Current Status and Future Prospects of Electric Power as Automotive Fuel

The deployment of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the premise of using low-carbon power sources (renewable energy and nuclear power) is expected to not only contribute to a stable energy supply by lowering dependence on oil (dependence on foreign supply sources) as fuel but also help to reduce CO2 emissions. Moreover, the use of night-time electricity is likely to help spread the use of electric vehicles for commuter use by reducing energy cost. However, it is important to remember that if conventional electricity, mainly generated by coal-fired power plants, is to be used as a power source, the deployment of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles may not necessarily be effective in reducing CO2 emissions. It is also true that compared with vehicles powered by an internal-combustion engine, electric vehicles still have some shortcomings, such as their short driving range, some 100 km on a single charge of the battery, and the long battery-recharging time. To significantly increase the use of electric vehicles in the future, the key will be to develop a low-cost, high-performance battery. It will also be necessary to further reduce the cost of wind and photovoltaic power generation. As the use of electric vehicles spreads, it will become necessary to conduct a quantitative study on the optimization (cost minimization) of the power source mix (cost minimization), including additional power sources for automobiles.electric vehicles, optimization, power source

頭頸部領域および食道領域の各種症状に対する食道運動機能の関与について : High Resolution Manometry を用いた検討

頭頸部領域および食道領域における各種症状に対する食道運動機能の関与を検討した.2007年9月から2012年6月までに,咽喉頭異常感などの頭頸部領域の症状および嚥下困難感,胸痛,胸やけなどの食道領域に関連した症状を主訴に,当科を受診した261例(男性138例,女性123例,平均年齢56.8±17.1才)を対象とし,健康関連QOL(Health Related Quality of Life: HRQL)の測定と食道内圧検査を施行した.健康関連QOLの検討では,咽喉頭違和感,嚥下困難感,胸やけ等の各症状を訴えた患者で,身体的QOL,精神的QOL を表すPCS(physical component summary)あるいはMCS(mental component summary)が低下し,健常者と比較して有意にQOLの低下を認めた.食道内圧検査による食道運動機能異常は,全対象患者中62.0%に認めた.各症状別に食道運動機能障害の内訳を見ると,咽喉頭違和感ではIEM(ineffective esophageal motility)(31.8%),嚥下困難感は食道アカラシア(56.6%),喉のつかえ感は食道アカラシア(35.5%),胸やけはIEM(39.4%),胸痛は食道アカラシア(50.0%),噫気はIEM(50.0%)を最も多く認めた.咽喉頭違和感,嚥下困難感,喉のつかえ感,胸やけ,胸痛などの頭頚部および食道症状を有するものの,器質的疾患を認めない患者のQOLは障害されており,その病態の一つとして食道運動機能異常の存在を念頭に置き,診療にあたることが重要である.There are many cases of patients presenting at the hospital complaining of dysphagia or chest pain. At that time organic diseases are not always detected in these patients;previously several studies showed esophageal motility dysfunction was one of the important factors in the development of these symptoms. However, there have been few reports investigating the relationship between esophageal motility dysfunction and these symptoms. Between September 2007 and June 2012, 216 patients (138 men,123 women;mean age 56.8±17.1 years old) were admitted complaining of the following symptoms:dysphagia, globus sensation, or heart burn and non-cardiac chest pain,but without any organic diseases related symptoms. They all underwent high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) and completed a questionnaire regarding their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between these symptoms and esophageal motility dysfunction and QOL. In our series, 62% of patients with non-obstructive dysphagia, globus sensation, heartburn and unexplained (non-cardiac) chest pain have an esophageal motility disorder (Achalasia 31.5%, IEM 26.4%, Diffuse esophageal spasm 4.6%;nutcracker esophagus 2.8% and Impaired ECJ relaxation 0.5%). SF-8 score of PCS(Physical Component Summary) in all of the symptoms were significantly lower in comparison with the matched healthy control. SF-8 score of MCS(Mental Component Summary) with globus sensation and esophageal dysphagia were significantly lower in comparison with the matched healthy control. The patients complaining of several symptoms located in the pharynx or esophagus have impaired quality of life and esophageal motility dysfunctions.It is important to consider these issues while examining these patients

Current Status and Future Prospects of Electric Power as Automotive Fuel

The deployment of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the premise of using low-carbon power sources (renewable energy and nuclear power) is expected to not only contribute to a stable energy supply by lowering dependence on oil (dependence on foreign supply sources) as fuel but also help to reduce CO2 emissions. Moreover, the use of night-time electricity is likely to help spread the use of electric vehicles for commuter use by reducing energy cost. However, it is important to remember that if conventional electricity, mainly generated by coal-fired power plants, is to be used as a power source, the deployment of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles may not necessarily be effective in reducing CO2 emissions. It is also true that compared with vehicles powered by an internal-combustion engine, electric vehicles still have some shortcomings, such as their short driving range, some 100 km on a single charge of the battery, and the long battery-recharging time. To significantly increase the use of electric vehicles in the future, the key will be to develop a low-cost, high-performance battery. It will also be necessary to further reduce the cost of wind and photovoltaic power generation. As the use of electric vehicles spreads, it will become necessary to conduct a quantitative study on the optimization (cost minimization) of the power source mix (cost minimization), including additional power sources for automobiles.electric vehicles, optimization, power source, emissions

Avaliação da exploração florestal de impacto reduzido em atributos físicos e químicos do solo e na regeneração natural em Paragominas, PA

This work was carried out at Fazenda Rio Capim, property of the Cikel Brasil Verde Madeiras Ltda., in the municipality of Paragominas, State of Pará, Brazil. The main objective was to study the effect of logging on the physical and chemical properties of the soil and on natural regeneration in three Working Units logged in 2000, 2003 and 2006., The treatments were gap center, primary and secondary skid trails, logging landing and one control plot. The diameter of each individual was measured at approximately 1,30 m of the ground; all species were identified and calculated the species richness, abundance, diversity Index, evenness and floristic similarity. Samples of litterfall were collected in same the locations of soil plots. For physical analysis (granulometry, texture, soil bulk density, resistance to the penetration, porosity and volumetric humidity) soil samples were collected at 0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-30 cm depth, and for the chemical analysis (pH, carbon stock and nitrogen, C/N) the samples were at 0-10 cm depth. In the primary skid trails it was considered its beginning, middle and end of the extension, and both for primary and secondary skid trails, the marks of the wheels of the machinery (RM), the place between the wheels (ER), and the edges of the trail (BT). Felling gaps were randomly measured and classified with areas 600m2. The soil of the study areas is Yellow Latosol with very clay texture. The soil bulk density and porosity varied significantly among years and between treatments (p 600m2. O solo das áreas de estudo é Latossolo Amarelo com textura muito argilosa. A densidade e a porosidade do solo variaram significativamente entre anos e entre tratamentos (p<0,001); não houve diferença significativa na profundidade de 20-30 cm. Ramais principais, secundários e pátio foram os tratamentos mais afetados. A classe de clareira não influenciou na densidade. Verificou-se que ER e BT não diferiram estatisticamente. A comparação entre início, meio e fim da trilha não foi diferente para nenhuma das comparações. Os resultados para resistência à penetração foram muito semelhantes aos da densidade e porosidade. A umidade volumétrica variou em função da combinação ano e tratamento (p<0,001). Os valores médios de Ph variaram entre 4,72 a 5,92. Houve uma redução de serapilheira com decorrer dos anos pós-exploração. Os valores médios do teor de C variaram entre 25,94 a 42,59 g.kg-1 e o teor de N entre 2,23 a 3,35 g.kg-1, valores esses considerados altos para ambos. Para o estoque de carbono (Mg.ha-1) não foi encontrada diferença significativa para nenhuma das combinações possíveis entre ano, estação e tratamento. A relação C/N para as UTs exploradas apresentou valores entre 10,37 e 15,42, ocorrendo a mineralização do nitrogênio inorgânico do solo. As três Uts estudadas apresentaram alta diversidade de espécies e alta equitabilidade. As Uts exploradas em 2000 e 2003 possuem maior similaridade florística (35,93%), seguida da UT explorada em 2003 e 2006 (33,46%), e UTs exploradas em 2000 e 2006 (26,93%). Concluiu-se que é necessário um longo período de observação para a avaliação dos efeitos da compactação no crescimento da regeneração. Os indicadores de boas práticas de manejo florestal deveriam abranger atributos físicos, químicos e biológicos do solo para um melhor entendimento do sistema e escolha de demais indicadores que possam dar respostas sobre o equilíbrio do ecossistema florestal. Os parâmetros estudados podem ser utilizados como indicadores de qualidade ambiental