Yomiuri Science and Technology College

Sustainable ecosystem services are increasingly recognized amid rapid regional transformation. While the rate of urbanization in China continues to rise, there is an urgent need to evaluate public preferences and their associated economic values concerning urban green space (UGS). The aim of this study was to calculate the overall willingness-to-pay (WTP) for UGS across China. Literature search was performed systematically on Scopus, Scilit, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases on 11 November 2023. Studies reporting the WTP in China were included in the analysis. Quality of the included studies were appraised by using Q-SSP tool consisting of 20-item quality of survey studies in psychology. To calculate the overall willing to pay rate and WTP, a meta-analysis was performed using restricted maximum-likelihood model on raw proportions. A total of nine studies were included comprised of 9381 valid responses with high quality according to Q-SSP (score: 70–90%). Findings from the meta-analysis indicated that the rate of willing to pay for UGS was 70.8% (95%CI: 60%, 82%; p-Het<0.001, I2= 99.37%). The rate was not affected by sample size, age, gender, and education (p>0.05). Among mainland Chinese population alone, the average minimum WTP was 2.97 USD/month, and increased to 3.36 USD/month if combined with Hong Kong population. A majority of over 70% Chinese population were willing to pay for UGS. Nevertheless, high heterogeneity in the pooled estimates suggest the importance of addressing contextual variables and presence of regional disparities.

Menopause is derived from the Greek words men (month) and pauses (cessation) and means permanent cessation of menstruation after the loss of ovarian activity. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has recently been associated with cardiovascular events in several studies. CKD patients have a heavy burden of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in addition to a range of nontraditional risk factors such as inflammation and abnormal metabolism of calcium and phosphate. In this review, the association of CKD and cardiovascular disease (CVD), as well as of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women is discussed. CKD mineral and bone disorder, characterized by disturbances of calcium/phosphate/parathyroid hormone, bone abnormalities and vascular and soft tissue calcification, is highly prevalent in CKD and is a strong, independent predictor of bone fracture, CVD and death. Estrogen has been shown to: (a) decrease the expression of angiotensin type 1 receptors in vasculature and kidneys; (b) reduce the expression and activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme, and (c) cause the release of angiotensinogen substrate from the liver. However, the degree of activation or suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system by estrogen has not been clearly established. Clinical data on the effects of estrogen therapy on bone mineral densities are extremely limited in the ESRD population. CVD is the most common cause of death in postmenopausal women with CKD and many contributing factors have been explored. Future research for prevention of CVD in postmenopausal women with CKD would focus on the biology of vascular calcification as well as bone loss.

In recent years, many environmental problems have been discussed all over the world. Recently, not only the sound management of forest but also regeneration of forest resources has been expected because the acts of forest arc important to protection of global environment. But in reality, management and control of forest are far from idealistic situation. In this report (part 2), effective appliance of forest floor with multi storied forest is described about the sound forest management from the economical effects and ecological points.

Unusual uplift of the land was found about an insular active volcano Iwo-jima, Ogasawara archipelago, 1, 200 km south of Tokyo. Remarkable retreat of shore line was revealed by reviewing topographic maps and aerophotographs of the island. Some upward movements of the island are to be one of the most principal reasons of the retreat. As the clear evidences of the upheaval of the land, following phenomena were observed by the writers who investigated the island five times from 4th July to 23rd August 1968 : a) Sunken vessels and a landing craft have emerged on the western coastal beach of the island : b) Faults and cracks appeared on the abandoned run-way of the former Japanese Navy in the central part of the island ; c) Coastal reef emerged on the sea to connect off shore islet with the island ; d) New coastal terraces were formed on the sand beaches ; e) Fresh living corals were exposed on the sea.Results of the investigations are enumerated as follows : 1) About 8 m upheaval of the land since 1953-4 was revealed by levelling survey at the western coast of the island. 2) Amount of uplift observed on the above-mentioned run-way is smaller in its central part than in both terminals, maximum vertical displacement of the fault being 3 m. 3) Tide gauge installed at the western rocky coastrecorded slight relative down of sea level but further observation should be continued without disturbance by typhoon to obtain more reliable data. 4) No expected microseisms were recorded on the high sensitive electro-magnetic seismographs except 2 or 3 per day. 5) Temperature of the fumarolic gases were 95-123°C, 10-25°C higher than that observed in 1935. In spite of the rise in temperature, gases of so called high temperature type, such as sulphur dioxide and halogens, were not contained. 6) Composition of the sublimates also accords with these results of chemical analyses of the gases. 7) Content of each main component element and its ratio to other ones is quite variable in several hot springs whose pH values range from 2.1 to 6.8. 8) Analcite was identified by X-ray and DTA analyses in the tuff forming Moto-yama, an eastern main flat cone of the island. Genetic condition of the mineral inferred from its chemical composition may indicate submarine eruption of the volcano. 9) Three weak zones were recognized by the present investigations in addition to the two ones previously reported by Tsuya. Thus three are arranged radially through the center of the eastern main cone and the two are arranged concentrically around the foot of the same cone. From these weak zones phreatic explosions are expected in future, if they occur. 10) Nothing more than mere weak phreatic explosion was recorded through the historic activity of the volcano. Artificial filling up of the vent, such as the pavement of the surface often causes the small explosion at fumarole. 11) Submarine eruption recently found at the sea bottom, about 5.4 km NNE of the South Sulphur Island, about 50 km south of the island did not occur recently but must have repeated rather stationarily.According to the present investigations, no remarkable magmatic explosion could be expected except those small phreatic ones, same one of which has often occurred on the island. Chemical composition of the gases does not indicate any approach of hot magma to the surface.