Estimation of microplastic emission and transfer into Tokyo Bay, Japan, using material flow analysis.

To reduce microplastic (MP) discharge into the aquatic environment, it is necessary to properly identify its sources and amounts. Here, specific MP sources, i.e., personal care products (PCPs), fibers from clothes, and tire-wear particles (TWPs) were focused, and MP generations from these sources in the Tokyo Bay watershed, Japan, were estimated based on statistical data on production and reported emission factors of the MP sources and executing considering uncertainty on the data. Potential annual MP emission into Tokyo Bay was estimated to be 10.2 ± 1.6, 38 ± 22, and 1500-1800 tons for PCPs, fibers, and TWPs, respectively. Emissions into Tokyo Bay by assuming MP density and diameter was estimated. For fiber, the fraction to potential emission was estimated at 1.0-2.8 %. This study contributes to determining potential discharge pathways. This will assist in the application of appropriate measures to reduce MP discharge into water bodies.

Relationships among creativity indices: Creative potential, production, achievement, and beliefs about own creative personality.

Although creativity has been measured in various ways (ideas, products, achievements, and personality), the relationships between these measurements remain unclear. The current study examines whether divergent thinking predicts creative behavior (i.e., creative production and achievement) and whether beliefs about own creative personality influences the link between divergent thinking and creative behavior. Eighty-eight undergraduate students were assessed via a divergent thinking test, a creative production test, and a creative achievement questionnaire. The results showed that divergent thinking was positively associated with both creative behaviors (i.e., creative production in fine arts and achievement). In addition, beliefs about own creative personality moderated the relationship between divergent thinking and creative achievements, in that this relationship was stronger when Creative Personality Scale scores were higher. The current findings suggest some associations among creativity indices: divergent thinking promotes creative achievements, and this relation is moderated by beliefs about own creative personality. Further investigation is required to specify the causal relationships among creativity indices.

Biosynthesis and accumulation of GABA in rice plants treated with acetic acid.

Rice seedlings (Oryza sativa) that have died from drought cannot be rescued by watering afterward, but pre-treatment with exogenous acetic acid enabled the plants to produce shoots again after being watered (hereinafter referred to as "drought resilience"). To elucidate the metabolism of acetic acid, we treated rice plants with 13C-labeled acetic acid and traced 13C-labeled metabolites using LC-MS and 13C-NMR techniques. The LC-MS and 13C-NMR spectral data of the root extracts indicated that the acetic acid treatment was absorbed into the plants and then was metabolized to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). GABA accumulation in the roots took place in advance of that in the shoots, and the survival rate against drought stress increased in proportion to the amount of GABA accumulated in the shoots. Therefore, GABA accumulation in shoots may be a key step in drought resilience induced by the acetic acid treatment.

Impact of the elder abuse prevention and caregiver support law on system development among municipal governments in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: Japan enacted the elder abuse law in April 2006. The present study was aimed to examine the progress of systems development and difficulties with implementing activities in municipal governments for dealing with elder abuse after the law. METHODS: Between 11 and 22 December 2006 a paper questionnaire was sent to all 1840 Japanese municipalities and received 917 responses (49.8%). The municipalities were divided into three groups according the number of elder abuse management activities they had implemented: an advanced group (N=257), a middle group (N=348), and a less advanced group (N=312). RESULTS: The law increased the implementation of activities related to reporting systems (46.2-49.1%) and activities for increasing awareness of elder abuse among service providers (30.7-35.8%). The most frequent activities with no plans for implementation were the establishment of intervention teams (43.7-55.5%) and multi-agency networks (47.7-64.2%). All groups reported difficulties carrying out home visits to investigate reported cases of abuse (53.6-61.5%) and difficulties approaching reported cases where there was resistance to outside support (42.4-76.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The law was significant step in activities related to reporting systems and activities for increasing awareness among service providers. Further policy should address how to establish intervention teams and multi-agency networks, how to carry out home visits to investigate reports, and how to approach cases resistant to outside support.