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In this article, a community integrated energy system (CIES) coupled with electricity, gas and heat is investigated, which integrates with renewable energies such as photovoltaic and wind turbine. The main goal is to seek an optimal scheduling scheme, including reducing the operating costs and fully exploiting the demand response potential. Firstly, given the structure of CIES, the system equipment and loads are modeled and analyzed. Moreover, considering the user controllable degree, a comprehensive user satisfaction method is established based on the combination of subjective weight and objective weight method. This paper concerns the user controllable degree in the process of flexible load optimization so that some amounts of loads are transferred from peak periods to off‐peak periods to flatten the load curve. Three cases studies in the article show the influence of user controllable degree and satisfaction on CIES. Finally, the system model is solved using CPLEX solver in MATLAB optimization software. The results show that the operating costs and environmental costs are reduced by 9.31% and 3.24% due to the presence of user controllable degree and satisfaction. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water inrush hazard seriously threatens construction safety of subsea tunnels in unfavorable geological areas. In recent years, a large number of subsea tunnels have been built worldwide, some of which have experienced many water inrush disasters, especially in Japan and Norway. In this paper, a systematic methodology is proposed to rigorously review the current literature about water inrush in subsea tunnels. Emphasis is placed on recorded causes and evolution processes of water inrush, as well as relevant mitigation measures. In particular, the geological conditions that generate such water inrush hazards are initially discussed by counting cases of tunnel water inrush in the past decades (43 cases of water inrush hazards in tunnels (including mountain tunnels)). The process of formation of failure modes of water inrush, and the corresponding research methods (including theoretical, numerical and experimental) are reviewed, and can be used to pave the ways for hazard prevention and future research. This is followed by a summary of the prevention methods and mitigation measures used in practice, and a short discussion of the achievements and limitations of each method. Then combined with the evolution characteristics of the failure area, the water inrush process of different modes is divided into three stages, with a proposed a grouting scheme for each stage. Finally, concluding remarks, current research gaps and future research directions on subsea tunnel water inrush are provided and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This discourse analysis focuses on the Chinese and Japanese writing of a young student living in Japan who is ethnically Chinese and multilingual. A method for analyzing linguistically diverse student writing was used to explore the literary elements and heteroglossic voices in this student's writing. Such analysis has been shown to be beneficial to teachers for understanding linguistically diverse student writers. The findings were triangulated with observational data from the student's home and school, an interview with the student's teacher and interviews with the mother, who is the co-author of this study. The analysis revealed evidence of writing strengths in two languages, including flexible bilingualism and agency. Implications for school curriculum that develops student languages as a resource for learning are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Species distribution models of black rockfish Sebastes schlegelii were developed. • Ensemble model produced more accurate projections than any individual model. • Out models predict that suitable habitat of S. schlegelii could decrease by up to 45% by the end of 2100. • Climate-induced changes in spatial distributions should be considered for future management. Changes in the marine environment, particularly climate change, can have large effects on the distribution patterns of various marine species, and alter the biodiversity, structure and functions of the affected ecosystems. Species distribution models (SDM) are tools often used to link species' ecological niches with their environment. We applied SDM to investigate the effects of five biologically relevant climatic variables from multiple databases, including bottom temperature, bottom salinity, current velocity, depth and primary productivity, on habitat suitability of Sebastes schlegelii in the marine waters of China, Korea and Japan. Nine individual SDM and an ensemble model were used to predict the current and future distribution of S. schlegelii under alternative climate change scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways, RCP). Results indicated that the ensemble model produced more accurate projections than any individual model. Among the environmental variables investigated, bottom temperature was the most important in determining the range of S. schlegelii. Its current distribution demonstrated that suitable habitat for S. schlegelii was mostly concentrated in the Bohai Sea, coastal areas of the central and northern Yellow Sea, and in the Sea of Japan. Negative effects from climate change on the distribution patterns of S. schlegelii were predicted to lead to varying degrees of habitat reduction, with highest estimate of 45% occurring under RCP8.5 at the end of 2100. Our results illustrate the potential effects of climate change on the future distribution of S. schlegelii populations and can assist with implementing adaptive management measures of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Atherosclerotic burden increases the risk of both extracranial internal carotid artery stenosis (ICS) and intracranial large artery disease (ICAD). However, the differences in risk profiles have not been thoroughly investigated., Methods: Participants were recruited from the Nagahama study cohort in Japan. Individuals over 60 years old who underwent 1.5-T head and neck magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) between July 2013 and February 2017 were included. ICAD was defined as WASID ≥ 50 %, and ICS was defined as NSCET ≥ 30 %. The prevalence and association of risk factors, including proatherogenic and proinflammatory factors, and the p.R4810K variant in the RNF213 gene, were investigated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed., Results: A total of 3089 individuals participated in the study, with a mean age of 68.1 ± 5.3 years, and 36.0 % were males. Among them, 52 (1.7 %) had ICS, 119 (3.8 %) had ICAD, and 15 (0.49 %) had both conditions. Alopecia areata was an independent predictor for both ICS (Odds ratio [OR] 3.5; 95 % CI 1.3-8.3) and ICAD (OR 2.1; 95 % CI 1.0-3.9). Diabetes (OR 3.7; 95 % CI 2.0-7.0) and older age (OR 2.4; 95 % CI 1.2-4.5) were associated only with ICS, while the RNF213 variant was associated with only ICAD (OR 5.7; 95 % CI 1.6-16.0). ICS and ICAD were also independently associated with each other., Conclusions: In this MRA-based large scale study, alopecia areata, known as a systemic inflammatory disease, was shown to be a common risk factor for ICS and ICAD. While conventional atherosclerotic factors were associated with ICS, non-atherosclerotic factors appear to contribute to ICAD in Japan., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is characterized by progressive stenosis or occlusion of the terminal portions of the bilateral internal carotid arteries. A Japanese survey in 2003 reported an incidence and prevalence of MMD of 0.54 and 6.03 per 100,000 people, respectively, showing an upward trend over previous surveys. An update to these estimates is therefore warranted. Additionally, evidence is lacking on trends in revascularization and antiplatelet therapy in MMD patients., Methods: We conducted a population-based descriptive study using a Japanese claims database. From fiscal year (FY) 2015 to 2019, we standardized the incidence and prevalence estimates of MMD to the 2015 Japanese census population by age and sex. We also estimated the 1-year cumulative incidence of revascularization among incident MMD patients and the proportion of prevalent MMD patients receiving antiplatelet therapy in each FY., Results: The age-standardized male-to-female ratio of both incident and prevalent MMD patients was approximately 1:2. Standardized incidence and prevalence of MMD per 100,000 population increased slightly from 1.8 to 2.4 and 14.7 to 17.6, respectively. The 1-year cumulative incidence of revascularization among incident MMD patients varied between 21.9 % and 28.9 %. Among prevalent MMD patients, 36.6 % to 39.0 % received antiplatelet therapy., Conclusions: The incidence and prevalence of MMD in Japan from FY 2015 to 2019 were higher than those estimated in 2003. The trends in revascularization and antiplatelet therapy identified in this study will be useful in further improving the quality of MMD clinical practice., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest KK has received research funds from AstraZeneca, Eisai Co., Ltd., Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Corporation, OMRON Corporation, Real World Data Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., and Toppan Inc.; consulting fees from Advanced Medical Care Inc., JMDC Inc., LEBER Inc., Ubicom Holdings, Inc., and Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories Ltd.; executive compensation from Cancer Intelligence Care Systems, Inc.; honoraria from Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kyoto University Original Co., Ltd., Pharma Business Academy, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Toppan Inc.; and held stock in Real World Data Co., Ltd. The other authors report no conflicts., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

There are a few reports of the prevalence of extracranial internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS) in Asian patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This was a prospective registry study of 157 consecutive Japanese patients undergoing coronary angiography that aimed to determine the prevalence of extracranial ICAS in recent Japanese patients. The associations between ICAS and the extent or the maximal stenosis of CAD were also investigated. The 131 eligible patients with suspected CAD were prospectively analyzed. Their mean age was 69.0 ± 8.2 years, and 75.6% were males. A total of 111 patients (84.7%) were angiographically diagnosed with CAD. ICAS (area stenosis ≥50% on ultrasonography) was present in 9 patients, and the prevalence in patients with CAD was 8.1%. All patients in the ICAS group had CAD, and this group was significantly more likely to have a history of stroke (p = 0.03). Although no significant relationships were found between the severity of ICAS and the maximal stenosis of CAD, the severity of ICAS increased gradually with the extent of CAD. The prevalence of ICAS in patients with CAD treated with current medical treatment was relatively low (8.1%) compared to previous reports, and the severity of ICAS was significantly associated with the extent of CAD., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)