| Takafumi Maeda | Last modified date：2021.05.25 |
Graduate School
Undergraduate School
Other Organization
Administration Post
Other
Other
E-Mail *Since the e-mail address is not displayed in Internet Explorer, please use another web browser:Google Chrome, safari.
Homepage
https://kyushu-u.pure.elsevier.com/en/persons/takafumi-maeda
Reseacher Profiling Tool Kyushu University Pure
http://www.design.kyushu-u.ac.jp/~maeda/index_e.html
Academic Degree
PhD, DMSc
Country of degree conferring institution (Overseas)
No
Field of Specialization
Physiological Anthropology, Environmental Ergonomics, Thermal Physiology
Total Priod of education and research career in the foreign country
00years00months
Research
Research Interests
Membership in Academic Society
- Environmental Adaptability: from the viewpoint of the thermoregulatory and circulatory responses to hypobaric hypoxia and thermal environments.
keyword : Physiological Anthropology, Environmental Adaptability, Cold Tolerance, Physiological Polymorphism
2018.04. - Physiological Polymorphism of Cold-induced Thermogenesis and Vasoconstriction in Human
keyword : Physiological Anthropology, Environmental Adaptability, Cold Tolerance, Physiological Polymorphism
2014.04～2020.03. - Evaluation method for the actibity of Brown Adipose Tissue
keyword : Environmental Adaptability, Cold Tolerance, Brown Adipose Tissue
2015.04～2020.03. - Evaluation of Thermoregulation Ability and its modifying factors
keyword : Environmental Adaptability, Thermoregulation Ability, Lifesyle, Living Environment
2000.04. - Effects of Humidity on Human Immno Function
keyword : Humidity, Immuno Function, Stress
2010.04. - Effects of Indoor Environmental Factors (Air Temperature, Air Movement, Humidity, Air Quality) and Local Thermal Stimuli on Mental Task Performance
keyword : Task Performance, Cold, Hot, Local Heating, Local Cooling, CO2, air velocity, relative humidity
2010.04.
Books
Papers
| 1. | Yoshiki Yasukochi, Sora Shin, Hitoshi Wakabayashi, Takafumi Maeda, Transcriptomic Changes in Young Japanese Males After Exposure to Acute Hypobaric Hypoxia, Frontiers in Genetics, 10.3389/fgene.2020.559074, 11, 1054, 2020.09, After the genomic era, the development of high-throughput sequencing technologies has allowed us to advance our understanding of genetic variants responsible for adaptation to high altitude in humans. However, transcriptomic characteristics associated with phenotypic plasticity conferring tolerance to acute hypobaric hypoxic stress remain unclear. To elucidate the effects of hypobaric hypoxic stress on transcriptional variability, we aimed to describe transcriptomic profiles in response to acute hypobaric hypoxia in humans. In a hypobaric hypoxic chamber, young Japanese males were exposed to a barometric pressure of 493 mmHg (hypobaric hypoxia) for 75 min after resting for 30 min at the pressure of 760 mmHg (normobaric normoxia) at 28°C. Saliva samples of the subjects were collected before and after hypobaric hypoxia exposure, to be used for RNA sequencing. Differential gene expression analysis identified 30 significantly upregulated genes and some of these genes may be involved in biological processes influencing hematological or immunological responses to hypobaric hypoxic stress. We also confirmed the absence of any significant transcriptional fluctuations in the analysis of basal transcriptomic profiles under no-stimulus conditions, suggesting that the 30 genes were actually upregulated by hypobaric hypoxia exposure. In conclusion, our findings showed that the transcriptional profiles of Japanese individuals can be rapidly changed as a result of acute hypobaric hypoxia, and this change may influence the phenotypic plasticity of lowland individuals for acclimatization to a hypobaric hypoxic environment. Therefore, the results obtained in this study shed light on the transcriptional mechanisms underlying high-altitude acclimatization in humans.. |
| 2. | Sora Shin, Yoshiki Yasukochi, Hitoshi Wakabayashi, Takafumi Maeda, Effects of acute hypobaric hypoxia on thermoregulatory and circulatory responses during cold air exposure, Journal of Physiological Anthropology, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-020-00237-7, 39, 28, 2020.09, Background The thermoregulatory responses during simultaneous exposure to hypoxia and cold are not well understood owing to the opposite reactions of vasomotor tone in these two environments. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of hypobaric hypoxia on various thermoregulatory responses, including skin blood flow (SkBF) during cold exposure. Methods Ten subjects participated in two experimental conditions: normobaric normoxia with cold (NC, barometric pressure (PB) = 760 mmHg) and hypobaric hypoxia with cold (HC, PB = 493 mmHg). The air temperature was maintained at 28 °C for 65 min and gradually decreased to 19 °C for both conditions. The total duration of the experiment was 135 min. Results The saturation of percutaneous oxygen (SpO2) was maintained at 98–99% in NC condition, but decreased to around 84% in HC condition. The rectal and mean skin temperatures showed no significant differences between the conditions; however, the forehead temperature was higher in HC condition than in NC condition. The pulse rate increased in HC condition, and there was a strong negative relationship between SpO2 and pulse rate (r = − 0.860, p = 0.013). SkBF and blood pressure showed no significant differences between the two conditions. Conclusion These results suggest that hypobaric hypoxia during cold exposure did not alter the overall thermoregulatory responses. However, hypobaric hypoxia did affect pulse rate regardless of cold exposure.. |
| 3. | Hitoshi Wakabayashi, Kentaro Matsumoto, Yusuke Kobori, Tasuku Ebara, Mami Matsushita, Toshimitsu Kameya, Takafumi Maeda, Masayuki Saito, Multiorgan contribution to non-shivering and shivering thermogenesis and vascular responses during gradual cold exposure in humans, European Journal of Applied Physiology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04496-1, 2020.09, Purpose Human brown adipose tissue (BAT) is known to be a significant thermoeffector in non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), albeit with individual variations in the BAT activity. We hypothesized that humans with less BAT would have more contribution from the skeletal muscle (SM) to NST or earlier shivering onset and greater vasoconstriction to compensate for less BAT-mediated thermogenesis. Methods Eighteen males participated in this study. Their BAT activity and detectable volume were investigated. A gradual cold exposure was conducted for inducing NST at 18.6 °C and initiating shivering at 11.6 °C. The energy expenditure, electromyograph of the pectoralis major, skin blood flow, and rectal (Tre) and skin temperatures were evaluated. Results BAT volume significantly correlated with the change in metabolic heat production during mild cold phase relative to baseline (NST; r = 0.562, P < 0.05), but not with shivering initiation phase (NST+ ST). SM mass correlated with baseline metabolic heat production (Mbase; r = 0.839, P < 0.01) but not with NST or NST + ST. A positive correlation was noted between BAT volume and Tre at the end of the 18.6 °C exposure period (r = 0.586, P < 0.05), which positively correlated with shivering onset time (r = 0.553, P < 0.05). The skin blood flow, mean skin temperature, and forearm and finger skin temperature difference at the end of the 18.6 °C exposure period did not correlate with NST or BAT volume. Conclusion BAT volume positively correlated with NST. Notably, lower Tre in individuals with less BAT volume induced earlier shivering onset for offsetting the less NST. Whereas, no correlation between metabolic and vasomotor responses was observed.. |
| 4. | Shaoying Hu, Takafumi Maeda, Productivity and physiological responses during exposure to varying air temperatures and clothing conditions, Indoor air, https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12628, 30, 2, 251-263, 2020.03, This study assessed the effects of clothing and air temperature combinations on workplace productivity and physiological response. Ten male Japanese subjects were exposed to six combinations of clothing (0.3 clo and 0.9 clo) and air temperature (16°C, 26°C, and 36°C) during which cognitive performance (Bourdon and calculation tests), manual motor performance (finger‐tapping test), and physiological responses (heart rate, blood pressure, and skin and oral temperatures) were measured. Both cold exposure and lower clothing levels likely increased the Bourdon test performance. Calculation test performance tended to be affected by exposure to cold or neutral temperatures at the beginning of the test. Cold exposure undermined manual motor performance (especially when combined with fewer clothing items) while heat exposure significantly increased heart rate. Both cold exposure and higher clothing level during heat exposure increased blood pressure. Body temperature, particularly mean skin temperature, increased with higher air temperature and was significantly influenced by clothing insulation during cold exposure. These results provide novel evidence for the effects of clothing and air temperature (particularly cold) on human productivity and physiological responses in humans.. |
| 5. | Shaoying Hu, Takafumi Maeda, Summer clothing characteristics and indoor-outdoor thermal comfort of Japanese youth, Journal of the Human-Environment System, https://doi.org/10.1618/jhes.22.17, 22, 1, 17-29, 2019.09. |
| 6. | Etika Vidyarini, Takafumi Maeda, Effects of Air Temperature Step Changes on Thermal Perception and Perceived Arousal in an Actual Environment under Hot-Humid Climate Conditions, Journal of the Human-Environment System, https://doi.org/10.1618/jhes.22.7, 22, 1, 7-15, 2019.09, The use of air-conditioning in offices located in hot-humid regions creates differences between indoor and outdoor air temperatures. Previous studies, which focused on artificial environments, found that air temperature step changes affect human thermal sensations and comfort. However, their effect on workers’perceived arousal has been rarely discussed. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effects of air temperature step changes (both up-step and down-step) on thermal perception and perceived arousal. Thirty-seven workers from two offices in Jakarta responded to a rating scale questionnaire about thermal perception that covered the following sub-topics: overall and local thermal sensations, thermal comfort, satisfaction, adjustment, and perceived arousal (i.e., alertness, freshness, and concentration) during working time. Air temperature and relative humidity around the subjects were recorded every 5 minutes by a data logger, from 10:00 to 17:00. During lunch time, the subjects walked to a nearby restaurant, exposing themselves to non-shaded outdoor temperature before returning to the office. Office A workers experienced larger temperature changes than Office B workers. Indoor and outdoor temperatures of Office A were 22.9 °C and 32.1 °C, respectively, whereas, for Office B they were 24.2 °C and 29.5 °C, respectively. Perceived arousal decreased significantly in Office A after the workers experienced the change in air temperature. However, no significant difference in perceived arousal was registered in Office B, likely due to a larger gap between indoor and outdoor air temperatures in the case of Office A. The data of just before and after the temperature step changes were analyzed: no negative correlations were found between changes in the overall thermal sensation and alertness (p<0.05), freshness (p<0.05), or concentration (p<0.01). Therefore, warm sensations after the air temperature changes, associated with a hysteresis effect, should have lowered the perceived arousal. Our findings suggest that thermal perception and perceived arousal are altered by relatively large changes in air temperature. These changes are determined not only by the range of air temperature steps, but also by the air temperature experienced previously. In addition, mild air temperature changes in the actual environment, combined with exercise, food intake, and direct radiation exposure, induced warmer thermal sensations than those simulated through laboratory experiments.. |
| 7. | Akira Yasukouchi, Takafumi Maeda, Kazuyoshi Hara, Hiroyuki Furuune, Non-visual effects of diurnal exposure to an artificial skylight, including nocturnal melatonin suppression, Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 10.1186/s40101-019-0203-4, 38, 10, 2019.08, [URL], Background Recently, more consideration is being given to the beneficial effects of lighting on the maintenance and promotion of the health and well-being of office occupants in built environments. A new lighting technology using Rayleigh scattering has made it possible to simulate a blue sky. However, to date, no studies have examined the possible beneficial effects of such artificial skylights. The aims of this study were to examine the non-visual effects of artificial skylights and conventional fluorescent lights in a simulated office environment and to clarify the feature effects of the artificial skylights. Methods Participants were 10 healthy male adults. Non-visual effects were evaluated based on brain arousal levels (α-wave ratio and contingent negative variation [CNV]), autonomic nervous activity (heart rate variability [HRV]), work performance, and subjective responses during daytime exposure to either an artificial skylight or fluorescent lights, as well as nocturnal melatonin secretion. Results Subjective evaluations of both room lighting-related “natural” and “attractive” items and the “connected to nature” item were significantly higher with the skylight than with the fluorescent lights. Cortical arousal levels obtained from the early component of the CNV amplitude were significantly lower with the skylight than with the fluorescent lights, whereas α-wave ratio and work performance were similar between the two light sources. The HRV evaluation showed that sympathetic nerve tone was lower and parasympathetic nerve tone was higher, both significantly, for the skylight than for the fluorescent lights during daytime. Nocturnal melatonin secretion was significantly greater before and during light exposure at night under the daytime skylight than under the fluorescent lights. Conclusions Our results suggest that artificial skylights have some advantages over conventional fluorescent lights in maintaining ordinary work performance during daytime with less psychological and physiological stress. The findings also suggest that the artificial skylights would enable built environments to maintain long-term comfort and productivity.. |
| 8. | Takafumi Maeda, Relationship between maximum oxygen uptake and peripheral vasoconstriction in a cold environment, Journal of Physiological Anthropology, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-017-0158-2, 36, 42, 2017.12, Various individual characteristics affect environmental adaptability of a human. The present study evaluates the relationship between physical fitness and peripheral vasoconstriction in a cold environment. Seven healthy male students (aged 22.0 years) participated in this study. Cold exposure tests consisted of supine rest for 60 min at 28 °C followed by 90 min at 10 °C. Rectal and skin temperatures at seven sites, oxygen consumption, and the diameter of a finger vein were measured during the experiment. Metabolic heat production, skin heat conductance, and the rate of vasoconstriction were calculated. Individual maximum oxygen consumption, a direct index of aerobic fitness, was measured on the day following the cold exposure test. Decreases in temperature of the hand negatively correlated with the changes in rectal temperature. Maximum oxygen consumption and the rate of vasoconstriction are positively correlated. Furthermore, pairs of the following three factors are also significantly correlated: rate of metabolic heat production, skin heat conductance, and the rate of vasoconstriction. The results of this study suggested that the capacity for peripheral vasoconstriction can be improved by physical exercise. Furthermore, when exposed to a cold environment, fitter individuals could maintain metabolic heat production at the resting metabolic level of a thermoneutral condition, as they correspondingly lost less heat.. |
| 9. | Takafumi Maeda, Mitsuhiro Ohta, Shin-Ya Kaneko, Hideyuki Kanda, Tetsuhito Fukushima, Relationships between heatstroke symptoms and lifestyles in Japanese forestry workers, Journal of the Human-Environment System, http://doi.org/10.1618/jhes.13.1, 13, 1, 1-6, 2011.03, Several risk factors for heatstroke among forestry workers were previously reported, but the effects of lifestyles of the workers on heatstroke symptoms remain unknown. This study examines the effects of lifestyles on heatstroke symptoms among Japanese forestry workers during the summer. We distributed a questionnaire to 97 forestry workers about heatstroke symptoms, hydration, hotness in workplace, lifestyles including food consumption, sleep duration, exercise, alcohol consumption, and smoking, age, and years of forestry service, and measured physical characteristics. The total health score was used as an index of healthy habits. Thirty-seven workers (38.1%) experienced heatstroke symptoms. Heatstroke and asymptomatic groups significantly differed in terms of age, years of forestry service, frequency and volume of hydration, frequency of urination, and perceived hotness. Logistic regression analysis selected the following key variables associated with the development of heatstroke symptoms: years of forestry service, frequency of hydration adjusted by frequency of urination, and total health score. In conclusion, the present study revealed that one third of forestry workers develop some early symptoms of heatstroke during work, and healthy habits reduce the risk of heatstroke in forestry workers.. |
| 10. | Takafumi Maeda, Tetsuhito Fukushima, Keita Ishibashi, Shigekazu Higuchi, Involvement of Basal Metabolic Rate in Determination of Type of Cold Tolerance, Journal of Physiological Anthropology, http://doi.org/10.2114/jpa2.26.415, 26, 3, 415-418, 2007.07, This study aimed to assess the relationship between basal metabolic rate (BMR) and metabolic heat production, and to clarify the involvement of BMR in determining the phenotype of cold tolerance. Measurements of BMR, maximum oxygen uptake, and cold exposure test were conducted on ten males. In the cold exposure test, rectal (Trec) and mean skin temperatures (Tms), oxygen uptake, and blood flow at forearm (BFarm) were measured during exposure to cold (10°C) for 90 min. Significant correlations were observed between BMR and increasing rate of oxygen uptake, as well as between decreasing rate of BFarm and increasing rate of oxygen uptake at the end of cold exposure. These findings suggested that individuals with a lower BMR were required to increase their metabolic heat production during cold exposure, and that those with a higher BMR were able to moderate increased metabolic heat production during cold exposure because they were able to reduce heat loss. This study showed that BMR is an important factor in determining the phenotype of cold tolerance, and that individuals with a low BMR showed calorigenic-type cold adaptation, whereas subjects with a high BMR exhibited adiabatic-type cold adaptation by peripheral vasoconstriction.. |
| 11. | Takafumi Maeda, Shin-Ya Kaneko, Mitsuhiro Ohta, Kazuko Tanaka, Akihiko Sasaki, Tetsuhito Fukushima, Risk factors for heatstroke in Japanese forestry workers, Journal of Occupational Health, http://doi.org/10.1539/joh.48.223, 48, 4, 223-229, 2006.08, We examined the risk factors for heatstroke among forestry workers in Japan during the summer. We distributed a questionnaire to 124 forestry workers to determine heatstroke symptoms, degree of sweating and hydration, as well as perceived hotness and amount of sunlight at work sites. Forty of the workers (32.3%) reported experiencing heatstroke symptoms. Thirteen and 21 of them reported such symptoms during July and August, respectively. Eleven workers experienced heatstroke at around 14:00; 5 and 4 developed symptoms at around 11:00 and 10:00, respectively. Groups with and without heatstroke symptoms significantly differed in terms of perceived hotness (p<0.05), sunlight (p<0.05), degree of sweating (p<0.01) and frequency of hydration (p<0.05) while working. Heatstroke symptoms developed in 60.6% of workers aged up to 50 yr, but in only 22.0% of those over the age of 51 (p<0.01). Multiple regression analysis selected the following key variables associated with the development of heatstroke symptoms (R2=0.236 and p=0.006): frequency of urination, hotness, BMI and years of forestry work (standard coefficients: +0.229, +0.194, +0.280 and -0.162, respectively). The results of the present study showed that one third of forestry workers developed some symptoms of early heatstroke during summer forestry work. Furthermore, the results indicate that a short duration of forestry service was one of the risk factors contributing to the onset of heatstroke, in addition to heat stress, loss of body water and electrolytes, and obesity.. |
| 12. | Takafumi Maeda, Akiko Sugawara, Tetsuhito Fukushima, Shigekazu Higuchi, Keita Ishibashi, Effects of Lifestyle, Body Composition, and Physical Fitness on Cold Tolerance in Humans, Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science, http://doi.org/10.2114/jpa.24.439, 24, 4, 439-443, 2005.08, [URL], In the present study, we attempted to clarify the effects of lifestyle and body compositions on basal metabolism and to clarify the effects of physical training on thermoregulatory responses to cold. Basal metabolism, body compositions, and questionnaires regarding lifestyle were evaluated in 37 students. From multiple linear regression analysis, sex, muscle weight, fat intake, and diurnal temperature were selected as significant explanatory variables. In a second experiment, rectal and the skin temperature at 7 different points as well as the oxygen uptake of eight males were measured at 10°C for 90 min before and after training. The decline in rectal temperature that was observed before training was not observed after training. In addition, rectal temperature was significantly higher at post-training than at pre-training. These results suggest that some lifestyle factors affect cold tolerance; in particular, daily activity might improve our ability to control heat radiation and basal heat production.. |
| 13. | Takafumi Maeda, Perspectives on Environmental Adaptability and Physiological Polymorphism in Thermoregulation, Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science, http://doi.org/10.2114/jpa.24.237, 24, 3, 237-240, 2005.06, [URL]. |
| 14. | Takafumi Maeda, Akira Yasukouchi, Blood Lactate Disappearance during Breathing Hyperoxic Gas after Exercise in Two Different Physical Fitness Groups: on The Work Load Fixed at 130%AT, Applied Human Science, http://doi.org/10.2114/jpa.17.33, 17, 2, 33-40, 1998.02, This study aimed to investigate the effects of hyperoxic gas breathing on the disappearance of blood lactate after exercise in two groups having different physical fitness and to determine the most effective O2 concentration in consideration of workload. Our previous study has demonstrated that hyperoxic gas breathing brought out different effects among subjects. In respect of these effects, it was thought necessary to pay attention to exercise intensity. Therefore, the exercise intensity of this study was set by using relative workload of anaerobic threshold (AT) from the aspect of blood lactate. Ten healthy male students participated as subjects and were divided into 2 groups; a group consisting of 5 active students whose mean AT was 60.4% VO2max (Higher AT group) and the other group consisting of 5 inactive students having the mean AT of 48.8% VO2max (Lower AT group). All subjects underwent three cycles of ergometer exercise on a bicycle (workload; 130% AT) for 5 min and recovery session for 6 min. The hyperoxic gas breathing was given only for the recovery session. The conditions of breathing were air, 30, 40, 60 or 80% O2. Blood for determination of the blood lactate level was taken only in the recovery session. When compared with air-breathing, the blood lactate level was significantly reduced in the condition of more than about 60% O2 breathing in Higher AT group, but not in Lower AT one. Together with the previous findings, it was found that the blood lactate level was markedly reduced by more than 60% O2 breathing in Higher AT group without relation to the workload in the range of about 70 to 80% VO2max. In Lower AT group, however, the effects of hyperoxic gas breathing were dependent on the exercise intensity; 30% and 40% O2 breathings were effective for the subjects with more than about 65% VO2max, but not in a lower intensity than it. These results indicate that the effects of hyperoxic gas breathing on the disappearance of blood lactate are dependent on the exercise intensity and the physical capacity.. |
| 15. | Takafumi Maeda, Akira Yasukouchi, Blood Lactate Disappearance during Breathing Hyperoxic Gas after Exercise in Two Different Physical Fitness Groups: on The Work Load Fixed at 70%VO2max, Applied Human Science, http://doi.org/10.2114/jpa.16.249, 16, 6, 249-256, 1997.10, The purpose of this study is to evaluate effects of breathing hyperoxic gas on blood lactate disappearance after submaximal exercise in two different physical fitness groups and to clarify the most effective oxygen concentration in each group. Fourteen healthy male students participated as subjects in this study. They were divided in two groups by difference in their anaerobic threshold (AT). Seven males were treated as Higher AT group and the others as Lower AT group. Subjects wore a T-shirt, short pants and sports shoes and performed three sessions; each consisting of five minutes of exercise and six minutes of rest, at a workload of 70% VO2max On a bicycle ergometer. Hyperoxic gas was breathed only during recovery periods. Oxygen rates of 21, 30, 40, 60, 80 and 100% in inspired gas were employed. According to the results of blood lactate (BLA), the most effective oxygen condition on BLA disappearance was obtained over 60% in Higher AT group and at 30% oxygen in Lower AT group. Thus, it was especially noteworthy that the effects of hyperoxic gas in Higher AT group were different from those of Lower AT group. It is thought that the effects of breathing hyperoxic gas were dependent on physical fitness, which have caused many reports to be in conflict hitherto.. |
Presentations
- Japan Society of Physiological Anthropology
- Japan Ergonomics Society
- Japanese Society of Human-Environment System
- Japanese Society of Biometeorology
Unauthorized reprint of the contents of this database is prohibited.