カーボン・オフセット ―地方自治体によるオフセット・クレジットの活用―

The Offsetting Credit(J-VER)Scheme, established by The Ministry of the Enviroument, Japan (MOEJ)in November 2008, is a verification scheme for credits that domestic projects generate by GHG emission reduction/removal by sinks. By utilizing the J-VER scheme, individ- uals, businesses, local governments and others can return funds for carbon offsetting to domestic projects for forest management or local industries.」一VER is a new system to promote the domestic GREEN NEW DEAL program through a global wauming prevention campaign, expansion of job opportunities, and economic measures by using private-sector capital. In recent years local goveuments utilizing the J-VER scheme are increasing. The J-VER scheme is expected as an economic approach to promote the forestry management and regional development projects by the bcal governments

Evaluation of the coulter counter Model Sr

An automatic blood analyser, Coulter Counter Model Sr(CC-SR) was recently introduced in our hospital. This blood analyser is able to provide simultaneous measurements of seven blood parameters, i.e. WBC, REC, Hgb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and also produces the results within 40 seconds from aspiration of the sample into the instrument. The performance and precision of this blood analyser have been clitically evaluated by comparing the results obtained from the previous blood cell counter, the Coulter Counter Model Dn (CC-DN), a haemoglobinometer, and a high speed centfugal separator. The results are as follows: 1) The precision and liniarity for readings and dilutions on WBC, RBC, Hgb and Hct by the use of the CC-SR is satisfactory. 2) Good correlation between the measurements by whole blood analysis procedure and micro sample analysis procedure is recognized. 3) The amount of carryover from one sample to the next is negligible for practical purpose. 4) High correlation factors are obtained between the measurements by the CC-SR method and former methods: i. e. 0.99 for WBC, 0.93 for RBC, 0.99 for Hgb and 0.99 for Hct. 5) For these reason, it can be said that CC-SR is more useful successive instrument to measure WBC, RBC, Hgb, Hct than the CC-DN and other above mentioned instruments

Observations of High Energy Cosmic-Ray Electrons from 30 GeV to 3 TeV with Emulsion Chambers

We have performed a series of cosmic-ray electron observations using the balloon-borne emulsion chambers since 1968. While we previously reported the results from subsets of the exposures, the final results of the total exposures up to 2001 are presented here. Our successive experiments have yielded the total exposure of 8.19 m^2 sr day at the altitudes of 4.0 - 9.4 g/cm^2. The performance of the emulsion chambers was examined by accelerator beam tests and Monte-Carlo simulations, and the on-board calibrations were carried out by using the flight data. In this work we present the cosmic-ray electron spectrum in the energy range from 30 GeV to 3 TeV at the top of the atmosphere, which is well represented by a power-law function with an index of -3.28+-0.10. The observed data can be also interpreted in terms of diffusive propagation models. The evidence of cosmic-ray electrons up to 3 TeV suggests the existence of cosmic-ray electron sources at distances within ~1 kpc and times within ~1x10^5 yr ago.Comment: 38 pages, 10 figures, 3 tables, Accepted for publication in Ap

The determination of uric acid using modified Patel's method

N 13-b method for determination of uric acid by AutoAnalyzer- I was proposed from Technicon Corporation, but the sensitivity of this method was insufficient. According to the modification by Patel, good sensitivity was obtained for determining of uric acid, but insufficient separation between peaks was accompanied. To get good separation, Patel's method was reexamined by the authors, and the results were as follows. Sufficient separation was obtained by modifing the flow diagram of Patel's method. The mean recovery rates of uric acid added to serum and urine were 103.6% and 102.5%, and coefficients of variation were 1.27% and 1.05% respectively. The correlation between this modified Patel's method and the U.A. test Wako method was recognized (serum : n=95, r=0.97, urine : n=35, r =0.99). According to our modified method, uric acid concentration in serum of 68 subjects, were 5.8±0.9mg/100ml in 29 males and 4.4±0.8mg/100ml in 39 females

The Acquisition of Finance Knowledge and Optimization of a Portfolio

本稿では，金融資産管理シミュレーション・ゲームを実施して得たデータを基に，家計の選択するポートフォリオの効率性について検証を行う。資産選択の効率性を論じる指標として，平均分散アプローチによって導出した効率的フロンティアからの距離を用いる。Probit分析から得られた結果と，Panel Probit 分析から得られた結果は概ね整合的である。Panel Probit 分析の結果から示唆されることは，ゲーム参加者のうち，新たに習得した知識をより理解している者，過去の投資資産数の多い者，今後，株式市場が好転すると予測している者のポートフォリオの効率性は上昇し，資産選択の直前の株価の上昇は，ポートフォリオの効率性を低下させることである。また，ゲーム参加者の過去のポートフォリオの運用成績は，ポートフォリオの効率性に影響を与えない。In this paper, we examine the efficiency of portfolios on the basis of the simulation data of the portfolio management simulation game. The distance from the efficient frontier derived from the mean−variance portfolio theory is employed as the index of efficiency to select the assets. The results of the Probit analysis are consistent with the results derived from the Binary Panel Probit model analysis. The latter results suggest that the portfolio selected by one who understands new knowledge, possesses several types of assets, and predicts an improvement in the stock market, is efficient. Furthermore, a rise in the price index of stocks prior to portfolio selection decreases the efficiency of a portfolio. The previous portfolio performance does not affect the efficiency of the portfolio

Does the tube-compensation function of two modern mechanical ventilators provide effective work of breathing relief?

OBJECTIVE: An endotracheal tube (ETT) imposes work of breathing on mechanically ventilated patients. Using a bellows-in-a-box model lung, we compared the tube compensation (TC) performances of the Nellcor Puritan-Bennett 840 ventilator and of the Dräger Evita 4 ventilator. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Each ventilator was connected to the model lung. The respiratory rate of the model lung was set at 10 breaths/min with 1 s inspiratory time. Inspiratory flows were 30 or 60 l/min. A full-length 8 mm bore ETT was inserted between the ventilator circuit and the model lung. The TC was set at 0%, 10%, 50%, and 100% for both ventilators. Pressure was monitored at the airway, the trachea, and the pleura, and the data were recorded on a computer for later analysis of the delay time, of the inspiratory trigger pressure, and of the pressure–time product (PTP). The delay time was calculated as the time between the start of inspiration and minimum airway pressure, and the inspiratory trigger pressure was defined as the most negative pressure level. The same measurements were performed under pressure support ventilation of 4 and 8 cmH(2)O. The PTP increased according to the magnitude of inspiratory flow. Even with 100% TC, neither ventilator could completely compensate for the PTP imposed by the ETT. At 0% TC the PTP tended to be less with the Nellcor Puritan-Bennett 840 ventilator, while at 100% TC the PTP tended to be less with the Dräger Evita 4 ventilator. A small amount of pressure support can be equally effective to reduce the inspiratory effort compared with the TC. CONCLUSION: Although both ventilators provided effective TC, even when set to 100% TC they could not entirely compensate for a ventilator and ETT-imposed work of breathing. The effect of TC is less than that of pressure support ventilation. Physicians should be aware of this when using TC in weaning trials