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• Decoupling of GDP from all energy sources under multiple principles are examined. • World economy achieved weak energy decoupling in most years during 2000–2011. • World economy coupled with coal use and tended to couple with cleaner energy use. • None of studied economies achieved long-term GDP-embodied energy decoupling. • Decoupling delusions occurred when only considering direct and total energy use. Decoupling indicators are widely used to understand links between economic growth and energy use. However, traditional decoupling analyses mostly focus on domestic energy consumption (i.e., the production-based principle) and neglect off-site energy use across global supply chains to satisfy an economy's final consumption (i.e., the consumption-based principle). Moreover, analyses for total primary energy conceal an economy's preference for different energy sources. Therefore, this paper evaluates decoupling states of GDP from all types of primary energy use under consumption-based principle, for world economy and eight typical economies during 2000–2011. Regarding total primary energy, world economy witnessed weak decoupling in most years, and most economies studied (e.g., USA, Japan and China) achieved decoupling initially but performed negative decoupling finally. For EU, USA, Japan, Russia and India, production-based decoupling performances were generally better than consumption-based ones. Decoupling phenomena detected under production-based principle even became coupling or negative decoupling under consumption-based principle in some cases. As for each energy source, world economy decoupled from oil use, but still coupled with coal use, and gradually showed a trend to couple with natural gas and renewables use. Different energy sources showed distinct decoupling degrees from GDP, affected by individual embodied energy requirement structure. This paper uncovers potential energy decoupling delusions to deepen the understanding of relationships between energy use and economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Review of provisions for seismic qualification of BRBs prescribed in various codes. • BRB core strain (JP) is a more practical way to specify the deformation amplitudes. • The AISC (US) loading protocol specifies the largest target deformation amplitude. • Requirement of minimum cumulative inelastic deformation in JP code is the most severe. • EN 15129 (EU) loading protocol imposed the largest cumulative inelastic demands. • Two new loading protocols for qualification of BRBs with enhanced requirements. The paper presents a research on testing protocols for seismic performance assessment and qualification of buckling-restrained braces (BRBs). The purpose of the study was to propose new loading protocols that consider the most demanding performance requirements available worldwide. In this study, the loading protocols for qualification testing of BRBs prescribed in the codes of four countries/regions, United States, Europe, China, and Japan, plus a non-official Canadian loading protocol, were consulted. The review focused on the background and characteristics, such as the maximum deformation amplitude, deformation range, and number of cycles, of each loading sequence. Then, a database composed of 35 BRB specimens, selected from 16 past experimental studies, was compiled to perform a series of simulations of quasi-static cyclic tests of BRBs under the five different loading histories. The OpenSees platform was used to carry out the modeling, calibration, and analyses. The demands imposed to BRBs were evaluated in terms of cumulative inelastic deformation and cumulative dissipated energy. In addition, the cumulative distribution of the hysteretic energy was defined as a parameter for the assessment of the amplitude-growth rule of the loading protocols. Based on the code review and analyses results, a series of criteria were established and two new loading protocols, GLP-1 and GLP-2, were proposed. Results demonstrated that both proposed loading histories impose superior cumulative inelastic demands and showed a good agreement with the reference cumulative distribution of the hysteretic energy. Thus, they are recommended as loading protocols for BRB qualification testing with global applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper summarizes three micro-satellite impact tests completed in early 2007 through collaboration between Kyushu University and the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office. The previous experiments completed in late 2005 aimed to compare low- and hypervelocity impacts on identical target micro-satellites, whereas the new tests used larger micro-satellites as targets and aimed to investigate the effects of impact directions. Three identical micro-satellites equipped with fully functional electronic devices were prepared as targets. Their dimensions were 20cm by 20cm by 20cm, and the mass of each was approximately 1.3kg. Aluminum alloy solid spheres, with a diameter of 3cm and a mass of 39g, were prepared as projectiles. The impact velocity was approximately 1.7km/s. The impact tests were carried out using the two-stage light gas gun at the Kyushu Institute of Technology. All target micro-satellites were completely fragmented, but there were noticeable differences among the three sets of fragments due to the different impact directions. More than 1000 fragments from each test were collected, measured, photographed, and documented with material descriptions. Preliminary results of the new data and comparisons with the previous data will be presented in the paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper examines the usefulness of metaphors by comparing the assessments of the current economic conditions of the US and Japan made by the countries’ respective monetary policy authorities. In particular, this paper compares the role played by metaphors in creating a technical lexicon for business cycle phases in each language, and presents three main empirical findings. First, in both the US and Japan, metaphors are used in keeping with the business cycle phases with which each economy is faced. Second, many of the verbal, adjectival and adverbial terms can be attributed solely to the mechanical metaphor in the US, while there is no incidence of this use in the case of Japan. Third, there are more metaphoric adjectives or adverbs in the assessments of the US economy than in those of the Japanese economy. These empirical findings can be useful for second language instruction in economics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aeroelastic coefficients (flutter derivatives) of bridge decks are routinely extracted from wind tunnel section model experiments for the assessment of performance against wind loading. Two distinct methods, developed over the years, are usually employed for this purpose (free or forced vibration). Even though advantages and disadvantages of each technique have been highlighted by numerous researchers, few examples of a systematic comparison of the experimental results are available in the literature. The significance of this study is related to the evaluation of an extended set of experimental data on flutter derivatives, and includes the analysis and interpretation of the differences recorded through the two methods. The motivation for this work emerged from the United States–Japan Benchmark Study on Bridge Flutter Derivatives that Iowa State University (ISU) in the United States and the Public Works Research Institute (PWRI) in Japan, initiated in 2002. Tests were designed to cover a wide range of solid cross sections, from bluff (rectangular prisms) to streamlined, in particular considering the current trend of engineers to use aerodynamically-designed girders for bridges with longer spans. In this paper, a systematic analysis and a comparison of laboratory results of flutter derivatives obtained at both institutions were performed. In a companion paper, a sensitivity study was performed to examine the implications of the perceived dissimilarities among flutter-derivative data sets on the aeroelastic instability of long-span bridges (single-mode and coupled-mode). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Neighborhood sustainability assessment tools have become widespread since the turn of 21st century and many communities, mainly in the developed world, are utilizing these tools to measure their success in approaching sustainable development goals. In this study, seven tools from Australia, Europe, Japan, and the United States are selected and analyzed with the aim of providing insights into the current situations; highlighting the strengths, weaknesses, successes, and failures; and making recommendations for future improvements. Using a content analysis, the issues of sustainability coverage, pre-requisites, local adaptability, scoring and weighting, participation, reporting, and applicability are discussed in this paper. The results of this study indicate that most of the tools are not doing well regarding the coverage of social, economic, and institutional aspects of sustainability; there are ambiguities and shortcomings in the weighting, scoring, and rating; in most cases, there is no mechanism for local adaptability and participation; and, only those tools which are embedded within the broader planning framework are doing well with regard to applicability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With the increasing of sludge emissions and people''s increasing demand for better dwelling environment, resource utilization of sludge receives much concern in recent years. Currently, the co-processing of sludge in cement kiln has been considered as a sustainable way to dispose sludge in Japan as well as Europe and the United States. Huaxin has begun the co-processing of sludge in cement kiln since 2008. So far, 65000 tons of sludge has been successfully disposed. This paper focus on 3 ways of co-processing sludge in cement kiln through certain project examples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effect of neutron-irradiation damage has been mainly simulated using high-energy ion bombardment. A recent MIT report (PSFC/RR-10-4, An assessment of the current data affecting tritium retention and its use to project towards T retention in ITER, Lipschultz et al., 2010) summarizes the observations from high-energy ion bombardment studies and illustrates the saturation trend in deuterium concentration due to damage from ion irradiation in tungsten and molybdenum above 1 displacement per atom (dpa). While this prior database of results is quite valuable for understanding the behavior of hydrogen isotopes in plasma facing components (PFCs), it does not encompass the full range of effects that must be considered in a practical fusion environment due to short penetration depth, damage gradient, high damage rate, and high primary knock-on atom (PKA) energy spectrum of the ion bombardment. In addition, neutrons change the elemental composition via transmutations, and create a high radiation environment inside PFCs, which influences the behavior of hydrogen isotope in PFCs, suggesting the utilization of fission reactors is necessary for neutron-irradiation. Under the framework of the US–Japan TITAN program, tungsten samples (99.99at.% purity from A.L.M.T. Co.) were irradiated by fission neutrons in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), at 50 and 300°C to 0.025, 0.3, and 2.4dpa, and the investigation of deuterium retention in neutron-irradiated tungsten was performed in the Tritium Plasma Experiment (TPE), the unique high-flux linear plasma facility that can handle tritium, beryllium and activated materials. This paper reports the recent results from the comparison of ion-damaged tungsten via various ion species (2.8MeV Fe2+, 20MeV W2+, and 700keV H−) with that from neutron-irradiated tungsten to identify the similarities and differences among them. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This is an overview paper of the joint TITAN (Tritium, Irradiation, and Thermofluid for America and Nippon) project of the Japan–USA fusion cooperation program. The objectives, tasks structure, and technical highlights of the TITAN project are presented, as well as the direction of the project toward its end in March 2013. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the legislations and regulatory approaches currently applied to the nonclinical safety assessment of human preventive vaccine products in three ICH regions, i.e., the EU, USA, and Japan. Perspectives of the three regions with regard to the various types of toxicity studies currently considered to assess the nonclinical safety of preventive vaccines are compared and described in more detail than in published guidelines. In addition, the common issues and current challenges in nonclinical safety assessment of preventive vaccines are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A semi-empirical endogenous growth theory was proposed by the authors in 2005. It is based on a model of the economy as a two-stage materials/energy processing system. Growth is simulated by a two-parameter production function with two traditional factors, labor and capital, and a non-traditional factor, namely ‘useful work’. The non-traditional factor is calculated from primary energy inputs multiplied by an empirically estimated average energy conversion efficiency, which is a function of changing technology over time. This model ‘explains’ past US growth from 1900 through 1973–74 with satisfactory accuracy but it slightly underestimates subsequent growth (i.e. it leaves a small unexplained but increasing residual) for the period after 1975. However, by subdividing capital stock into traditional and ICT components, we are able to extend the theory to explain US economic growth accurately. In this paper we also extend the results to Japan. The revised production function has only three independent parameters. The new model also has implications for future economic growth, energy and environmental policy that differ significantly from the traditional growth theory. These implications are discussed briefly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The paper studies the relationship between the earthquake and spatio-temporal changes of the addictive tectonics stress caused by the celestial tide-generating force (ATSCTF) about the M7.3 earthquake of Japan at 38.5°N, 142.8°E, and extracts the abnormal temperature increment before and after the earthquake by using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) data according to the ATSCTF''s time cycle. The analysis reveals that the time when the ATSCTF''s absolute value on P-axis and N-axis reached peak is same to the time of the earthquake''s occurrence, the abnormal temperature increment before the earthquake is obvious and the area of abnormal temperature increment mostly locates to the east of the epicenter, the minimum values’ spatial distribution of the ATSCTF on P-axis and N-axis mostly focused to the east of epicenter on the day earthquake occurred, at the same time, the unbalanced spatial distribution was similar to the abnormal temperature increment distribution, this phenomena testifies the ATSCTF''s inducing effect to the earthquake''s occurrence from another perspective. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Since Kyoto Protocol is going to be expired in 2012, all the develop ed and developing countries are very concerned about the future of clean development mechanism. By using the game theory the paper analyzes the market of clean development mechanism, especially the projects of CDM between the U.S., EU, Japan and China. Based on this, the prospects of Chinese CDM market are provided. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents a societal level exergy analysis approach developed to analyse transitions in the way that energy is supplied and contributes to economic growth in the UK, the US, Austria and Japan, throughout the last century. We assess changes in exergy and useful work consumption, energy efficiency and related GDP intensity measures of each economy. The novel data provided elucidate certain characteristics of divergence and commonality in the energy transitions studied. The results indicate that in each country the processes of industrialization, urbanisation and electrification are characterised by a marked increase in exergy and useful work supplies and per capita intensities. There is a common and continuous decrease in the exergy intensity of GDP. Moreover for each country studied the trend of increasing useful work intensity of GDP reversed in the early 1970s coincident with the first oil crisis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Punctuality is seen as key component of airline service quality. This paper examines cross-cultural differences in passenger complaints regarding irregular airline conditions. Analysis of four clusters of air travelers in South Korea – from South Korea, Japan, China, and America – exhibit significantly differences in their attitudes suggestion important cultural variations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the sector of information and communication technologies (ICT), whether in the USA, Japan, or Europe, innovative services are already in use, based on large-scale space-based infrastructure investments. Such systems are e.g. earth observation, telecommunication, and navigation, timing and positioning satellites. In combination with the advent of powerful handheld terminals and the demand for ubiquitous services, it is expected that info-mobility applications will reveal new sources of business in the years ahead, using in particular the Earth observation and future GALILEO systems to position any feature or user anywhere in the world within a few meter accuracy. Hence, satellite-based capabilities provide new and unique opportunities for economic stimulation and development. Many incubators and innovation centers in Europe have already grasped this growth potential. Yet, for many European players business growth appears below expectations compared to developments in the USA following the launch of GPS (Global Positioning System). Europe still has to overcome intrinsic barriers to seize these new business opportunities faster and with more visible economic impact by leveraging on SMEs and regional innovation centers to expand the commercial utilization of satellite capabilities and mobilization of appropriate financial resources. The paper elaborates on the INVESat project (funded by the EuropeInnova—European Commission), which aims at bridging the gap between Innovative enterprises and financial InVEstors in the emerging markets of SaTellite applications. The critical success factors required to stimulate and support more efficiently investments in this bread of innovative services will also be highlighted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: By using electrodynamic drag to greatly increase the orbital decay rate, an electrodynamic space tether can remove spent or dysfunctional spacecraft from low Earth orbit (LEO) rapidly and safely. Moreover, the low mass requirements of such tether devices make them highly advantageous compared to conventional rocket-based de-orbit systems. However, a tether system is much more vulnerable to space debris impacts than a typical spacecraft and its design must be proved to be safe up to a certain confidence level before being adopted for potential applications. To assess space debris related concerns, in March 2001 a new task (Action Item 19.1) on the “Potential Benefits and Risks of Using Electrodynamic Tethers for End-of-life De-orbit of LEO Spacecraft” was defined by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). Two tests were proposed to compute the fatal impact rate of meteoroids and orbital debris on space tethers in circular orbits, at different altitudes and inclinations, as a function of the tether diameter to assess the survival probability of an electrodynamic tether system during typical de-orbiting missions. IADC members from three agencies, the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), participated in the study and different computational approaches were specifically developed within the framework of the IADC task. This paper summarizes the content of the IADC AI 19.1 Final Report. In particular, it introduces the potential benefits and risks of using tethers in space, it describes the assumptions made in the study plan, it compares and discusses the results obtained by ASI, JAXA and NASA for the two tests proposed. Some general conclusions and recommendations are finally extrapolated from this massive and intensive piece of research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents results from a survey on stakeholder attitudes towards Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The survey is the first to make a global comparison across three major regions; USA, Japan, and Europe. The 30-question survey targeted individuals working at stakeholder organizations that seek to shape, and will need to respond to, policy on CCS, including electric utilities, oil & gas companies, CO2-intensive industries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The results show generally small differences across the regions and between the different groups of stakeholders. All believed that the challenge of significant reductions in emissions using only current technologies was severe. There is a widespread belief both that renewable technologies such as solar power and CCS will achieve major market entry into the electricity sector within the next 10 to 20 years, whereas there is more skepticism about the role of hydrogen and especially nuclear fusion in the next 50 years. All groups were generally positive towards renewable energy. Yet, there were some notable areas of disagreement in the responses, for example, as expected, NGOs considered the threat of climate change to be more serious than the other groups. North Americans respondents were more likely to downplay the threat compared to those of the other regions. The Japanese were more concerned about the burden that would be placed on industry in the coming decade as a result of emissions constraints and NGOs were more likely to believe that the burden would be light or very light. NGOs believed CCS to be far more attractive than nuclear fusion power but much less than renewables. As expected, the risk for leakage from reservoirs was ranked number one of the risk options given. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: After decades of designing magnetic and inertial fusion power plants, it is timely to develop a new framework for managing the activated (and contaminated) materials that will be generated during plant operation and after decommissioning—a framework that takes into account the lessons learned from numerous international fusion and fission studies and the environmental, political, and present reality in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. This will clearly demonstrate that designers developing fusion facilities will be dealing with the back end of this type of energy production from the beginning of the conceptual design of power plants. It is becoming evident that future regulations for geological burial will be upgraded to assure tighter environmental controls. Along with the political difficulty of constructing new repositories worldwide, the current reality suggests reshaping all aspects of handling the continual stream of fusion active materials. Beginning in the mid 1980s and continuing to the present, numerous fusion designs examined replacing the disposal option with more environmentally attractive approaches, redirecting their attention to recycling and clearance while continuing the development of materials with low activation potential. There is a growing international effort in support of this new trend. In this paper, recent history is analyzed, a new fusion waste management scheme is covered, and possibilities for how its prospects can be improved are examined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]