Tertiary lithostratigraphy and diatom biostratigraphy are investigated for the lower Miocene sequence distributed in Iwaki-Taira district of the Joban area, Northeast Japan. In addition, chronostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental change of the Tertiary deposits in the Joban area and its environs are established on the basis of various microfossil and megafossil data sets along with radiometric ages. The Tertiary deposits in this area are composed of the Shiramizu Group of the latest Eocene to earliest Oligocene in age, the lower Miocene Yunagaya, Shirado and Takaku Groups, the middle to upper Miocene Taga Group, and the Pliocene Sendai Group in ascending order, with each group bounded by unconformity. The Mizunoya and Honya Formations of the Yunagaya Group are correlative with the early Miocene diatom zone NPD 2B, and the Minamishirado Formation of the Shirado Group and the Kamitakaku Formation of the Takaku Group are correlated to the upper part of zone NPD 3A. A floral and faunal change recognized in the lower part of the Iwaki Formation of the Shiramizu Group may possibly correspond to the global cooling event Oi-1 around the Eocene/Oligocene boundary, an event caused by the first establishment of ice cap in Antarctica. Paleobathymetric change throughout the Neogene period is reconstructed using various micro-and megafossils reported previously from the Neogene sequence in the Joban area. Moreover, paleoclimatic change during the early to earliest middle Miocene is established on the basis of molluscs, plants and various microfossil records.

No abstract

BackgroundIn Japan, a shortage of physicians, who serve a key role in healthcare provision, has been pointed out as a major medical issue. The healthcare workforce policy planner should consider future dynamic changes in physician numbers. The purpose of this study was to propose a physician supply forecasting methodology by applying system dynamics modeling to estimate future absolute and relative numbers of physicians.MethodWe constructed a forecasting model using a system dynamics approach. Forecasting the number of physician was performed for all clinical physician and OB/GYN specialists. Moreover, we conducted evaluation of sufficiency for the number of physicians and sensitivity analysis.Result & conclusionAs a result, it was forecast that the number of physicians would increase during 2008–2030 and the shortage would resolve at 2026 for all clinical physicians. However, the shortage would not resolve for the period covered. This suggests a need for measures for reconsidering the allocation system of new entry physicians to resolve maldistribution between medical departments, in addition, for increasing the overall number of clinical physicians.

From 1985 to 2013, the mean birth weight of infants in Japan decreased from 3120 g to 3000 g, and the low-birth-weight rate among live births increased from 6.3% to 9.6%. No prospective study has elucidated the risk factors for poor fetal growth and preterm birth in recent Japanese parents, such as increased parental age, maternal body figure, assisted reproductive technology (ART), and socioeconomic status. Participants were mother–infant pairs (n = 18,059) enrolled in a prospective birth cohort in Hokkaido, Japan from 2002 to 2013. Parental characteristics were obtained via self-reported questionnaires during pregnancy. Medical records helped identify very-low-birth-weight (VLBW; <1500 g), term-small-for-gestational-age (term-SGA), and preterm-birth (PTB; <37 weeks) infants. We calculated relative risks (RRs) for PTB, VLBW, and term-SGA birth based on parental characteristics. The prevalence of PTB, VLBW, and term-SGA was 4.5%, 0.4%, and 6.5%, respectively. Aged parents and ART were risk factors for PTB and VLBW. Maternal alcohol drinking during pregnancy increased the risk; a parental educational level of ≥16 years reduced risk of term-SGA. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI of <18.5 kg/m2 increased the risk of PTB and term-SGA. The RR for low BMI was highest among mothers who have low educational level. Among various factors, appropriate nutritional education to maintain normal BMI is important to prevent PTB and term-SGA in Japan.