Entomophagy: a key to space agriculture

Abstract The intentional inclusion of insects in space-based agricultural schemes and their use as human food (entomophagy) were examined. Insects could be useful both from an ecosystem design point of view, as well as serving as a protein-rich food for human occupants. Some candidate species are the silkworm, the hawkmoth, the drugstore beetle, and the termite. Plants in the ecosystem would include rice, soybean, sweet potato, and green-yellow vegetable but in combination they still lead to a diet that is deficient (for humans) in several nutrients. Normally these are supplied with animal-derived foods such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, etc. However, they can also be derived from insects which may be much easier to produce than any of the foregoing, and can also fulfill other useful ecological roles. Spinoff from this research could include some solutions to terrestrial problems such as supplying critical amino acids to people who suffer from a shortage of more conventional animal-derived proteins

知的障害者の居住空間と住み方に関する研究 : 中間的な居住場所としてのブランチホームに注目して

The purpose of the study is to have a close look at Branch Homes among several types of intermediate homes, and is to learn what kind of measures are taken to support the retarded to live and what influence do they have through them. Results:1) new ideas for space, way of living and others as well as those effects. (1)Effects for the retarded at Branch Homes. (2)Effects for the retarded outside Branch Homes. (3)Effects for members and carers involved. 2) Efforts made on Branch Homes and their situations

Space-based formaldehyde measurements as constrains on volatile organic compound emissions in east and south Asia and implications for ozone

We use a continuous 6-year record (1996–2001) of GOME satellite measurements of formaldehyde (HCHO) columns over east and south Asia to improve regional emission estimates of reactive nonmethane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), including isoprene, alkenes, HCHO, and xylenes. Mean monthly HCHO observations are compared to simulated HCHO columns from the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model using state-of-science, “bottom-up” emission inventories from Streets et al. (2003a) for anthropogenic and biomass burning emissions and Guenther et al. (2006) for biogenic emissions (MEGAN). We find that wintertime GOME observations can diagnose anthropogenic reactive NMVOC emissions from China, leading to an estimate 25% higher than Streets et al. (2003a). We attribute the difference to vehicular emissions. The biomass burning source for east and south Asia is almost 5 times the estimate of Streets et al. (2003a). GOME reveals a large source from agricultural burning in the North China Plain in June missing from current inventories. This source may reflect a recent trend toward in-field burning of crop residues as the need for biofuels diminishes. Biogenic isoprene emission in east and south Asia derived from GOME is 56 ± 30 Tg yr−1, similar to 52 Tg yr−1 from MEGAN. We find, however, that MEGAN underestimates emissions in China and overestimates emissions in the tropics. The higher Chinese biogenic and biomass burning emissions revealed by GOME have important implications for ozone pollution. We find 5 to 20 ppb seasonal increases in surface ozone in GEOS-Chem for central and northern China when using GOME-derived versus bottom-up emissions. Our methodology can be adapted for other regions of the world to provide top-down constraints on NMVOC emissions where multiple emission source types overlap in space and time.Earth and Planetary SciencesEngineering and Applied Science

介護保険に係る住宅改修のトラブルの予防・対応策に関する基礎的研究(その2) : 消費生活センターに対するアンケート調査等の結果より

The objective of the study is to obtain the basic data for considering prevention and countermeasures of troubles of housing refurbishment related to nursing care insurance. We had applied a questionnaire survey method of research on the consumer center. By the result of the survey, the countermeasure of the consumer center is not sufficient. So it is necessary to support by cooperation among specialists in different fields