Two-scale evaluation of remediation technologies for a contaminated site by applying economic input-output life cycle assessment: risk-cost, risk-energy consumption and risk-CO2 emission

A two-scale evaluation concept of remediation technologies for a contaminated site was expanded by introducing life cycle costing (LCC) and economic input-output life cycle assessment (EIO-LCA). The expanded evaluation index, the rescue number for soil (RN_SOIL) with LCC and EIO-LCA, comprises two scales, such as risk-cost, risk-energy consumption or risk-CO₂ emission of a remediation. The effectiveness of RN_SOIL with LCC and EIO-LCA was examined in a typical contamination and remediation scenario in which dieldrin contaminated an agricultural field. Remediation was simulated using four technologies: disposal, high temperature thermal desorption, biopile and landfarming. Energy consumption and CO₂ emission were determined from a life cycle inventory analysis using monetary-based intensity based on an input-output table. The values of RN_SOIL based on risk-cost, risk-energy consumption and risk-CO₂ emission were calculated, and then rankings of the candidates were compiled according to RN_SOIL values. A comparison between three rankings showed the different ranking orders. The existence of differences in ranking order indicates that the scales would not have reciprocal compatibility for two-scale evaluation and that each scale should be used independently. The RN_SOIL with LCA will be helpful in selecting a technology, provided an appropriate scale is determined.     

Conjoint analysis on the purchase intent for traditional fermented soy product (natto) among Japanese housewives

Abstract: The effect of sensory and extrinsic attributes on consumer intentions to purchase the Japanese traditional fermented soybean product natto was evaluated using conjoint analysis. Six attributes with 2 levels each were chosen and manipulated: price (high compared with low), the country of origin of the soybeans (domestic compared with imported), stickiness (strong compared with moderate), smell (rich compared with moderate), attached seasonings (attached compared with no attached seasonings), and the environmental friendliness of the packaging (high compared with low). A fractional factorial design was applied and 8 hypothetical product labels were produced. A sample of 479 Japanese housewives ranked these product labels based on their purchase intentions. Overall purchase intention was affected by country of origin, attached seasonings, and price; those attributes accounted for 81.0%, while the sensory attributes of the product accounted for 19.0% of purchase intents. In order to estimate market segments for the natto products based on consumer preference, a cluster analysis was performed. It identified 4 segments of consumers: 1 oriented to attached seasonings, another conscious of the price, and the other 2 oriented to origins. The behavioral and demographic characteristics of the respondents had a limited influence on segment membership. Practical Application: This research was conducted to understand how consumers valuate various sensory and nonsensory product attributes based on their assessment of the overall product in the case of Japanese fermented soy product (natto). The data of this research would be of great importance both in understanding consumer behavior and in designing strategies for product development.     

The rise of community wind power in Japan: Enhanced acceptance through social innovation

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the socio-economic dynamics that are brought about by renewable energy technologies. We call this dynamic “Social Innovation” as it changes the rules of risk–benefit distribution and the roles of social actors. For this purpose, we take up a typical case in Japan, community wind power in which the initial cost is funded by the investment of citizens. Through this case study, we examine how the citizens’ initiative can affect the social acceptance of renewable energy as well as social change. Based on interviews with those involved in these projects, we analyze the interests of the various actors involved in community wind power projects in a framework of “actor network theory”, which enables us to understand the detail of each actor's position. This study also involved a quantitative survey of investors. The case study clarified that there was a remarkable difference in the interests of the main actors in the community wind power projects, the networks are complex and actors share various interests such as economic interests and a sense of social commitment, participation and contribution. These incentives are also clarified in quantitative data. However, the variety of incentives differs in each project.     

Orbital Magnetism in Confined Two-Dimensional Systems

The way how the Landau diamagnetism emerges in finite two-dimensional systems, disc and ring, has been clarified by examining both the field dependences of the magnetization and the spatial distribution of the persistent currents induced by the magnetic field.     

Partner's Stress Status Influences Social Buffering Effects in Rats.

The relationship between a social partner's stress status and the social buffering effect was examined in adult male Wistar rats. Fear-conditioned rats were exposed to the same context along with either a shocked or nonshocked conspecific partner. Changes in body temperature and behavioral responses were monitored in order to compare the effects of social buffering, and the Fos protein in the paraventricular nucleus was immunostained. The presence of the partner rat attenuated stress-induced hyperthermia, as well as behavioral responses and Fos expression in response to the fearful context, and nonshocked partners were more effective than shocked partners. These findings suggest that the social buffering effect depends on the stress status of the accompanying conspecific animal. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effects of word frequency for Japanese Kana and Kanji words in naming and lexical decision: Can the dual-route model save the lexical-selection account?

The effects of word frequency were examined for Japanese Kanji and Katakana words in 6 experiments. The sizes of frequency effects were comparable for Kanji and Katakana words in the standard lexical decision task. In the standard naming task, the frequency effect for Katakana words was significantly smaller than that for Kanji words. These results were consistent with the lexical-selection account of frequency effects offered by dual-route models. Contrary to this account, however, frequency effects were smaller for Katakana words than for Kanji words in go/no-go naming tasks, in which participants were asked to name a stimulus aloud only if it was a word. This Frequency?×?Script Type interaction was not the result of using a go/no-go task because the interaction disappeared in the go/no-go lexical decision task. These results pose a strong challenge for the lexical-selection account of frequency effects offered by dual-route models. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characterization of the diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity in the membrane fraction from a fungus

In an attempt to clarify the mechanism of lipid accumulation inMortierella ramanniana var.angulispora, diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) in the membrane fraction from this fungus was characterized. The enzyme had an optimum pH of 7.0–7.5, and enzyme activity was blocked by SH-reagents. Metal ions were not essential for maintaining DGAT activity.n-Octyl-β-d-glucoside, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate and Tween 80 were found to preserve activity, while Triton X-100 and sucrose monolaurate inhibited it. As the inhibition of DGAT activity by Triton X-100 was overcome by the addition of diacylglycerol (DG), the dependency of DGAT activity on exogenous DG was determined in the presence of 0.1% Triton X-100. DGAT activity in the membrane fraction was traced in fungi cultured for different time periods or in media at different carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratios. Although the increase in total lipid content with culture time was accompanied by an increase in DGAT activity, total lipid changes related to changes in C/N ratio did not correlate with DGAT activity. Factors other than DGAT activity in the membrane fraction would appear to be involved in the regulation of total lipid content in this fungus.     

Molecular dynamics of the generation process of double‐walled carbon nanotubes from peapods

The generation process of a double‐walled carbon nanotube (DWNT) from a “peapod” was studied by classical molecular dynamics simulation. Starting from a peapod structure, defined by five C₆₀ molecules inside a (10,10) single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT), polymerized fullerenes, a peanut‐like structure and an almost nanotube‐like structure were obtained under suitable conditions of temperature control. The mean distance between the two layers of the DWNT agreed with an experimental report that it is larger than the interlayer spacing found in multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). In addition, the chirality dependence of the potential energy of a DWNT on the relative chirality of its constituent tubes was examined using a 6‐12 Lennard‐Jones potential. It was found that the potential energy depends only on the distance between the two layers, not on the relative chiralities. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 35(4): 254–264, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20115     

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 envelope glycoprotein binds to CD8 as well as to CD4 molecules on human T cells

We report here that human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) envelope glycoprotein (gp105), but not HIV-1 gp120, can bind to CD8 molecules as well as to CD4 molecules on human T cells. This phenomenon may lead to differences in the life cycles of HIV-1 and HIV-2, and it may be related to the differences in disease manifestations of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection, including longer survival of HIV-2-infected patients.