Assessing Optimal CO2 Abatement Policies for the Kyoto Protocol: A Genetic Algorithms Approach

In 1997, the third Conference of the Parties (COP3) to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change was held. Commitments were set for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in developed countries. Several models have been developed in order to analyze CO2 abatement policies. These models should be categorized as global models considering the wide scale of global warming. Some of those models, however, analyze the policies on a one-country basis and models of global content divide the world into certain regions. It is meaningless to implement the same policies to a region. A multi-country model is preferable to such models. Thus, we have constructed a macroeconometric model linked with an energy model to assess CO2 abatement policies applying genetic algorithms to quantify the optimal policy in favor of the Kyoto Protocol. In this paper, the case of Japan is presented with the intent to analyze optimal policy in a multi-country context.

Stabilization of Acoustical Properties of Wooden Musical Instruments By Acetylation

Because variable humidity affects the acoustic properties of wood, manufacturers of wood instruments must minimize dimensional changes caused by the absorption of water. Acetylation reduces the moisture content of the cell wall, thereby increasing the stability of the acoustic and dimensional properties of wood under conditions of changing humidity. The acetylation of wood slightly reduces sound velocity (by about 5%) and also reduces sound absorption when compared to unreacted wood. Hence, acetylation does not change the acoustic converting efficiency

Adenoviral targeting of malignant melanoma for fluorescence-guided surgery prevents recurrence in orthotopic nude-mouse models.

Malignant melanoma requires precise resection in order to avoid metastatic recurrence. We report here that the telomerase-dependent, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-containing adenovirus OBP-401 could label malignant melanoma with GFP in situ in orthotopic mouse models. OBP-401-based fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) resulted in the complete resection of malignant melanoma in the orthotopic models, where conventional bright-light surgery (BLS) could not. High-dose administration of OBP-401 enabled FGS without residual cancer cells or recurrence, due to its dual effect of cancer-cell labeling with GFP and killing

Precise navigation surgery of tumours in the lung in mouse models enabled by in situ fluorescence labelling with a killer-reporter adenovirus.

BackgroundCurrent methods of image-guided surgery of tumours of the lung mostly rely on CT. A sensitive procedure of selective tumour fluorescence labelling would allow simple and high-resolution visualisation of the tumour for precise surgical navigation.MethodsHuman lung cancer cell lines H460 and A549 were genetically transformed to express red fluorescent protein (RFP). Tumours were grown subcutaneously for each cell line and harvested and minced for surgical orthotopic implantation on the left lung of nude mice. Tumour growth was measured by fluorescence imaging. After the tumours reached 5 mm in diameter, they were injected under fluorescence guidance with the telomerase-dependent green fluorescent protein (GFP)-containing adenovirus, OBP-401. Viral labelling of the lung tumours with GFP precisely colocalised with tumour RFP expression. Three days after administration of OBP-401, fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) was performed.ResultsFGS of tumours in the lung was enabled by labelling with a telomerase-dependent adenovirus containing the GFP gene. Tumours in the lung were selectively and brightly labelled. FGS enabled complete lung tumour resection with no residual fluorescent tumour.ConclusionsFGS of tumours in the lung is feasible and more effective than bright-light surgery

ユビキタス ギジュツ オ モチイタ コウガク ノ ミリョク オ ツタエル キョウイク ケンキュウ プロジェクト : Niche-Learning ノ ウンヨウ オ ツウジテ エラレタ カダイ ト キョウクン

“Niche-Learning” is a method of digital signage for delivering digital learning materials (e.g., short video and slideshow) to public spaces on a university campus. Niche-Learning prototype has been installed to a public space at the University of Tokushima as a university internal project and over two years passed. This paper outlines the Niche-Learning and describes considerations of “Sustainable Niche-Learning” with reviewing the past management of Niche-Learning. We recognized that the following aspects were important for sustainable Niche-Learning: (1) how we should increase the number of collaborators, (2) how we should increase the number of contents (learning materials), (3) how we should win the university’s understanding, (4) how we should acquire budgets, and (5) how we should reflect efforts in (academic) achievement

Tumor-targeting adenovirus OBP-401 inhibits primary and metastatic tumor growth of triple-negative breast cancer in orthotopic nude-mouse models.

Our laboratory previously developed a highly-invasive, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) variant using serial orthotopic implantation of the human MDA-MB-231 cell line in nude mice. The isolated variant was highly-invasive in the mammary gland and lymphatic channels and metastasized to lymph nodes in 10 of 12 mice compared to 2 of 12 of the parental cell line. In the present study, the tumor-selective telomerase dependent OBP-401 adenovirus was injected intratumorally (i.t.) (1 × 108 PFU) when the high-metastatic MDA-MB-231 primary tumor expressing red fluorescent protein (MDA-MB-231-RFP) reached approximately 500 mm3 (diameter; 10 mm). The mock-infected orthotopic primary tumor grew rapidly. After i.t. OBP-401 injection, the growth of the orthotopic tumors was arrested. Six weeks after implantation, the fluorescent area and fluorescence intensity showed no increase from the beginning of treatment. OBP-401 was then injected into high-metastatic MDA-MB-231-RFP primary orthotopic tumor growing in mice which already had developed metastasis within lymphatic ducts. All 7 of 7 control mice subsequently developed lymph node metastasis. In contrast, none of 7 mice which received OBP-401 had lymph node metastasis. Seven of 7 control mice also had gross lung metastasis. In contrast, none of the 7 mice which received OBP-401 had gross lung metastasis. Confocal laser microscopy imaging demonstrated that all control mice had diffuse lung metastases. In contrast, all 7 mice which received OBP-401 only had a few metastatic cells in the lung. OBP-401 treatment significantly extended survival of the treated mice

Combining hot-compressed water and ball milling pretreatments to improve the efficiency of the enzymatic hydrolysis of eucalyptus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lignocellulosic biomass such as wood is an attractive material for fuel ethanol production. Pretreatment technologies that increase the digestibility of cellulose and hemicellulose in the lignocellulosic biomass have a major influence on the cost of the subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol fermentation processes. Pretreatments without chemicals such as acids, bases or organic solvents are less effective for an enzymatic hydrolysis process than those with chemicals, but they have a less negative effect on the environment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The enzymatic digestibility of eucalyptus was examined following a combined pretreatment without chemicals comprising a ball milling (BM) and hot-compressed water (HCW) treatment. The BM treatment simultaneously improved the digestibility of both glucan and xylan, and was effective in lowering the enzyme loading compared with the HCW treatment. The combination of HCW and BM treatment reduced the BM time. The eucalyptus treated with HCW (160°C, 30 minutes) followed by BM (20 minutes) had an approximately 70% yield of total sugar with a cellulase loading of 4 FPU/g substrate. This yield was comparable to the yields from samples treated with HCW (200°C, 30 minutes) or BM (40 minutes) hydrolyzed with 40 FPU/g substrate.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The HCW treatment is useful in improving the milling efficiency. The combined HCW-BM treatment can save energy and enzyme loading.</p