A risk in the prices of fossil fuels is a major concern to importing countries of them. This study analyzes the risk of an increase in the cost for Japanese electric utility sector during the period 1978-2007 consider...A risk in the prices of fossil fuels is a major concern to importing countries of them. This study analyzes the risk of an increase in the cost for Japanese electric utility sector during the period 1978-2007 considering the uncertainty in the prices of fossil fuels. The mean-semivariance model, which uses an upper semivariance as an index of the risk, is adopted for the purpose. The result confirms that the semivariance is the better index of the risk than the variance. Furether, the semivariance is decomposed into two factors; the risk caused by price changes in an individual fossil fuel source and the risk caused by correlations among the changes in the prices of fossil fuel sources. The former has been kept at a low level as it appears to be easy to estimate, while the latter has not been maintained at the lowest level as it appears to be difficult to estimate. The Japanese electric utility sector followed the minimum-risk fossil fuel mix up until 2001, but discontinued the same post 2001.展开更多
Although congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) in the bilateral cochleae mainly results from genetic abnormalities, chronic SHL progressing in later life is often influenced by systemic immune disturbances, incl...Although congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) in the bilateral cochleae mainly results from genetic abnormalities, chronic SHL progressing in later life is often influenced by systemic immune disturbances, including autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, and immunosenescence. We have investigated the relationship between the inner ear and systemic immunity and reviewed the possibilities to prevent SHL, including autoimmune SHL and age-related SHL. We also demonstrated two lymphocyte populations, interleukin 1 receptor type II (IL-1R2)-positive T cells (T1R2) and naturally occurring regulatory T cells (nTregs) in CD4+ T cells, which increase with aging, suppress host immune function and promote organ degeneration. Alterations in systemic immunity by fewer microbial antigen challenges in the living environment, elimination of immune suppressive lymphocytes, or immune rejuvenation with a reconstituted thymus may contribute not only to renew the cochlear function in SHL, but also to extend the healthy life of functional organs in a vigorous and youthful body, one of humanity’s greatest dreams.展开更多
The reactions γd→π-pp and γd→npπ+π-have been studied in an energy range from 0.8 to 1.1 GeV at the tagged photon facility of Laboratory of Nuclear Science,Tohoku University. Charged pions and protons in the fin...The reactions γd→π-pp and γd→npπ+π-have been studied in an energy range from 0.8 to 1.1 GeV at the tagged photon facility of Laboratory of Nuclear Science,Tohoku University. Charged pions and protons in the final state were measured by using the Neutral Kaon Spectrometer (NKS2). The analysis of the γd→π-pp was mainly used to check the acceptance of the NKS2 and to calibrate the tagged photon energy. The photoproduction of the Δ++Δ-was identified in the γd→npπ+π-reaction. Since the data analyses are still in progress,we issue an interim report and preliminary results.展开更多
文摘A risk in the prices of fossil fuels is a major concern to importing countries of them. This study analyzes the risk of an increase in the cost for Japanese electric utility sector during the period 1978-2007 considering the uncertainty in the prices of fossil fuels. The mean-semivariance model, which uses an upper semivariance as an index of the risk, is adopted for the purpose. The result confirms that the semivariance is the better index of the risk than the variance. Furether, the semivariance is decomposed into two factors; the risk caused by price changes in an individual fossil fuel source and the risk caused by correlations among the changes in the prices of fossil fuel sources. The former has been kept at a low level as it appears to be easy to estimate, while the latter has not been maintained at the lowest level as it appears to be difficult to estimate. The Japanese electric utility sector followed the minimum-risk fossil fuel mix up until 2001, but discontinued the same post 2001.
文摘Although congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) in the bilateral cochleae mainly results from genetic abnormalities, chronic SHL progressing in later life is often influenced by systemic immune disturbances, including autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, and immunosenescence. We have investigated the relationship between the inner ear and systemic immunity and reviewed the possibilities to prevent SHL, including autoimmune SHL and age-related SHL. We also demonstrated two lymphocyte populations, interleukin 1 receptor type II (IL-1R2)-positive T cells (T1R2) and naturally occurring regulatory T cells (nTregs) in CD4+ T cells, which increase with aging, suppress host immune function and promote organ degeneration. Alterations in systemic immunity by fewer microbial antigen challenges in the living environment, elimination of immune suppressive lymphocytes, or immune rejuvenation with a reconstituted thymus may contribute not only to renew the cochlear function in SHL, but also to extend the healthy life of functional organs in a vigorous and youthful body, one of humanity’s greatest dreams.
文摘The reactions γd→π-pp and γd→npπ+π-have been studied in an energy range from 0.8 to 1.1 GeV at the tagged photon facility of Laboratory of Nuclear Science,Tohoku University. Charged pions and protons in the final state were measured by using the Neutral Kaon Spectrometer (NKS2). The analysis of the γd→π-pp was mainly used to check the acceptance of the NKS2 and to calibrate the tagged photon energy. The photoproduction of the Δ++Δ-was identified in the γd→npπ+π-reaction. Since the data analyses are still in progress,we issue an interim report and preliminary results.
