Backcasting energy saving and CO2 emission reductions by using feebates system in Japan

After the Kyoto Conference (COP3), the Japanese transport sector was required to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 16% by 2010. The Japanese government has decided to improve the fuel economy standard in 2010 by improving it by an average of 22.8%. However, Japanese consumers tend to prefer heavier passenger cars such as four-wheel drive or recreational vehicles. Because of the difficult target of COP3, environmental policy should involve not only automotive technologies but also non-technical measures. Since Japanese vehicle taxes are expensive compared to other OECD countries, we would like to introduce the “feebate”, a word composed from “fee” and “rebate”, as a “Green Tax” at the acquisition stage. The feebate system charges a fee for less fuel-efficient vehicles and refunds for vehicles more fuel efficient than the fuel efficiency standard. This system is a market based alternative by fuel efficiency standards so that it can be tax neutral. Acquisition tax does not affect to environmental sustainability. Since social marginal cost has increased more and more, it is not always realistic to impose all the costs at the motoring tax level. The feebate system could partially share the social marginal cost and might mitigate the rebound effect at the motoring stage. We use the data set from 1995-2001 on fuel efficiency by vehicle type and the fuel efficiency standards of 1995. The contribution of this paper will be to propose a combination of feebate rate and CO2 emission reduction by vehicle gross weight group.

Single-shot spectra of temporally selected micropulses from a mid-infrared free-electron laser by upconversion

We demonstrate the measurement of single-shot spectra of temporally selected micropulses from a mid-infrared (MIR) free-electron laser (FEL) by upconversion. We achieve the upconversion of FEL pulses at 11 \mu m using externally synchronized Nd:YAG or microchip laser pulses at 1064 nm to produce sum-frequency mixing (SFM) signals at 970 nm, which are detected by a compact CCD spectrometer without an intensifier. Our experimental system is very cost-effective, and allows us to obtain the laser spectra of selected micropulses at any temporal position within a single macropulse from an oscillator-type FEL.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure

MEMBANGUN HARMONI DAN DIALOG ANTAR AGAMA DALAM MASYARAKAT MULTIKULTURAL

Artikel ini membahas pentingnya membangun harmoni dan dialog antar agama dalam masyarakat multikultural, dengan fokus pada konteks Indonesia. Masyarakat yang terdiri dari berbagai agama dan kepercayaan menawarkan peluang untuk memperkaya pemahaman, meningkatkan toleransi, dan membangun kerjasama yang saling menguntungkan. Namun, perbedaan agama juga dapat menjadi sumber ketegangan dan konflik. Artikel ini menyoroti pentingnya pluralisme agama, komunikasi antar budaya, toleransi agama, dan dialog antar agama sebagai sarana untuk mencapai pemahaman, saling menghormati, dan kerjasama di tengah masyarakat multikultural. Dokumen "Nostra Aetate" dari Gereja Katolik juga disebutkan sebagai contoh komitmen terhadap dialog antar agama. Penting untuk memahami bahwa multikulturalisme bukan hanya wacana, tetapi juga ideologi yang harus diperjuangkan untuk menciptakan masyarakat yang inklusif, harmonis, dan kaya akan keragaman agama dan budaya

The ASCA X-ray spectrum of the powerful radio galaxy 3C109

We report the results from an ASCA X-ray observation of the powerful Broad Line Radio Galaxy, 3C109. The ASCA spectra confirm our earlier ROSAT detection of intrinsic X-ray absorption associated with the source. The absorbing material obscures a central engine of quasar-like luminosity. The luminosity is variable, having dropped by a factor of two since the ROSAT observations 4 years before. The ASCA data also provide evidence for a broad iron emission line from the source, with an intrinsic FWHM of ~ 120,000 km/s. Interpreting the line as fluorescent emission from the inner parts of an accretion disk, we can constrain the inclination of the disk to be $> 35$ degree, and the inner radius of the disk to be $< 70$ Schwarzschild radii. Our results support unified schemes for active galaxies, and demonstrate a remarkable similarity between the X-ray properties of this powerful radio source, and those of lower luminosity, Seyfert 1 galaxies.Comment: MNRAS in press. 7 pages, 5 figures in MNRAS LaTex styl

Numerical modelling to predict fracturing rock (Thanet chalk) due to naturally occurring faults and fluid pressure

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in Journal of Structural Geology on 30/07/2018, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2018.07.021 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Outcrop mapping of a chalk cliff and wavecut platform in Thanet, Southeast England show a complex fracture pattern that seems to be controlled by meso-scale strike-slip faults within the chalk. The response of these faults to changes to in situ stress and fluid pressure is thought to control the nucleation and propagation of fractures in the chalk. In this study the DEM (Discrete Element Method) technique has been employed as a follow up to previous field and numerical (boundary and finite element method) investigations to ascertain the role of the faults in the initiation and nucleation of fractures The role of fluid pressure, in-situ stress, and fault geometry are recognised as focal factors. The generation of localised areas of tensile stresses due to fluid pressure and stress perturbations have been shown to cause the initiation of fractures around the fault bends. For releasing bends, localised tensile stresses tend to occur along the central segment of the fault bend, whereas for restraining bends, tensile stresses are more likely to develop on the outer edges of the fault bend. The dissimilarity in the fracturing process due to differences in the geometry of pre-existing faults demonstrates the significance of both fault geometry and fluid behaviour in controlling fracturing.Published versio

Pengembangan Media Pembelajaran Abo Subaya (Anyaman Bola Sumba Barat Daya) pada Motif Kerajinan Tangan Pandan Duri pada Materi Bangun Datar Siswa Kelas VII

This research was conducted with the aim of developing a product, namely the development of Abo Subaya Learning media (Southwest Sumba Ball Webbing). The type of research used is Research and development Research and development (R&amp;D), the developer is focused on developing Abo Subaya Media products for flat-shape mathematics subjects, especially squares, rectangles, diamonds and circles. Based on the results of the research and discussion, it can be concluded that the Abo Subaya learning media developed in this study contains the Abo Subaya learning media program suitable for use in mathematics learning. After being tested in the field, it turned out that there was an increase in student learning motivation after using Abo Subaya learning media developed by researchers. This eligibility is based on 1). Feasibility test of Media Experts who get a score of 3.61) Feasibility test of users who get a very good category, for small scale trials get an average score of 93.0 for large-scale trials get an average score of 95.5

Spectral Transition and Torque Reversal in X-ray Pulsar 4U 1626-67

The accretion-powered, X-ray pulsar 4U 1626-67 has recently shown an abrupt torque reversal accompanied by a dramatic spectral transition and a relatively small luminosity change. The time-averaged X-ray spectrum during spin-down is considerably harder than during spin-up. The observed torque reversal can be explained by an accretion flow transition triggered by a gradual change in the mass accretion rate. The sudden transition to spin-down is caused by a change in the accretion flow rotation from Keplerian to sub-Keplerian. 4U 1626-67 is estimated to be near spin equilibrium with a mass accretion rate Mdot~2x10**16 g/s, Mdot decreasing at a rate ~6x10**14 g/s/yr, and a polar surface magnetic field of ~2b_p**{-1/2} 10^**12G where b_p is the magnetic pitch. During spin-up, the Keplerian flow remains geometrically thin and cool. During spin-down, the sub-Keplerian flow becomes geometrically thick and hot. Soft photons from near the stellar surface are Compton up-scattered by the hot accretion flow during spin-down while during spin-up such scattering is unlikely due to the small scale-height and low temperature of the flow. This mechanism accounts for the observed spectral hardening and small luminosity change. The scattering occurs in a hot radially falling column of material with a scattering depth ~0.3 and a temperature ~10^9K. The X-ray luminosity at energies >5keV could be a poor indicator of the mass accretion rate. We briefly discuss the possible application of this mechanism to GX 1+4, although there are indications that this system is significantly different from other torque-reversal systems.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, ApJ

KOINONIA DAN MARTYRIA GEREJA DI DUNIA

Artikel ini membahas tentang konsep Koinonia (persekutuan) dan Martyria (kesaksian) dalam konteks gereja sebagai peziarah dan misioner. Koinonia mencakup hubungan erat antara anggota gereja, yang membantu memperkuat komunitas Kristen dan membangun kesatuan dalam tubuh Kristus. Di sisi lain, Martyria melibatkan pemberitaan Injil, kehidupan saksi yang konsisten, pelayanan aktif, dan dialog antaragama sebagai bagian dari misi gereja di dunia. Artikel ini juga mengidentifikasi beberapa tantangan yang dihadapi oleh gereja dalam menjalankan Koinonia dan Martyria, seperti konflik dan pembatasan hukum. Namun, dengan pemahaman yang mendalam tentang konsep ini, gereja dapat mengatasi tantangan tersebut dan memperkuat persekutuan serta meningkatkan kesaksian mereka di dunia

BeppoSAX observations of the X-ray binary pulsar 4U1626-67

We report on observations of the low-mass X-ray binary 4U1626-67 performed during the BeppoSAX Science Verification Phase. We present the broad-band 0.1-100 keV pulse averaged spectrum, that is well fit by a two-component function: a 0.27 +/- 0.02 keV blackbody and an absorbed power law with a photon index of 0.89 +/- 0.02. A very deep and narrow absorption feature at 38 keV, attributable to electron cyclotron resonance, is clearly visible in the broad-band spectrum. It corresponds to a neutron star magnetic field strength of 3.3 x 10^{12} G. The 4U1626-67 pulse profiles show a dramatic dependance on energy: the transition between the low energy (E<10 keV) "bi-horned" shape to the high-energy (E>10 keV) sinusoidal profile is clearly visible in our data. The modulation index shows a monotonic increase with energy.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Uses espcrc2.sty (included). To appear in Proceedings of "The Active X-ray Sky: Results from BeppoSAX and Rossi-XTE