bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioweapons and Dual-Use Research of Concern
Authors: Shinomiya Nariyoshi ,   Department of Integrative Physiology and Bio-Nano Medicine, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan, Minehata Masamichi , Dando Malcolm ,   Bradford Disarmament Research Centre, University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK,   Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK
Published: April 2016

The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) strictly prohibits State Parties from developing, producing, stockpiling or otherwise acquiring or retaining microbial and other biological agents that have no justification for peaceful purposes. At the time the convention was concluded, progress in the life sciences received little attention. Recent technological advances, especially in biotechnology, have brought attention, however, to the issue of dual-use research of concern (DURC). Dual-use research is defined as biological research with a legitimate scientific purpose that may, if misused, pose a biological threat to public health and/or national security. The most important and burdensome point of DURC is that we cannot escape the dual-use dilemma existing in all research activities. The DURC concept is an old but in a sense a new issue to be dealt with. Here we focus on the bioweapons and DURC – a subject that has received attention worldwide. In this review, we start with an overview of the historical development of bioweapons and then discuss their prohibition regimes focusing mainly on the BWC framework. Dramatic progress in biotechnology/recombinant DNA technology around the turn of the century brought a new experimental paradigm and affected the direction in which the life sciences should go. The Fink report and Lemon-Relman report have presented potential options for the healthy development of the life sciences. Exploring several important DURC case studies helps in understanding the nature of the dual-use dilemma more deeply. DURC in the area of the life sciences has been expanding broadly and has reached the neurosciences. Synthetic biology has introduced innovative approaches in creating novel living organisms. The convergence of chemistry and biology has become an inevitable stream in the recent development of the life sciences. Under these circumstances, the responsibility of scientists is becoming increasingly important. To deal appropriately with dual-use issues, risks and benefits must first be evaluated fairly and clearly, which makes the development of DURC evaluation methods an urgent issue. Both top-down approaches such as rules for smoothly processing of research, funding policies, and oversight mechanisms, and bottom-up approaches, i.e., researcher-oriented self-governance need to be mutually harmonized so that the life sciences may be applied more securely. The education of life scientists and the importance of outreach to society are also key means to success.
Dual-Use Issues in the Life Sciences: Outcomes of the Seventh Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention
Authors: Tanaka Kiwako ,   The National Institute for Defense Studies, 2-2-1 Nakameguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8648, Japan
Published: April 2016

Current advances in the life sciences have brought about immense improvements in the areas of health and agricultural productivity worldwide. The technology and knowledge that are used for such advances can, however, be potentially misused as biological weapons. This dual-use nature of the life sciences has become a serious concern, particularly with developments in synthetic biology or “-omics” technologies, such as genomics and proteomics, combined with the increasingly widespread accessibility and use of communications technologies. The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) is a unique multilateral legal framework that is envisaged to play a significant role in preventing such misuse and misconduct. This paper analyzes the outcomes of the Seventh Review Conference of the BWC, which was held in December 2011, in light of recent scientific and technological developments in the life sciences. It recognizes the establishment of an annual review channel of scientific and technological developments during the intersessional periods between review conferences as a step forward in addressing the dual-use issues related to the BWC. This paper also recommends that, to further strengthen its applicability, this review channel must be utilized effectively to translate the outcomes of the review into national implementation measures, including codes of conduct, education, and awarenessraising.
Synthetic Biology and Dual Use
Authors: Kiga Daisuke ,   Department of Computational Intelligence and Systems Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, J2-1806, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
Published: April 2016

Synthetic biology is science or technology concerning layers of life such as individuals, organs, cells. In this field, components of a layer are combined to construct a system in the upper layer. This paper focuses on studies, at a layer related to gene recombinant experiments, modifying genes and combining multiple genes. By introducing research accomplishments in synthetic biology such as gene networks and synthesis of the whole genome, this paper explains how synthetic biology is an extension of conventional gene engineering and the field of interdisciplinary open innovation. The risks of synthetic biology and risk reduction methods are also introduced.
Dual-Use Research and the Myth of Easy Replication
Authors: Ouagrham-Gormley Sonia Ben ,   Biodefense Program, Department of Public and International Affairs, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
Published: April 2016

Since 2000 a number of controversial research projects have raised concerns that states or terrorist groups might use published research results to replicate the work for malevolent purposes. The issue came into greater focus in December 2011, after it was revealed that the U.S.-based National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity had requested one U.S. and another Dutch lab to halt publication of work describing what was done to enhance the transmissibility of the H5N1 flu virus to mammals. In spite of a decade of debate and policy development to prevent bio-attacks and the misuse of dual-use research, little effort has been made to determine whether scientific publications can indeed help replication by untrained individuals. This paper taps into the extensive science and technology literature and recent studies in the security field, to show that replication of scientific work is inherently difficult and probably inaccessible to untrained individuals. The paper also offers new policy options designed to more effectively prevent the misuse of dual-use research.
Evidence-Based Analysis of Search and Rescue Operations Following the Great East Japan Earthquake
Authors: Koresawa Atsushi ,   Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA), Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication, 2-1-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8927, Japan
Published: April 2016

The March 11, 2011 earthquake off Japan’s northeast (Tohoku) Pacific coast and the resulting gigantic tsunamis took the lives of nearly 18,000 people in the devastated coastal communities. In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, now called Great East Japan Earthquake, search and rescue (SAR) for those who were trapped in tsunami waters and debris and who were missing was the top priority in the integrated emergency response. Eventually, SAR operations were performed on an unprecedented scale and complexity. This being the case, a strong interest in the details of these activities has surfaced and frequent enquiries have often been made both from within Japan and from overseas. Still, few studies have been conducted to-date on how SAR operations were performed and what lessons have been learned as a result. By analyzing the experiences of fire service rescue workers, this paper identifies challenges and gaps that the SAR system – institutions, policy frameworks and instruments, skills and techniques, equipment, etc. – could not fully deal with. This paper also looks at the lessons learned to examine the reasons behind them and to explore ways forward that may enable us to be better prepared for future disasters of a similar kind.
A Study on Internal Radiation Exposure due to 137Cs Caused by Fukushima Daiichi NPP Accident
Authors: Furutani Tomoyuki ,   Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University, 5322, Endo, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0082, Japan, Tsubokura Masaharu , Uehara Keisuke , Nihei Masahiko , Sakuma Yu ,   The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan,   Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, 5322, Endo, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0882, Japan,   Hirata Radioactivity Inspection Center, 30 Oosumi, Kamiyomogita, Hirata-mura, Ishikawa-gun, Fukushima, Japan
Published: April 2016

This paper aims to clarify the effect of 137Cs internal exposure after the Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident. Using data of approximately 34,000 examinees of a whole-body counter conducted by the Hirata Central Hospital from October 11, 2011 to January 31, 2013, the relationship between internal radiation dose and food ingestion is empirically and quantitatively demonstrated. As a result, elderly people who lived near the Fukushima NPPs and have daily eaten local rice and fungi have a tendency to display higher internal radiation dose.
Long-Period Ground Motions Observed in the Northern Part of Kanto Basin, During the 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake, Japan
Authors: Tsuno Seiji ,   Earthquake Disaster Prevention, Railway Technical Research Institute, 2-8-38 Hikari-cho, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo 185-5840, Japan, Pramatadie Andi Muhamad , Dhakal Yadab P. , Chimoto Kosuke , Tsutsumi Wakana , Yamanaka Hiroaki ,   Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8502, Japan
Published: April 2016

During the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake (Mw 9.0), strong ground motions were observed at many seismic stations in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area located about 200 km away from the southern edge of the earthquake source fault. Large earthquake responses in high-rise buildings having long natural periods of several seconds were also observed. The largest ground responses for a period of 4 to 5 seconds were observed locally in Oyama (K-NET TCG012) and Koga (K-NET IBR009) on the border between Tochigi and Ibaraki Prefectures in the northern part of Kanto basin. Geophysical information in these areas was not accurate enough, however, to evaluate these ground motions. To understand S-wave velocity structures, we performed array microtremors observations at TCG012 seismic station in Oyama. We applied the Spatial Autocorrelation (SPAC) method to array microtremors data for vertical components. Rayleigh wave phase velocity from 0.3 to 1.6 km/s was obtained for a period of 0.25 to 3 seconds. We inverted phase velocity to a S-wave velocity structure reaching to bedrock at a depth of 1.6 km, using a Genetic Algorithm. The estimated structure explained the first peak of the H/V spectral ratio of microtremors well by the ellipticity of fundamentalmode Rayleigh wave. To evaluate long-period ground motions observed around Oyama during the main shock, we estimated earthquake ground motions by 1-D analysis, showing agreements with and the differences from those observed. As a result, velocity calculated at IBR008 located midway between the Tsukuba Mountains and Oyama, explained that observed for main phases and later phases. However, velocity calculated at TCG012 did not explain that observed for later phases. According to the emphasis of airy phases for group velocity of Love wave using the estimated S-wave velocity structure and the principal axis for later phases obtained by PCA corresponding to the vibration direction of Love wave propagating from the earthquake source fault and through the Tsukuba Mountains, long-period ground motions of a period of 3 to 5 seconds observed at TCG012 lasting for 200 seconds after the arrival of main phases, consist of Love wave.
The Emergence of Food Panic: Evidence from the Great East Japan Earthquake
Authors: Oscar A. Gómez S.  ,   Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Graduate School of Global Studies, Doshisha University, 602-0898 Karasuma-dori, Kamidachiuri-agaru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Published: April 2016

This paper documents a food panic in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, following the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake. A food panic is defined as a situation in which the general population fears losing access to food supplies, including drinking water, for an unknown length of time and, as a consequence, exhibits at least one of the following abnormal behaviors: panic buying, hoarding, or panic flight, probably aggravated by indiscriminate price hikes. Primary and secondary data, including media reports, official documents, direct observation, semistructured interviews, and an original survey, describe the characteristics of the food panic and suggest the mechanisms behind its occurrence. The reactions of major actors are depicted, highlighting the importance of the private sector in dealing with food panics. Suggestions for preparedness against such panics and challenges in future studies are covered in the last section.
Case Study for Local Municipal Program for Seismic Risk Assessment
Authors: Hasegawa Nobusuke ,   National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, 3-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0006, Japan
Published: April 2016

The national seismic hazard maps for Japan present useful information on local earthquake environments, but we have not yet found a practical use for these maps in earthquake-disaster prevention and mitigation measures practiced by residents. The use of these maps requires risk rather than hazard information. This article discusses what is needed for the use of seismic risk information in local areas. If risk information is to be used, risk must be defined, and who uses it and what for must be made clear. I define house damage risk based on probabilistic seismic hazard as a seismic risk, regarding it as information that contributes to goal setting and planning for earthquakedisaster prevention and mitigation measures by residents in disaster-prevention community planning discussed by Kawabata [1]. Accordingly, the use of seismic risk information requires efforts in disasterprevention community planning. This article selects two cases of workshops held to raise the awareness of residents about disaster prevention and discusses the promotion of disaster-prevention community planning. As a result, both cases showed changes in awareness about local disaster-prevention capacity to varying degrees, and it is confirmed that this awareness is promoted to disaster-prevention community planning through the following essentials: (i) monitoring changes in the awareness of residents about disaster prevention and (ii) setting up methods and human resources for disaster-prevention community planning in the area. Efforts in disaster-prevention community planning by residents has been effectively developed in areas involving local municipal government. It is confirmed that this requires local management, i.e., a system using methods such as taking town walks, creating disaster-prevention maps, and playing disaster imagination games. These in turn cause the government to prepare menus selectable by residents in line with their situations and as a service to residents that promotes disaster-prevention community planning.
Prototype of a Real-Time System for Earthquake Damage Estimation in Japan
Authors: Nakamura Hiromitsu ,   National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, 3-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0006, Japan, Aoi Shin , Kunugi Takashi , Suzuki Wataru , Fujiwara Hiroyuki
Published: April 2016

J-RISQ, a real-time system for earthquake damage estimation, was developed provide information by combining amplification characteristic data for subsurface ground accumulated in the course of the development of the Japan Seismic Hazard Information Station (JSHIS), basic information on population and buildings, methods for predicting ground motion, methods for assessing building damage, and strong motion data observed by K-NET and KiK-net in real-time. J-RISQ estimates spatial ground motion distribution from seismic intensity information sent at different timing for observation stations, estimates population exposure to seismic intensity and building damage using estimated ground motion as input, and provides information to users via Web browser or email using Web GIS. J-RISQ estimation is based on intensity data obtained at different timing to ensure recency by updating results when it receives new data and updates results when it receives estimation results. J-RISQ provides and collects information using questionnaires from users on actual motion and damage situations. We have operated the system on trial from 2010 and estimated over 500 earthquakes in real-time. As a result, the system provides the first report 30 seconds after it receives intensity information at a certain level or larger, thus showing sufficient performance from the perspective of providing immediate information.
Effectiveness of Disaster-Based School Program on Students’ Earthquake-Preparedness
Authors: Adiyoso Wignyo ,   Graduate School of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University, 56-1 Toji-in Kitamachi, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8577, Japan, Kanegae Hidehiko ,   National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS), Jl. Taman Suropati No.2, Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia,   Institute of Disaster Mitigation of Urban Cultural Heritage (DMUCH), Ritsumeikan University, 58 Komatsubara Kitamachi, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8341, Japan
Published: April 2016

Given the importance of public disaster education, efforts have been made to integrate disaster risk reduction in the school system. Studies focusing on the effects of school disaster programs on actual preparedness and factors influencing preparedness behaviour, however, have been limited. The present study assesses the effectiveness of disaster risk education (DRR) in schools by comparing students in two junior high schools regarding action taken in earthquake preparedness and major factors of disaster preparedness such as risk knowledge, risk perception, critical awareness and attitude. Data on earthquake preparedness and other variables were collected from two junior high schools in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Participants were 124 students froma school adopting disaster risk reduction education and 115 students from a school not adopting it. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) revealed that there was a significant difference in investigated variables among students although their level of actual preparedness was quite low. This study provided evidence that having a school adopting disaster risk reduction issues effectively enhanced knowledge, risk perception, critical awareness and attitude but limited in preparedness behaviour. Efforts should be taken by policy makers, teachers, and other stakeholders to develop public education in schools focusing on changes in preparedness behaviour.
Tornado Disaster 2012 in Northern Kanto and the Features of Tornado Disasters in Japan
Authors: Maeda Junji ,   Faculty of Human-Environment Studies, Kyushu University, 6-10-1, Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan, Tomokiyo Eriko
Published: April 2016

Several almost simultaneously tornadoes on May 6, 2012, in Northern Kanto, Japan caused widespread damage and injury. Based on site investigations, one hit Tsukuba City in Ibaraki Prefecture was classified as F3-plus on the Fujita scale. What we found was a relatively little-known damage situation in Japan that included a wooden residence turned over and pulling up its concrete foundation, a severely damaged fivestorey reinforced-concrete building, and an unusually high number of wooden buildings completely destroyed. Another tornado hitting an elementary school in Moka City in Tochigi Prefecture did not injure anyone because it occurred on a Sunday, when school was out. The amount of damage at the school, however, made us realize how few basic antitornado measures were in place at tornado-education facilities. This paper summerizes tornado effects in Tsukuba and discusses some of the features of recent tornado damage in Japan.
Missile Impact Resistant Test of Glasses According to ISO 16932
Authors: Maruyama Takashi ,   Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Ujishi, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan, Kawai Hiromasa , Nishimura Hiroaki , Hanatani Mayuko ,   Tokyo Denki University, Hikigun, Hatoyamacho, Ishizaka, Saitama 350-0394, Japan,   General Building Research Corporation of Japan, 5-8-1 Fujishirodai, Suita, Osaka 565-0873, Japan,   Kyoto University, Gokasho, Ujishi, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
Published: April 2016

The importance of protecting windows from windborne debris has been pointed out in many reports on wind induced disaster. In Japan, there are still no building codes or standards to protect cladding from wind-borne debris. In contrast, both American and ISO standards cover specifications, including testing methods, for cladding performance under impact by wind-borne debris. A series of impact tests was conducted to evaluate the safety of different types of window glasses. This paper describes results for impact resistant tests, including destruction modes, for float glass, tempered glass, wired glass and glass with film based on ISO standards using an air cannon to propel missiles, e.g., debris. It was found that glass other than that with film was destroyed by the “missile A,” which is categorized in the lowest rank of the test missile of ISO standards. Thus, film minimally improves the impact resistant performance of glass.
Next Generation of Soil-Structure Interaction Models for Design of Nuclear Power Plants
Authors: Tyapin Alexander G. ,   JSC “Atomenergoproject,” 1-119 Slaviansky boul., Moscow 121352, Russia
Published: April 2016

The author here shares his vision of next-generation models for seismic soil-structure interaction (SSI) analysis. These models should combine reasonable considerations of wave effects in half-infinite soil with a correct representation of nonlinearity in the structure, and in both the so-called near field, i.e., in that part of soil near a base mat, and in the soil-structure contact surface. The far field, i.e., all of the soil except for the near field, is treated as a linear horizontally layered medium, as is currently done in the well-known program SASSI. The importance of considering nonlinear effects even in very stiff structures like NPPs was shown by the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake that hit northeastern Japan’s Pacific coast. Although the idea of calculating SSI wave effects in the time domain has been around for several decades ago, current NPP design practices are linear. Next-generation SSI models should enable practical time-domain analysis. The author suggests a road map – the sequence of problems to be solved to achieve a proposed level. Some of these problems have already been solved, at least in principle, but other solutions are yet to be found. The author describes the current status of his research and ideas about implementing modern computational techniques such as parallel computation.
Secular Changes in the Tidal Amplitude and Influence of Sea-Level Rise in the East China Sea
Authors: Tai Akira ,   Institute for Advanced Study, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan, Tanaka Kaori ,   Department of Marine System Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
Published: April 2016

The characteristics of secular changes in M2tidal amplitude in the East China Sea and the effect of projected sea level rise on tide amplitude were studied. Based on measurement data analysis, it was clarified that rapid sea level rise and M2tidal amplitude decrease had been observed at observatories that face the East China Sea around 1998. The change in M2tidal amplitude of the East China Sea by sea level rise was then studied in numerical experiments. And results showed that tidal amplitude increased on the west coast of the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait. A similar study was conducted for the Yatsushiro Sea and the Ariake Sea, which showed the highest M2tidal amplitude in Japan. As a result, it was found that M2tidal amplitude increased in the whole bays, which was against resonance tide theory. It was shown that mean sea level rise and M2tidal amplitude increase and decrease affected by sea level rise must be considered when predicting the risk of seashore disaster by global warming.
Development of Damage Functions on Road Infrastructures Subjected to Extreme Ground Excitations by Analyzing Damage in the 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake
Authors: Shoji Gaku ,   Division of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, Information and Systems, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan, Nakamura Tomoharu ,   Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan
Published: April 2016

Road infrastructure damage due to extreme ground excitations during theMarch 2011 Tohoku earthquake was assessed and 161 items of damage road structure data were classified into three types of failure modes: road surface and embankment damage items, road surface crack items and road subsidence items. We then compared a damage ratio, which is defined by the number of damage points divided by total road length, to the estimated spatial distribution of JMA instrumental seismic intensity. The maximum damage ratio for the 161 damage data items is 0.0290 points/km compared to a JMA instrumental seismic intensity of 5.8. Last, we developed damage functions for road infrastructures subjected to extreme ground excitations, which describe the relationship between the damage ratios and seismic intensity.
Implementation of Prototype Mobile Application Operated on Smartphones for Micromedia Service
Authors: Inoguchi Munenari ,   Reseach Institute for Natural Hazard and Disaster Recovery, Niigata University, 8050 Ikarashi Nino-cho, Nishi-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 950-2181, Japan, Tamura Keiko , Sudo Satomi , Hayashi Haruo ,   Risk Management Office, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan,   Gobal Survey Corporation, Saitama, Japan,   Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Published: April 2016

Many people were injured or otherwise suffered during evacuation or on their way home in the Greater Tokyo Area during the 2011 East Japan (Tohoku) Earthquake. One lesson from this disaster was that they had to decide what was best based on their individual attribute. However, we have no supporting tool for them to decide their appropriate behavior, so we designed and developed an information provision system, based on a micromedia concept, that features (i) using logs of their location logs, and (ii) introducing spatial data mashup method to abstract information based on individual user needs. We then implemented our prototype application and got reviews from 64 users. As the result of evaluation to our system from 64 users, most of them accepted the concept of micromedia, but pointed out issues about spatial layers management, personal information treatment and how to express information.
Macro Analysis of Initial Responses from Yabuki Municipal Government After the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake
Authors: Numada Muneyoshi ,   International Center for Urban Safety Engineering, Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan, Meguro Kimiro
Published: April 2016

An effective initial response immediately after disaster strikes is not easy to provide when human and material resources and information are lacking. The purpose of this study is to achieve effective initial response activities immediately after disaster strikes, and it analyzes the initial responses taken by the government of the town of Yabuki, Fukushima Prefecture in the case of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. Disaster responses taken in the first five days after the disaster struck Yabuki are discussed in this paper. As a result, we have found that many staff members were deployed to nonregular works, such as food service, water service, and the sorting and transporting of materials, that could have been done even without town government staff members. To effectively deploy about all Yabuki staff members and conduct disaster response activities, it is necessary to classify the difficulty level of tasks, identify what each task entails, and then allocate the necessary resources to those tasks.
Are Cash for Work (CFW) Programs Effective to Promote Disaster Recovery? Evidence from the Case of Fukushima Prefecture
Authors: Nagamatsu Shingo ,   Faculty of Safety Science, Kansai University, 7-1 Hakubaicho, Takatsukishi, Osaka 569-1098, Japan
Published: April 2016

This paper aims to evaluate CFW programs as a disaster recovery policy tool in terms of the psychological aspects, using the questionnaire survey data of 897 participants in Fukushima Prefecture. The main findings are as follows: those who “want to contribute to the reconstruction of Fukushima,” “to newly acquire experience or skills” and “have access to trainer or instructor” significantly felt being “connected” and thought “positively” to the future. Interestingly, evacuees as a group generally had positive views for the future. The primary conclusion is that CFW has been successfully targeted to a vulnerable group, and has a psychologically positive impact on the participants, and especially on the evacuees.
How Can We Collect and Summarize Information About Emergency Response Operations?
Authors: Maki Norio ,   Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Gokanosyo, Uji, Kyoto, Japan
Published: April 2016

This paper discusses emergency response information processing. Information collection and summarization techniques are discussed based on case studies of real emergency responses in Japan, such as that during the March 11, 2011, Tohoku Earthquake. The emergency operation center (EOC) layout made it possible to share information effectively, as is discussed together with a format for summarizing emergency response operations.
A Fundamental Study of Efficiency of Information Processing in Emergency Operations Center
Authors: Ichinose Fumiaki ,   NTT Secure Platform Laboratories, 3-9-11 Midori-Cho, Musashino-Shi, Tokyo 180-8585, Japan, Maeda Yuji , Kosaka Naoko , Higashida Mitsuhiro , Sugiyama Masahiro , Takeda Hideki , Yamamoto Tomomi , Hayashi Haruo ,   Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation, Osaka, Japan,   NTT Learning Systems Corporation, Tokyo, Japan,   Kashihara City in Nara Prefecture, Nara, Japan,   Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji-shi, Kyoto, Japan
Published: April 2016

Many of the emergency operations centers that take the initiative in commanding and controlling on disaster response still rely on inefficient manual information processing even though they have ICT systems at hand. This paper reports on 3-year functional exercises in a local government using ICT to improve information processing.
Practice on an Education and Training Program to Development of Response Literacy to Earthquake Disaster in a Central Business District in Japan
Authors: Masuzawa Yoe ,   Masuzawa Engineering Research & Consulting, 4-11-9-309 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan, Hisada Yoshiaki , Murakami Masahiro , Shindo Jun , Miyamura Masamitsu , Suwa Hitoshi , Tanaka Satoshi , Mizukoshi Kaoru , Nakajima Yosuke ,   Faculty of Architecture, Kogakuin University, Tokyo, Japan,   Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Risk Management, Tokyo, Japan,   Obayashi Corporation, Tokyo, Japan,   Graduate School of Environment and Disaster Research, Tokoha University, Shizuoka, Japan,   Mizukoshi and Associates, Tokyo, Japan,   Engineering and Risk Services Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
Published: April 2016

This paper discusses an experiential training and education program designed to improve the response literacy in the event of a large-scale earthquake in the Shinjuku station area in Tokyo, which is a central business district representative of Japan. The features of the Shinjuku station area are described, and the activities of the Shinjuku Station Area Disaster Response Measure Committee, made up of businesses and other concerns located in the vicinity of Shinjuku station, as well as the education and training program implemented by the committee to train personnel are introduced. An overview is given of the seminars and workshops given as part of the education and training program in fiscal 2013, targeted at employees of businesses in charge of disaster response. The report then describes the Comprehensive Disaster Preparedness Drill, which was conducted for the purpose of enabling the participants of the seminars and workshops to practice the skills and techniques for disaster response they had acquired, and conducting a comprehensive exercise on disaster response activities within businesses or the area. Finally, the results of a questionnaire survey conducted on the drill participants are discussed.
The Largest Earthquakes We Should Prepare for
Authors: Matsuzawa Toru ,   Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, 6-6 Aza-Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan
Published: April 2016

We should estimate the size of the largest earthquakes carefully to minimize future earthquake losses. Taking the earth’s size and the thickness of the lithosphere into account, the largest earthquakes are estimated to have a magnitude (M) of 11. The occurrence of such a gigantic earthquake, however, could wipe out the human race because energy from an M11 earthquake would be as large as the asteroid impact that is thought to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. This would make it meaningless to prepare for M11 earthquakes. It would be more realistic to calculate the seismic moment expected from the longest plate boundary, i.e., from the northern to northwestern boundary of the Pacific plate. The plate boundary is about 10,100 km long and the magnitude of an earthquake occurring there is estimated at approximately 10, assuming that the fault is 200 kmwide and average slip is 20 m. This means that M10 events would be the largest earthquakes we could estimate as occurring. It will not be pragmatic, however, to attempt to devise measures against such extremely rare events. It is nonetheless important to numerically simulate beforehand what might happen during such events to quickly and accurately determine the initial response to quake shaking and tsunamis.
Contribution of Slow Earthquake Study for Assessing the Occurrence Potential of Megathrust Earthquakes
Authors: Obara Kazushige ,   Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
Published: April 2016

Studies of slow earthquakes during the last decade have suggested a relationship between various types of earthquakes occurring at the interface between subducting oceanic plates and overlying continental plates. Such a relationship has been postulated for slow earthquakes, which are distributed between the stable sliding zone and the locked zone, and megathrust earthquakes, which are located in the locked zone. The adjacency of the respective sources of slow and megathrust earthquakes suggests expected interactions between these two types of earthquakes. Observed interactions between different types of slow earthquakes located at neighbor area suggest a common triggering mechanism in the seismogenic zone. Also, it is expected that stress accumulations in the locked zone should influence stress regimes in surrounding regions; thus, slow earthquake activity in the stable sliding zone may change in response to stress build-up in the locked zone. Numerical simulations reproducing both megathrust and slow earthquakes show a shortening of the recurrence interval between slow earthquake episodes leading up to the occurrence of a megathrust earthquake. Similarities between the activities of slow and megathrust earthquakes, such as those related to periodicity and patterns of multisegment ruptures, are useful for understanding megathrust earthquakes, particularly given the higher frequency of occurrence of slow earthquakes. From this perspective, the continuous and accurate monitoring of slow earthquake activity is important for evaluating the occurrence potential of megathrust earthquakes.
Quasi-Static Stress Change Around Mount Fuji Region Due to Tohoku Mega-Thrust Earthquake
Authors: Fujita Eisuke ,   National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, 3-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0006, Japan, Kozono Tomofumi , Toda Norio , Kikuchi Aiko , Ida Yoshiaki ,   Department of Geophysics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan,   Advance Soft Corporation, 4-3 Kandasurugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
Published: April 2016

The 2011 Tohoku mega-thrust earthquake caused huge crustal deformation over a wide are of Mainland Japan. Many mega-thrust earthquakes worldwide have triggered volcanic eruptions nearby, and it is assumed that stress changes due to the Tohoku earthquake resulted in a perturbation to the magma system. The objectives of our study is to evaluate this perturbation quantitatively and to analyze the mechanism of the interaction between mega-thrust earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. This paper focuses on quasi-static stress change due to viscous relaxation of a source region and the surrounding area.
Volcanic Subsidence Triggered by Megathrust Earthquakes
Authors: Takada Youichiro ,   Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kamitakara Observatory, 2296-2 Hongo, Kamitakara-machi, Takayama city, Gifu 506-1317, Japan, Fukushima Yo ,   Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
Published: April 2016

Studies using spaceborne interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) analysis showed that two megathrust earthquakes – the 2011Mw9.0 Tohoku-oki earthquake in Japan and the 2010Mw8.8Maule earthquake in Chile – triggered unprecedented subsidence in multiple volcanoes. There are strong similarities in the characteristics of the surface deformation in Japan and Chile: (1) Maximum subsidence is about 15 cm. (2) Areas of subsidence are elliptically elongated in a north-south direction perpendicular to the principal axis of the extensional stress change. (3) Most of this subsidence is coseismic. These similarities imply that volcanic subsidence triggered by the megathrust earthquakes is a ubiquitous phenomenon. Nonetheless, the mechanism of subsidence is yet to be investigated. Two main hypotheses have been proposed thus far: 1) The localized deformation of hot and weak plutonic bodies. 2) Water release from large hydrothermal reservoirs beneath the volcanoes.
Special Issue on Enhancing Resilience to Climate and Ecosystem Changes in Semi-Arid Africa
Authors: Takeuchi Kazuhiko , Gyasi Edwin Akonno
Published: April 2016

In 2011, a collaborative project focused on climate and ecosystem change adaptation and resilience studies in Africa (CECAR-Africa) with Ghana as the focal country, was initiated. The goal was to combine climate change and ecosystem change research, and to use that combination as a basis for building an integrated resilience enhancement strategy as a potential model for semi-arid regions across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Project is being financially supported by the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS), a collaborative programme of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). CECAR-Africa involves the following leading climate and ecosystems research organizations in Ghana and Japan: The University of Tokyo; Kyoto University; United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS); University of Ghana; Ghana Meteorological Agency; University for Development Studies; and United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNUINRA).

CECAR-Africa has been operating fully since 2012, with a focus on three thematic areas, namely: Forecast and assessment of climate change impact on agro-ecosystems (Agro-ecosystem resilience); Risk assessment of extreme weather hazards and development of adaptive resource management methods (Engineering resilience); and Implementing capacity development programs for local communities and professionals (social institutions-technical capacity development) using the assessment results derived from work on the first two themes.

This special issue presents major outcomes of the Project so far. The articles featured used various techniques and methods such as field surveys, questionnaires, focal group discussions, land use and cover change analysis, and climate downscaled modelling to investigate the impacts of climate and ecosystem changes on river flows and agriculture, and to assess the local capacity for coping with floods, droughts and disasters, and for enhancing the resilience of farming communities.

We are happy to be able to publish this special issue just in time for an international conference on CECAR-Africa in Tamale, Ghana, on 6-7 August, 2014. It is hoped that the shared research outcomes will facilitate discussions on the project research themes and interactions and exchange of ideas among academics, professionals, and government officials on the way forward for the CECARAfrica Project.

We find it only appropriate to conclude by thanking the authors and reviewers of the articles, and by acknowledging, with gratitude, the local knowledge and other bits and pieces of information contributed by the many anonymous farmers and other people of northern Ghana.
Dynamical Downscaling for Assessment of the Climate in Ghana
Authors: Inatsu Masaru ,   Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, N10W8, Kita, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan, Nakayama Tsubasa , Maeda Yoshie , Matsuda Hirotaka ,   Japan Weather Association, 3-1-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo 170-6055, Japan,   Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan,   Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
Published: April 2016

Dynamical downscaling (DDS), in which a regional atmospheric model (RAM) experiment nested into coarser-resolution data provides a spatio-temporal fine dataset for a particular region, was performed to assess the present climate in Ghana. The DDS successfully evaluated realistic seasonal march and inter-annual variability in rainfall, in comparison with gauge and satellite observation. The DDS also indicated that land-lake and land-sea circulation interacted with the West African monsoon likely characterized the local climate in Ghana.
Impact of Climate Change on River Flows in the Black Volta River
Authors: Sawai Nobuhiko ,   Research and Development Center, Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., 2304 Inarihara, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-1259, Japan, Kobayashi Kenichiro , Apip  , Takara Kaoru , Ishikawa Hirohiko , Yokomatsu Muneta , Samaddar Subhajyoti , Juati Ayilari-Naa , Kranjac-Berisavljevic Gordana ,   Research Center for Urban Safety and Security, Kobe University, Japan,   Research Centre for Limnology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Indonesia,   Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan,   Ghana Meteorological Agency, Ghana,   University for Development Studies, Ghana
Published: April 2016

This paper assesses the impact of climate change in the Black Volta River by using data output from the atmospheric general circulation model with a 20-km resolution (AGCM20) through the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI). The Black Volta, which flows mainly in Burkina Faso and Ghana in West Africa, is a major tributary of the Volta River. The basin covers 142,056 km2 and has a semi-arid tropical climate. Before applying AGCM20 output to a rainfall–runoff model, the performance of the AGCM20 rainfall data is investigated by comparing it with the observed rainfall in the Black Volta Basin. To assess the possible impact of rainfall change on river flow, a kinematic wave model, which takes into consideration saturated and unsaturated subsurface soil zones, was performed. The rainfall analysis shows that, the correlation coefficient of the monthly rainfall between the observed rainfall and AGCM20 for the present climate (1979–2004) is 0.977. In addition, the analysis shows that AGCM20 overestimates precipitation during the rainy season and underestimates the dry season for the present climate. The analysis of the AGCM20 output shows the precipitation pattern change in the future (2075–2099). In the future, precipitation is expected to increase by 3%, whereas evaporation and transpiration are expected to increase by 5% and by 8%, respectively. Also, daily maximum rainfall is expected to be 20 mm, or 60%, higher. Thus, the future climate in this region is expected to be more severe. The rainfall–runoff simulation is successfully calibrated at the Bamboi discharge gauging station in the Black Volta fromJune 2000 to December 2000 with 0.72 of the Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency index. The model is applied with AGCM20 outputs for the present climate (1979–2004) and future climate (2075–2099). The results indicate that future discharge will decrease from January to July at the rate of the maximum of 50% and increase fromAugust to December at the rate of the maximumof 20% in the future. Therefore, comprehensive planning for both floods and droughts are urgently needed in this region.
Cropping Systems in Some Drought-Prone Communities of the Northern Region of Ghana: Factors Affecting the Introduction of Rice
Authors: Avornyo Vincent Kodjo ,   Faculty of Agriculture, University for Development Studies (UDS), P.O. Box TL 1882, Tamale, Ito Osamu , Kranjac-Berisavljevic Gordana , Saito Osamu , Takeuchi Kazuhiko ,   Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS), United Nations University, 53-70, Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan
Published: April 2016

Despite the growing demand for rice in Ghana, domestic rice production remains low, resulting in the importation of about 70% of the rice consumed in Ghana. In spite of the fact that 39-47% of the 20-28% of Ghana’s total geographic area classified as inland valley wetlands is considered suitable for rice cultivation, less than 15% is presently being used. A household survey was therefore conducted in six communities, Fihini (F), Cheshegu (C), Dabogushei (D), Kpalgum (K), Zergua (Z), and Yoggu (Y), of the Tolon district in northern Ghana in order to identify factors affecting the introduction of rice into the cropping system. Maize, groundnut, rice, and yam were found to be the four major crops grown in the communities. Overall, 64% of respondents cultivate rice, but this figure is particularly low (30%) in F and Y communities. Rice is usually combined with two other major crops, most frequently maize and yam. In C, D, and K communities, about 90% of households cultivate at least, three out of the four major crops. The interview with farmers revealed that rice yield is 0.73 t/ha on average and significantly higher in K and C (1.06 t/ha and 0.93 t/ha, respectively) than in D (0.37 t/ha). The average distance from compound houses to rice and maize fields is significantly shorter in C, D, and K. Similarly, the rate of rice introduction in C, D, and K is higher than in F, Z, and Y, suggesting that distance to inland valleys may be one of the factors that influence the incorporation of rice into the cropping systems of these communities. Principal component analysis of crop yields and cattle number for the Y community revealed that rice growers tend to have higher crop productivity while cattle production is higher among non-rice growers. Within the community, the productivity of upland crops and balance between crop production and cattle production may be important factors that influence the incorporation of rice into the cropping system.