose sensing
Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: A. Mizuno, Depts. of Clinical Biology and Medicine, Univ. of Tokushima School of Medicine, 3-18-15 Kuramoto, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan (e-mail: mizuno{at}clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp )
