AIM To elucidate the factors associated with residual gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) symptoms in patients receiving proton pump inhibitor(PPI) maintenance therapy in clinical practice.METHODS The study included...AIM To elucidate the factors associated with residual gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) symptoms in patients receiving proton pump inhibitor(PPI) maintenance therapy in clinical practice.METHODS The study included 39 GERD patients receiving maintenance PPI therapy. Residual symptoms were assessed using the Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD(FSSG) questionnaire and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale(GSRS). The relationships between the FSSG score and patient background factors, including the CYP2C19 genotype, were analyzed.RESULTS The FSSG scores ranged from 1 to 28 points(median score: 7.5 points), and 19 patients(48.7%) had a score of 8 points or more. The patients' GSRS scores were significantly correlated with their FSSG scores(correlation coefficient = 0.47, P < 0.005). In erosive esophagitis patients, the FSSG scores of the CYP2C19 rapid metabolizers(RMs) were significantly higher than the scores of the poor metabolizers and intermediate metabolizers(total scores: 16.7 ± 8.6 vs 7.8 ± 5.4, P < 0.05; acid reflux-related symptom scores: 12 ± 1.9 vs 2.5 ± 0.8, P < 0.005). In contrast, the FSSG scores of the CYP2C19 RMs in the non-erosive reflux disease patients were significantly lower than those of the other patients(total scores: 5.5 ± 1.0 vs 11.8 ± 6.3, P < 0.05; dysmotility symptom-related scores: 1.0 ± 0.4 vs 6.0 ± 0.8, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Approximately half of the GERD patients receiving maintenance PPI therapy had residual symptoms associated with a lower quality of life, and the CYP2C19 genotype appeared to be associated with these residual symptoms.展开更多
X2CrNiMoN25-7-3 duplex stainless steel is suitable for chloride-containing environments such as seawater because it has excellent pitting corrosion resistance. Duplex stainless cast steel is often used to accommodate ...X2CrNiMoN25-7-3 duplex stainless steel is suitable for chloride-containing environments such as seawater because it has excellent pitting corrosion resistance. Duplex stainless cast steel is often used to accommodate the complexity of part geometry at joints. However, machining after casting is indispensable. This study evaluated the cutting characteristics of stainless cast steel. Adhesion of the cutting edge was weak at high cutting speeds, but tool wear was large. Diffusion and reactions between the work-pieces and the tool edge were investigated. Slight inter-diffusion and a reaction phase were observed, but the bond-ability was low.展开更多
Waste management is becoming a crucial issue in modem society owing to rapid urbanization and the increasing generation of municipal solid waste （MSW）. This paper evaluates the carbon footprint of the waste manageme...Waste management is becoming a crucial issue in modem society owing to rapid urbanization and the increasing generation of municipal solid waste （MSW）. This paper evaluates the carbon footprint of the waste management sector to identify direct and indirect carbon emissions, waste recycling carbon emission using a hybrid life cycle assessment and input-output analysis. China and Japan was selected as case study areas to highlight the effects of different industries on waste management. The results show that the life cycle carbon footprints for waste treatment are 59.01 million tons in China and 7.01 million tons in Japan. The gap between these footprints is caused by the different waste management systems and treatment processes used in the two countries. For indirect carbon footprints, China＇s material carbon footprint and deprecia- tion carbon footprint are much higher than those of Japan, whereas the purchased electricity and heat carbon footprint in China is half that of Japan. China and Japan have similar direct energy consumption carbon footprints. However, CO2 emissions from MSW treatment processes in China （46.46 million tons） is significantly higher than that in Japan （2.72 million tons）. The corresponding effects of waste recycling on CO2 emission reductions are consider- able, up to 181.37 million tons for China and 96.76 million tons for Japan. Besides, measures were further proposed for optimizing waste management systems in the two countries. In addition, it is argued that the advanced experience that developed countries have in waste management issues can provide scientific support for waste treatment in developing countries such as China.展开更多
Since the Paris Climate Agreement was adopted by consensus in December 2015, the global society has made various efforts to respond to this Agreement. The essential element of the Paris Climate Agreement is the so-cal...Since the Paris Climate Agreement was adopted by consensus in December 2015, the global society has made various efforts to respond to this Agreement. The essential element of the Paris Climate Agreement is the so-called Nationally Determined Contributions （NDCs）, specifying the long-term greenhouse gas （GHG） reduc- tion targets beyond 2020. Unlike the different legal obligations of developed and developing countries specified in the precedent Kyoto Protocol, the NDCs under the Paris Climate Agreement apply equally to all countries. All the signed countries were asked to submit their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions （INDCs） before the 2015 Paris Climate Summit, which serve, unless otherwise provided, as the initial NDCs after the ratification of the Agreement.展开更多
The Paris Agreement, which entered into effect in 2016, emphasizes a definite timeline for communicating and maintaining successive nationally determined con- tributions （NDCs） that it plans to achieve in addressing...The Paris Agreement, which entered into effect in 2016, emphasizes a definite timeline for communicating and maintaining successive nationally determined con- tributions （NDCs） that it plans to achieve in addressing climate change. This calls for the development of a measurement, reporting and verification （MRV） system and a Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency （CBIT）. Though such actions are universally accepted by the Parties to the Paris Agreement, earlier studies have shown that there remain technological, social, political and financial constrains which will affect the development and deployment of such a system. In this paper, using a case study on MRV implementation in Bogor City in Indonesia, how the above-mentioned challenges can be overcome is outlined through a technological and policy innovation process where scientists and technologists （collectively referred as expert networks） can join hands with local governments and national policy makers in designing, development and implementation of an MRV system that meets the local, national and global requirements. Through the case study it is further observed that expert networks can act as interactive knowledge generators and policy interlocutors in bridging technology with policy. To be specific, first, a brief history of the international context of MRV and CBIT is outlined. Next, the theoretical under- pinning of the study is contextualized within the existing theories related to public policy and international relations. Finally, the case study is outlined and investigated where the engagement of an expert-network and policy makers in the design, development and implementation of an MRV tool is showcased.展开更多
The Paris Agreement calls for maintaining a global temperature less than 2℃ above the pre-industrial level and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5℃. To realize this objective and p...The Paris Agreement calls for maintaining a global temperature less than 2℃ above the pre-industrial level and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5℃. To realize this objective and promote a low-carbon society, and because energy production and use is the largest source of global greenhouse-gas （GHG） emissions, it is important to efficiently manage energy demand and supply systems. This, in turn, requires theoretical and practical research and innovation in smart energy monitoring technologies, the identification of appropriate methods for detailed time-series analysis, and the application of these technologies at urban and national scales. Further, because developing countries contribute increasing shares of domestic energy consumption, it is important to consider the application of such innovations in these areas. Motivated by the mandates set out in global agreements on climate change and low-carbon societies, this paper focuses on the development of a smart energy monitoring system （SEMS） and its deployment in house- holds and public and commercial sectors in Bogor, Indonesia. An electricity demand prediction model is developed for each device using the Auto-Regression eXogenous model. The real-time SEMS data and time- series clustering to explore similarities in electricity consumption patterns between monitored units, such as residential, public, and commercial buildings, in Bogor is, then, used. These clusters are evaluated using peak demand and Ramadan term characteristics. The resulting energy- prediction models can be used for low-carbon planning.展开更多
District heating systems using cogeneration technology and renewable resources are considered as an effective approach to resources conservation and reduction of greenhouse gas （GHG） emissions. However, wide- spread...District heating systems using cogeneration technology and renewable resources are considered as an effective approach to resources conservation and reduction of greenhouse gas （GHG） emissions. However, wide- spread aging and depopulation problems, as well as the popularization of energy-saving technologies in buildings, are estimated to greatly decrease energy consumption, leading to inefficiency in district heating and barriers to technology proliferation. From a long-term perspective, land use changes, especially the progression of compact city plans, have the potential to offset the decrement in energy consumption that maintains the efficiency of district heating systems. An integrated model is developed in this paper based on building cohort analysis to evaluate the economic feasibility and environmental impact of introdu- cing district heating systems to a long-term compact city plan. As applied to a case in the Soma Region of Fukushima, Japan, potential migration from the suburbs to the central station districts is simulated, where district heating based on gas-fired cogeneration is expected to be introduced. The results indicate that guided migration to produce concentrated centers of population can substan- tially increase the heat demand density, which supports a wider application of district heating systems and better low-carbon performance. These results are further dis- cussed in relation to technology innovation and related policies. It is concluded that policies related to urban land use planning and energy management should be integrated and quantitatively evaluated over the long-term with the aim of supporting urban low-carbon sustainable develop- ment.展开更多
文摘AIM To elucidate the factors associated with residual gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) symptoms in patients receiving proton pump inhibitor(PPI) maintenance therapy in clinical practice.METHODS The study included 39 GERD patients receiving maintenance PPI therapy. Residual symptoms were assessed using the Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD(FSSG) questionnaire and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale(GSRS). The relationships between the FSSG score and patient background factors, including the CYP2C19 genotype, were analyzed.RESULTS The FSSG scores ranged from 1 to 28 points(median score: 7.5 points), and 19 patients(48.7%) had a score of 8 points or more. The patients' GSRS scores were significantly correlated with their FSSG scores(correlation coefficient = 0.47, P < 0.005). In erosive esophagitis patients, the FSSG scores of the CYP2C19 rapid metabolizers(RMs) were significantly higher than the scores of the poor metabolizers and intermediate metabolizers(total scores: 16.7 ± 8.6 vs 7.8 ± 5.4, P < 0.05; acid reflux-related symptom scores: 12 ± 1.9 vs 2.5 ± 0.8, P < 0.005). In contrast, the FSSG scores of the CYP2C19 RMs in the non-erosive reflux disease patients were significantly lower than those of the other patients(total scores: 5.5 ± 1.0 vs 11.8 ± 6.3, P < 0.05; dysmotility symptom-related scores: 1.0 ± 0.4 vs 6.0 ± 0.8, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Approximately half of the GERD patients receiving maintenance PPI therapy had residual symptoms associated with a lower quality of life, and the CYP2C19 genotype appeared to be associated with these residual symptoms.
文摘X2CrNiMoN25-7-3 duplex stainless steel is suitable for chloride-containing environments such as seawater because it has excellent pitting corrosion resistance. Duplex stainless cast steel is often used to accommodate the complexity of part geometry at joints. However, machining after casting is indispensable. This study evaluated the cutting characteristics of stainless cast steel. Adhesion of the cutting edge was weak at high cutting speeds, but tool wear was large. Diffusion and reactions between the work-pieces and the tool edge were investigated. Slight inter-diffusion and a reaction phase were observed, but the bond-ability was low.
文摘Waste management is becoming a crucial issue in modem society owing to rapid urbanization and the increasing generation of municipal solid waste （MSW）. This paper evaluates the carbon footprint of the waste management sector to identify direct and indirect carbon emissions, waste recycling carbon emission using a hybrid life cycle assessment and input-output analysis. China and Japan was selected as case study areas to highlight the effects of different industries on waste management. The results show that the life cycle carbon footprints for waste treatment are 59.01 million tons in China and 7.01 million tons in Japan. The gap between these footprints is caused by the different waste management systems and treatment processes used in the two countries. For indirect carbon footprints, China＇s material carbon footprint and deprecia- tion carbon footprint are much higher than those of Japan, whereas the purchased electricity and heat carbon footprint in China is half that of Japan. China and Japan have similar direct energy consumption carbon footprints. However, CO2 emissions from MSW treatment processes in China （46.46 million tons） is significantly higher than that in Japan （2.72 million tons）. The corresponding effects of waste recycling on CO2 emission reductions are consider- able, up to 181.37 million tons for China and 96.76 million tons for Japan. Besides, measures were further proposed for optimizing waste management systems in the two countries. In addition, it is argued that the advanced experience that developed countries have in waste management issues can provide scientific support for waste treatment in developing countries such as China.
文摘Since the Paris Climate Agreement was adopted by consensus in December 2015, the global society has made various efforts to respond to this Agreement. The essential element of the Paris Climate Agreement is the so-called Nationally Determined Contributions （NDCs）, specifying the long-term greenhouse gas （GHG） reduc- tion targets beyond 2020. Unlike the different legal obligations of developed and developing countries specified in the precedent Kyoto Protocol, the NDCs under the Paris Climate Agreement apply equally to all countries. All the signed countries were asked to submit their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions （INDCs） before the 2015 Paris Climate Summit, which serve, unless otherwise provided, as the initial NDCs after the ratification of the Agreement.
文摘The Paris Agreement, which entered into effect in 2016, emphasizes a definite timeline for communicating and maintaining successive nationally determined con- tributions （NDCs） that it plans to achieve in addressing climate change. This calls for the development of a measurement, reporting and verification （MRV） system and a Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency （CBIT）. Though such actions are universally accepted by the Parties to the Paris Agreement, earlier studies have shown that there remain technological, social, political and financial constrains which will affect the development and deployment of such a system. In this paper, using a case study on MRV implementation in Bogor City in Indonesia, how the above-mentioned challenges can be overcome is outlined through a technological and policy innovation process where scientists and technologists （collectively referred as expert networks） can join hands with local governments and national policy makers in designing, development and implementation of an MRV system that meets the local, national and global requirements. Through the case study it is further observed that expert networks can act as interactive knowledge generators and policy interlocutors in bridging technology with policy. To be specific, first, a brief history of the international context of MRV and CBIT is outlined. Next, the theoretical under- pinning of the study is contextualized within the existing theories related to public policy and international relations. Finally, the case study is outlined and investigated where the engagement of an expert-network and policy makers in the design, development and implementation of an MRV tool is showcased.
文摘The Paris Agreement calls for maintaining a global temperature less than 2℃ above the pre-industrial level and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5℃. To realize this objective and promote a low-carbon society, and because energy production and use is the largest source of global greenhouse-gas （GHG） emissions, it is important to efficiently manage energy demand and supply systems. This, in turn, requires theoretical and practical research and innovation in smart energy monitoring technologies, the identification of appropriate methods for detailed time-series analysis, and the application of these technologies at urban and national scales. Further, because developing countries contribute increasing shares of domestic energy consumption, it is important to consider the application of such innovations in these areas. Motivated by the mandates set out in global agreements on climate change and low-carbon societies, this paper focuses on the development of a smart energy monitoring system （SEMS） and its deployment in house- holds and public and commercial sectors in Bogor, Indonesia. An electricity demand prediction model is developed for each device using the Auto-Regression eXogenous model. The real-time SEMS data and time- series clustering to explore similarities in electricity consumption patterns between monitored units, such as residential, public, and commercial buildings, in Bogor is, then, used. These clusters are evaluated using peak demand and Ramadan term characteristics. The resulting energy- prediction models can be used for low-carbon planning.
文摘District heating systems using cogeneration technology and renewable resources are considered as an effective approach to resources conservation and reduction of greenhouse gas （GHG） emissions. However, wide- spread aging and depopulation problems, as well as the popularization of energy-saving technologies in buildings, are estimated to greatly decrease energy consumption, leading to inefficiency in district heating and barriers to technology proliferation. From a long-term perspective, land use changes, especially the progression of compact city plans, have the potential to offset the decrement in energy consumption that maintains the efficiency of district heating systems. An integrated model is developed in this paper based on building cohort analysis to evaluate the economic feasibility and environmental impact of introdu- cing district heating systems to a long-term compact city plan. As applied to a case in the Soma Region of Fukushima, Japan, potential migration from the suburbs to the central station districts is simulated, where district heating based on gas-fired cogeneration is expected to be introduced. The results indicate that guided migration to produce concentrated centers of population can substan- tially increase the heat demand density, which supports a wider application of district heating systems and better low-carbon performance. These results are further dis- cussed in relation to technology innovation and related policies. It is concluded that policies related to urban land use planning and energy management should be integrated and quantitatively evaluated over the long-term with the aim of supporting urban low-carbon sustainable develop- ment.
