Risk assessment tools incorporating human error probabilities in the Japanese small-sized establishment

Although it has been estimated that as many as 80% of all occupational accidents have human errors as a cause, no risk assessment tools incorporating human-related elements have been developed for small companies. Human error probability (HEP) and human error analysis (HEA) have been used for large-scale, safety-critical industries for last three decades, but these tools are not suitable for smaller, more general industries that comprise the majority of accident settings.Here, we describe and verify a risk assessment tool that includes human-related elements for small companies. The tool expands on traditional risk assessment methods, such as matrix, risk graph and numerical scoring method, by adding human-related elements. The tool is easy-to-use in occupational environments, and includes assessments of human behavior and potentially outdated machinery at work place.     

Urban horticulture: its significance to environmental conservation

Urban horticulture, defined as plant production activities that are conducted in a city or suburb that produce horticultural plants that are wholly or partially edible, and which are economically viable, has the potential to reduce CO₂ emissions caused by the transportation of produce. Moreover, to increase productivity in limited areas and use limited resources effectively, closed or semi-closed systems (i.e., greenhouses) are considered more advantageous than open systems (i.e., fields) from which resources can easily escape into the surrounding environment. In this paper the significance of urban horticulture in reducing CO₂ emissions in the transportation process is discussed with reference to simple case studies. In the context of building or rebuilding greenhouses suitable for urban horticulture, the present situation regarding resource inputs and outputs in greenhouses is compared to that in open fields. The reduction of resource inputs and outputs in greenhouse production is also discussed.     

Über die Zusammenwirkung des H2S mit Schwermetallsalz auf das Lab

The Science of Nature -     

Organizational issues for disseminating recycling technologies of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics in the Japanese industrial landscape

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) are used for structural materials in the aircraft and automotive industries due to their lightweight and...     

Effects of resource availability,predators, conspecifics and heterospecifics on decorating behaviour by the majid crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tiarinia cornigera</Emphasis>

Utilization of algae for decorating by the intertidal majid crab Tiarinia cornigera was examined by laboratory experiments in relation to availability of algae, presence of a predator, and the presence of conspecific and heterospecific crabs. Different availabilities of decorating materials had a positive correlation on decorating amount by juveniles, while the correlation was not so clear in subadults. The amount of decorating decreased with increasing density of conspecific crabs in the presence of a predator, but there was so clear relationship in the absence of a predator. The decrease in decorating under high density could be due to intraspecific aggression, because the superior crab, in fighting, was found to be decorated with more algae. Tiarinia cornigera was found to be superior to the co-occurring different majid species Micippa platipes in fighting. When T. cornigera and M. platipes were housed together, the former was decorated with more algae than the latter in the presence of a predator, but in the absence of a predator, the amount of algae was not different. Thus, presence of a predator may motivate intraspecific competition in T. cornigera as well as interspecific competition between T. cornigera and M. platipes for decorating materials.     

Assessment of biological effects and harm to Japanese medaka due to carbonized carbon fibers generated by a pyrolysis carbon fiber recycling process

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) are used as structural materials in the aircraft and automotive industries owing to their lightweight and...     

Comparison of telomere length among different life cycle stages of the jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda

The polyp (scyphistoma) of the jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda reproduces asexually repeatedly, while the medusa, the sexually reproducing stage, exhibits a relatively shorter life span. As a first step to understand the mechanism behind the differences in the life spans of the polyp and medusa stages of the jellyfish, we compared the lengths of the telomere region of one targeted chromosome between the polyp and medusa stages using a modified single telomere length assay (STELA). The double-stranded regions of the telomeres were amplified by PCR, and the average length of the PCR products was estimated by densitometry analysis of the gel smear. Chromosomes within cells of the bell region of the medusa were characterized by longer telomeres than those of polyps, asexual propagules, or other regions of the medusa. This is the first study to estimate the telomere lengths of targeted chromosomes in a cnidarian and opens a way to understand the mechanism underlying different life spans of the polyp and medusa stages.     

Evaluation of activated carbon fiber filter for sampling of organochlorine pesticides in environmental water samples

A simple method for quantitative analyses of organic chlorine pesticides (OCPs) in environmental water samples such as rainwater, river water and seawater using activated carbon fiber filters (ACFF) is described. ACFF was used as adsorbent to collect the chemicals in water samples. The collection of OCPs was completed almost for one day by stirring the mixture of the sample and the ACFF chips at room temperature. The adsorbed OCPs on the ACFF could be extracted easily with toluene-ethanol (4:1) mixed solvent. The purified extract by a florisil column chromatograph was followed by the analysis using high-resolution gas chromatograph/high-resolution mass spectrometer. Recoveries of OCPs spiked to actual samples such as rainwater, river water and seawater samples were approximately more than 80%, and the coefficients of variations were within 10%. This method was applied to the actual samples and was confirmed to be applicable for monitoring sub-ng/l level OCPs in environmental water samples.