An Evaluation of Policy Measures against Global Warming by Promoting Effective Use of Potential Energy in Wastes

Utilizing potential energy in wastes is significant for achieving sustainable development of the environment and the society. It can not only prevent the wastes from polluting the environment, but also possess many other advantages such as saving energy resources, material recycle and creation of employment. Moreover, reuse of wastes can also play an important role in mitigating global warming by reducing emission of methane, which is likely to be generated from stockbreeding wastes left in the open. The greenhouse effect of a methane molecule is 21 times higher than that of a carbon dioxide. To promote effective use of potential energy in wastes and restructuring the existing energy system, some management instruments and economic policies need to be adopted. In this regard, levying tax on emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and subsiding industries producing energy from wastes are considered most applicable and effective. The aim of this study is to evaluate Japanese economic policies in which the tax and subsidy are introduced. For this purpose, a socioeconomic model has been constructed. The model is based on an I/O model and considers the flow of wastes and energy. New industries which produce energy from wastes, as well as the economic policies of the tax and the subsidy are introduced in the model. Being subject to restriction on total emission of GHGs, GDP is maximized as the objective function.The effects of the policies on reducing GHG emission and promoting new industries have been analyzed and the optimum tax rate is proposed.

Vortex phase matching of a self-propelled model of fish with autonomous fin motion

It has been a long-standing problem how schooling fish optimize their motion by exploiting the vortices shed by the others. A recent experimental study showed that a pair of fish reduce energy consumption by matching the phases of their tailbeat according to their distance. In order to elucidate the dynamical mechanism by which fish control the motion of caudal fins via vortex-mediated hydrodynamic interactions, we introduce a new model of a self-propelled swimmer with an active flapping plate. The model incorporates the role of the central pattern generator network that generates rhythmic but noisy activity of the caudal muscle, in addition to hydrodynamic and elastic torques on the fin. For a solitary fish, the model reproduces a linear relation between the swimming speed and tailbeat frequency, as well as the distributions of the speed, tailbeat amplitude, and frequency. For a pair of fish, both the distribution function and energy dissipation rate exhibit periodic patterns as functions of the front-back distance and phase difference of the flapping motion. We show that a pair of fish spontaneously adjust their distance and phase difference via hydrodynamic interaction to reduce energy consumption.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figure

Operators’ Capability and Facilities Availability for Repair and Maintenance of Small Tractors in Riau Province, Indonesia: A Case Study

This paper presents the capability of tractor operators in performing repair and maintenance of small tractors, the availability of service and repair facilities at the farm level, and the manner of the operators in maintaining their tractors. Data are based on field visits and interviews with 65 tractor operators from 6 villages collected in three regencies of Riau Province. The results show that most operators lack the technical skill to service and repair tractors due to insufficient training, specific education, and work experience. Inadequate repair and maintenance facilities, such as workshops, mechanics, and spare part depots cause delays in repair work and raise the price of spare parts in the survey areas. Farmers do not keep accurate service records and most of them disregard proper maintenance and service of their tractors, such as changing engine oil without following the manufacturer’s recommendations. Provincial governments should provide training facilities and a program to improve the technical knowledge and skills of the operators and local mechanics. Repair and maintenance facilities should be established in village areas to guarantee timely repair in case of breakdowns and to make spare parts available at low price. The operators should keep service records accurately and adhere to maintenance and service schedules according to the manufacturer’s instructions. They should also be encouraged to properly service and maintain their tractors

A Study on Failure Mechanism of Embankment Dams for Irrigation Damaged by the 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu Earthquake

The objects of this investigation are to examine the following mechanism of embankment dams for irrigation damaged by the 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu Earthquake; 1) the mechanism and process of collapse for the Idenoshiri-Ike embankment dam using the effective stress earthquake response analysis; 2) the mechanism of upper slope failure for the Sugatadani-Ike embankment dam using the total stress earthquake response analysis as well as the slope stability analysis with seismic intensity. As a result, the following conclusions are obtained for each objects; 1) the mechanism and process of collapse due to liquefaction can be analyzed that the liquefied areas initially occurred at the toes of upper and lower slopes are extended and connected to make flow downward the volume of embankment and that the result of this analysis is consistent with the real damaged situation; 2) the mechanism of upstream slope failure can be explained only with considering the increase of excess pore pressure in the upstream slope, not extending complete liquefaction, using the both analyses

Effect of serum fractions obtained from cancer patients by double filtration plasmapheresis combined with natural tumor necrosis factors and cyclophosphamide on murine pulmonary metastases.

We investigated the effects of fractionated sera obtained from cancer patients by double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) plus antitumor agents on murine pulmonary metastasis. Fractions of the sera, in combination with natural human tumor necrosis factors (nTNF) and cyclophosphamide (Cy), were systemically administered to Lewis lung carcinoma-bearing mice. When the second filtrate (a plasma fraction containing substances composed of smaller molecular weight compounds) combined with low-dose nTNF (1,000 U/kg) and Cy (250 micrograms/kg) was administered to the mice, the degree of metastasis was significantly suppressed compared with the control group (p less than 0.01). In contrast, the discarded fluid (a plasma fraction containing larger molecular weight compounds) combined with the same doses of nTNF and Cy caused little inhibition of metastasis. Also, the discarded fluid significantly suppressed natural killer activity compared with normal sera (p less than 0.01). The results suggested that DFPP combined with nTNF and Cy is an efficient procedure to remove immunosuppressive factors from the sera of cancer-bearing hosts, to enhance the host antitumor immunity, and to suppress tumor proliferation.</p

Improving bonding strength by non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma-assisted technology for A5052/PEEK direct joining

The direct bonding of A5052 aluminum (Al) alloy to the engineering polymer poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) using an atmospheric pressure plasma-assisted process was demonstrated. The effect of plasma irradiation on the bonding surface of metal resin on the bonding strength following thermal press fitting method was investigated. Specimens bonded by plasma irradiation on the PEEK surface only showed a high tensile shear stress of 15.5 MPa. With increasing plasma irradiation time, the bond strength of the samples bonded to the PEEK surface by plasma irradiation increased. The increase in the bond strength between metals and polymers following direct bonding is caused by the addition of oxygen functional groups on the polymer. In contrast, specimens in which only the Al was exposed to the plasma showed a decrease in bond strength compared with unirradiated samples. This reduction in bond strength is attributed to the forming magnesium oxide, which forms in the early stages of participation due to plasma irradiation.The version of record of this article, first published in International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, is available online at Publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-023-12747-

[資料] "顔"研究に関する文献一覧 : 1985～1995

1985年から1995年までに発表された顔研究に関する文献が一覧された。Articles on the study of faces from 1985 to 1995 were listed

Damages to the brick buildings at Tokyo Imperial University

付録１８