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Sensitizers are used to prepare photosensitive materials for ink-printing and thermal-recording media. Typical sensitizers contain an aromatic ring and exhibit aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated activity. They can accumulate in aquatic biota, leading to the disruption of ecosystems. Effluent from paper recycling plants has been identified as a source of contamination, and the presence of sensitizers in toilet paper may represent a new source of contamination in aquatic environments. To examine possible sources of contamination by sensitizers, this study investigated the levels of sensitizers in recycled toilet paper. We also studied the prevalence of sensitizers in rivers receiving effluents from sewage treatment plants in Japan, from 2020 to 2022. We detected eight sensitizers and related compounds in both toilet paper and river water samples; their total concentrations ranged from 0.78 to 34 µg/g (mean: 12 µg/g) in toilet paper and 58–1167 µg/L (median: 77 µg/L) in water. In the water samples, sensitizers were partitioned between liquid and suspended solid phases, and in suspended solids, sensitizers accounted for an average of 42% of the total. Correlation analysis showed a high correlation between sensitizer composition in the water from a river receiving sewage treatment plant effluents and toilet paper. Since these compounds were also detected in the river water analyzed in this study, toilet paper should be considered a novel source of sensitizers contamination in sewage treatment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency‐domain dielectric spectroscopy (FDS) of humid insulating paper has been measured at different temperatures. The data show three independent dielectric processes: electrode polarization, hopping conductivity and interfacial polarization. The dielectric properties of humid insulating paper are composed of hopping conductivity and interfacial polarization, and its equivalent dielectric model can be represented by a Havriliak‐Negami (HN) relaxation branch parallel hopping conductivity. At high temperatures and low frequencies, the measured dielectric spectroscopy bends downward, which is caused by the electrode polarization. In this case, the equivalent dielectric model is composed of the body impedance of insulating paper and the electrode polarization in series. According to the equivalent dielectric model, the components of electrode polarization, hopping conductivity, and interface polarization can be separated, thereby eliminating the parasitic effect of electrode polarization on the dielectric properties of insulating paper. Both of hopping conductivity and interface polarization of insulating paper move toward high‐frequency direction with temperature increasing. For humid insulating paper with a moisture content of 5.9%, the activation energies of hopping conductivity and interface polarization are 1.18 and 0.99 eV, respectively. This difference in activation energies results in the inability of the spectrums of insulating paper to overlap with each other at different temperatures. Based on the insulating paper without oil immersion, the results obtained in this article are not affected by oil or oil‐immersion operations. This provides a reference for exploring the dielectric properties and physical mechanisms of oil‐paper composite insulation materials widely used in high‐voltage equipment. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of the aging of oil‐paper insulation is analyzed in this article, based on an improved fractional Poynting‐Thomson model, which includes dc and hopping conductivity (P‐T model2). Based on samples of oil paper produced in laboratories with different thermal aging times, it has been found that the proposed improved model provides a better fit and a higher index of coincidence concerning the measured values than the traditional P‐T model and the model that only incorporates the effect of dc conductivity (P‐T model1). Nevertheless, comparing the proposed improved P‐T model with the traditional Cole–Cole (C‐C), Davidson–Cole (D‐C), and Havriliak–Negami (H‐N) models, the improved P‐T model2 also demonstrated a superior fit for the measured value and a higher coincidence index than another model. In addition, there was an excellent exponential relationship between the quantities εa, εb and τ of the improved model and the furfural content of the samples. Consequently, these characteristic quantities could be utilized to estimate the furfural content in the oil‐paper insulation and evaluate the insulation's condition. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the diffusion of battery electric vehicle (BEV) technology in Japan. The diffusion process in this study refers to both the innovation and adoption of BEV technology. While previous studies on BEV technological diffusion focus on policy selection, especially domestic policy, little is known about the connectedness between international and domestic factors in the BEV technological diffusion process. This paper aims to enrich the discussion of technology diffusion by expanding the argument that technology diffusion is not only a domestic problem but also an international relations problem using a case study of BEV technology diffusion in Japan. The findings indicate that two international factors push Japan to diffuse BEV technology: Japanese commitment to the global environmental regime and global competition in BEV manufacturing. However, the domestic institution factor hinders the BEV technology diffusion. The production structures of automobile industries and political economy relations between the automobile industry and the government further complicate the diffusion process of BEV technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the semi‐airborne frequency domain electromagnetic detection, strong noise will be generated due to the attitude change of the receiving coil sensor. However, the existing attitude measurement system cannot be directly used in the semi‐airborne frequency domain electromagnetic system because of the requirement on the volume and accuracy of the instrument. In order to reduce the effect of attitude noise, this paper analyzes the cause and influence of attitude noise in the semi‐airborne frequency domain electromagnetic system, and presents the attitude noise correction method based on coefficient rotation matrix and Kalman algorithm. A high‐performance attitude sensor based on (Micro‐Electro‐Mechanical System (MEMS) technology is used to design an attitude measurement system for the semi‐airborne frequency domain electromagnetic system. The calculated result shows that the required accuracy of the roll angle and pitch angle of the attitude measurement system is less than 0.1°, whereas the required accuracy of the yaw angle is lower. In the field application, the apparent resistivity results show that the imaging profile corrected by attitude error is more consistent with local geological data than that without correction. Consequently, the attitude measurement system and correction method proposed in this paper can improve the detection accuracy of the semi‐airborne frequency domain electromagnetic system significantly. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess vespicochory in Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae), we conducted preliminary observations of Aristolochia shimadae under cultivation and in its natural habitat. Two paper wasp species (Polistes spp.) were observed visiting freshly dehisced capsules of cultivated plants of A. shimadae. After removing the seed from the capsule and licking the juicy and sticky substance surrounding it, paper wasps bit off and carried away only a part of the raphe. This behavior suggests that the capsule, including the substance surrounding the seeds, is attractive to them, and the raphe is equivalent to an elaiosome. In our field observations of A. shimadae in a natural habitat, a wasp (Vespula shidai) carried away a seed after licking the juicy and sticky substance surrounding it. This observation of vespicochory is the first report on A. shimadae and the first on angiosperms in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Contribution to the authorship, including that for case reports, should be appropriately evaluated. I have noticed a scarcity of case reports with clinic doctors listed as coauthors, prompting this investigation. I sought to offer suggestions on the possible reasons for this trend. Methods: I checked case reports published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, the Journal of Medical Case Reports, and the BMJ Case Reports. I identified case reports listing a clinic doctor as a coauthor. I consulted eight professors at Jichi Medical University to ascertain whether case reports from their departments included clinic doctors as coauthors and, if not, the reasons. Results: Among 65 case reports from Japanese institutes published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, only one paper lists a clinic doctor as a coauthor. Of 100 and 50 papers published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports and BMJ Case Reports, respectively, none listed a clinic doctor as a coauthor. Six out of eight professors admitted to never considering the idea of including clinic doctors as coauthors. Conclusions: The scarcity of case reports with clinic doctors as coauthors extends beyond Japanese obstetrics and gynecology, encompassing various specialties worldwide. Center doctors do not think of the idea that a clinic doctor should be a coauthor. A clinic doctor who transferred the patient should be considered as a candidate coauthor depending on his/her scientific contribution. Such an approach could foster an environment encouraging doctors to contribute to academic writing, regardless of their workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The XY model is a simplified insulation model for transformers that aims to connect the frequency spectrum of major insulation, insulation paper, and oil. It enables the calculation of the paper's frequency spectrum, facilitating a quantitative evaluation of the transformer's insulation status. Given the scarcity of research addressing the accuracy of the XY model and its corresponding equivalent circuit, this paper investigates the accuracy of the XY model and conducts an in‐depth analysis of the error associated with its equivalent circuit. Firstly, the frequency spectrum of oil‐paper insulations based on the XY model with varying moisture content and structure configurations were measured, followed by the simulation of both the corresponding 2D‐coaxial and XY models. By comparing the results obtained from these simulations with experimental data on oil‐paper insulation, the accuracy of XY model is verified. Subsequently, two variants of the equivalent circuit of the XY model are derived by combining the oil, spacer, and paper differently, which denoted as Type I and II circuits. Finally, we analyzed and explained the errors present in these equivalent circuits compared with the XY model. Our findings show that the width‐thickness ratio of oil‐paper insulation is the most critical influencing factor, while moisture content and insulation structure have a less decisive impact. Notably, for general transformers, as the width‐thickness ratio is between 30 and 70, the relative error of the Type I circuit remains consistently below 0.3% across different frequencies. Consequently, the Type I circuit proves to be a more suitable representation of the equivalent circuit for the XY model in the context of general transformers. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual SLAM algorithms can obtain a large amount of texture information from the environment and usually perform very well in static scenes, but there are a large number of irregular dynamic points when running in dynamic scenes, which can lead to increased error in SLAM feature point matching and loss of tracking localization. To address this challenge this paper proposes a SLAM system (YVG‐SLAM) that adapts to dynamic scenes. YVG‐SLAM is an improvement on the ORB‐SLAM3 algorithm, integrating the view geometry algorithm and the current powerful YOLOv5 algorithm, while proposing a dynamic feature removal strategy without a priori assumptions to reduce the influence of dynamic targets. In this paper, we first lighten the YOLOv5 algorithm, then process the image frame to get the bounding box, then use the view geometry algorithm to determine the dynamic feature points on the image frame, and finally remove the moving objects in the image frame according to the dynamic feature recognition strategy proposed in this paper. The performance of the algorithm is tested on the TUM RGB‐D and BONN RGB‐D datasets. The experimental results show that the robustness of the proposed algorithm on most video sequences is better than the existing SLAM algorithms dealing with dynamic scenes such as Detect‐SLAM and DynaSLAM, and the RMSE index of the absolute trajectory error measured on high‐speed dynamic video sequences can be significantly reduced by more than 93% compared to ORB‐SLAM3. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Flutter framework with Dart programming allows developers to effortlessly build applications for both web and mobile from a single codebase. It enables efficient conversions to native codes for mobile apps and optimized JavaScript for web browsers. Since utilizing a wide range of widgets in Flutter ensures consistent experiences on various devices for users, it becomes crucial in programming education by providing a unified environment for learning app development while reducing the need for platform-specific knowledge. However, the setup of the Flutter environment is challenging for novice students due to its multiple steps, such as installing dependencies and configuring environments. To support independent learning for these students, it is essential to simplify the setup by providing user-friendly instructions and automated tools. In this paper, we present a Docker-based environment for Flutter app developments across Windows, Linux, and Mac through Visual Studio Code, ensuring a unified learning experience. This paper aims to simplify complex configurations and address the obstacles encountered by students when initiating Flutter projects. For the evaluation, we prepared three simple Flutter projects along with the setup environment in a Docker container. Then, we asked 24 Master's students at Okayama University, Japan, to install the environment and modify the source codes in the projects independently by following the given instructions. The results show that all the students successfully completed the assignments, which confirms the efficiency and validity of our proposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research activities would be better served if they were communicated in a manner that is openly accessible to the public and all researchers. The research we share is often limited to representative data included in research papers—science would be much more efficient if all reproducible research data were shared alongside detailed methods and protocols, in the paradigm called Open Science. On the other hand, one primary function of research journals is to select manuscripts of good quality, verify the authenticity of the data and its impact, and deliver to the appropriate audience for critical evaluation and verification. In the current paradigm, where publication in a subset of journals is intimately linked to research evaluation, a hypercompetitive "market" has emerged where authors compete to access a limited number of top‐tier journals, leading to high rejection rates. Competition among publishers and scientific journals for market dominance resulted in an increase in both the number of journals and the cost of publishing and accessing scientific papers. Here we summarize the current problems and potential solutions from the development of AI technology discussed in the seminar at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses optimization problems subject to an objective function's evaluation‐number constraint arbitrarily given in advance. These problems are practical for black‐box objective functions which cost much money and/or time per evaluation because money and/or time constraints are typically applicable in real‐world projects. This paper suggests a new solution strategy that can be used to adapt metaheuristics to evaluation‐number constraints arbitrarily given in advance. The proposed strategy updates the setting parameters of a target metaheuristic algorithm for every generation by solving a fixed small‐size optimization problem related to the evaluation‐number constraint. It has the advantage of being insensitive to the effects of dimensionality increases in principle. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is confirmed by numerical experiments with two well‐known metaheuristics, i.e., the particle swarm optimization algorithm and the differential evolution algorithm. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the placement and function of the discipline of geography in the expansion of the Japanese empire, doing so through the prism of the work and field research of Tada Fumio, a leading geographer in Japan both before and after 1945. This examination of this aspect of Tada Fumio's career and its interweaving with the construction and consolidation of Japan's empire will broaden recent studies of imperial Japan's simultaneous encounter with geopolitics and fascism while engaging with Japan's developing ideas about geography as a political and cultural discipline. This paper demonstrates the importance of the entwined histories of Japanese and German geographers in the Japanese empire, as well as documenting Tada Fumio's activities in Manchuria (northeast China) and on the Korean peninsula. Finally, the paper reveals fissures in the historical record of Japanese geographers in continental Asia and, until such time as more subaltern voices can be found, seeks to lay down the foundation for further research on the study of geography in the Japanese empire. • Connections between German, Japanese and Korean Geographers prior to 1945. • Teaching and research in academic geography in the Japanese Empire. • Tada Fumio's connections with Keijo Imperial University, colonial Korea and Japanese Empire. • Field work expeditions including Tada Fumio to Manchuria and Mengjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From mathematical models of growth to computer simulations of pigmentation, the study of shell formation has given rise to an abundant number of models, working at various scales. Yet, attempts to combine those models have remained sparse, due to the challenge of combining categorically different approaches. In this paper, we propose a framework to streamline the process of combining the molecular and tissue scales of shell formation. We choose these levels as a proxy to link the genotype level, which is better described by molecular models, and the phenotype level, which is better described by tissue-level mechanics. We also show how to connect observations on shell populations to the approach, resulting in collections of molecular parameters that may be associated with different populations of real shell specimens. The approach is as follows: we use a Quality-Diversity algorithm, a type of black-box optimization algorithm, to explore the range of concentration profiles emerging as solutions of a molecular model, and that define growth patterns for the mechanical model. At the same time, the mechanical model is simulated over a wide range of growth patterns, resulting in a variety of spine shapes. While time-consuming, these steps only need to be performed once and then function as look-up tables. Actual pictures of shell spines can then be matched against the list of existing spine shapes, yielding a potential growth pattern which, in turn, gives us matching molecular parameters. The framework is modular, such that models can be easily swapped without changing the overall working of the method. As a demonstration of the approach, we solve specific molecular and mechanical models, adapted from available theoretical studies on molluscan shells, and apply the multiscale framework to evaluate the characteristics of spines from three distinct populations of Turbo sazae. Author summary: Connecting genotype to phenotype is a fundamental goal in developmental biology. While many studies examine this link in model organisms for which gene regulatory networks are well known, for non-model organisms, different techniques are required, and multiscale computational modeling offers a promising direction. In this paper, we develop a framework linking molecular-scale interactions to tissue-level growth and mechanics to organ-level characteristics in order to investigate spine formation in T. sazae, a species of mollusc that displays remarkable phenotypic plasticity in spine form. Our analysis uncovers a subtle but statistically significant difference in spine form between shell specimens collected from three different localities in Japan. Moreover, by tracing the difference in form through parametric differences in the multiscale framework, we provide mechanistic insight as to how environmental differences may translate to a change in form. The methodology we present may readily be extended to more detailed modeling of this system, and the conceptual framework is amenable for multiscale analysis in other systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a scalable end-to-end tree boosting system called XGBoost has been applied for predicting the magnitude of an earthquake from the early part of earthquake waveform data. This model uses the features extracted from the early P wave phase of the records as an input. The model's effectiveness has been verified by using data on earthquakes occurring in the Eurasian plate of Japan Islands from 1996 to 2021. Feature engineering has given 29 new features identified from the early P wave phase of the record, which show a high correlation with the magnitude of an earthquake. The comparison of predicted and actual magnitude shows that a trained XGboost model, which uses a single input record for magnitude prediction, gives an average prediction error of 0.004 ± 0.57 for earthquakes in the test dataset. In contrast, the average prediction error of –1.1 ± 0.80 and –0.65 ± 0.69 has been obtained for the magnitude estimated from conventional τc and Pd methods using the same test dataset. It is further seen that the average predicted magnitude of a single earthquake of magnitude 4.5 and 6.1 (MJMA) obtained by using multiple nearfield records using XGBoost model is 4.58 ± 0.33 and 6.32 ± 0.29, which is close to the actual magnitude of the earthquake. The results presented in this paper clearly show that the structured data can be effectively used by complex machine learning or deep learning models to predict earthquake magnitude from single or multiple records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquake swarms are most commonly composed of small‐magnitude earthquakes. However, a recent study by Yoshida, Uchida, et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL106023) analyzed a swarm beneath the Noto Peninsula in Japan that, after more than two years of moderate‐magnitude seismicity, triggered the moment magnitude (Mw) 6.2 Suzu mainshock in May 2023. Based on high‐precision earthquake locations and a slip inversion of the mainshock, these authors found that the Mw 6.2 Suzu earthquake occurred on the updip extension of a fault that was active during the swarm, likely driven by increased fluid pressure. After publication of that paper, a much larger and more destructive Mw 7.5 event occurred nearby on 1 January 2024. These events underscore the potential for swarms to be precursors to large, damaging earthquakes. Forecasting the eventual evolution of swarms is currently very challenging but could be aided in the future by new observations and models. Plain Language Summary: Although earthquake swarms often only contain small earthquakes, occasionally they can trigger large, damaging earthquakes. Yoshida, Uchida, et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL106023) examined the triggering of a magnitude 6.2 earthquake in Japan, which caused extensive damage, following two years of smaller earthquakes. This sequence, like many swarms, may have been driven by elevated fluid pressure migrating upwards within the crust. After publication of that paper, a much larger and more destructive Mw 7.5 event occurred nearby. Forecasting the eventual evolution of ongoing swarms is currently very challenging but could be aided in the future by new observations and models. Key Points: Earthquake swarms can be precursors to damaging earthquakes, including the 1 January 2024, Mw 7.5 Noto Peninsula, Japan eventFluid pressure changes often drive swarm activity, and their degree of confinement may influence swarm evolutionDirect observations of fluids in fault zones combined with numerical modeling may aid swarm forecasting in the future [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the compact and complex internal structure of 110 kV three‐phase enclosed GIS disconnector, the voltage distribution between the contact breaks of each phase has an influence on the insulation performance of the GIS disconnector, and its internal insulation design is a difficult point to be solved. To solve this problem, this paper firstly establishes a three‐dimensional model of three‐phase enclosed GIS disconnecting switch and conducts a research on the distribution of electric field under a specific working condition, it is found that the outer corner of the static contact, the inner corner of the static arc contact, the inner corner of the outer end of the moving contact and the inner corner of the moving contact are the internal electric field concentration of the three‐phase enclosed GIS disconnector. Then, in order to further reduce the electric field strength and improve the insulation margin and performance, this paper proposes a method based on the combination of Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) and Multi‐objective Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (MOGOA) to optimize the structural design of three‐phase enclosed GIS disconnector, and a ELM model is established, which takes the internal fillet radius of stationary arcing contact, the internal fillet radius of moving contact, the internal fillet radius of external end of dynamic and static contact, the radius of the outer corner of the two static side contacts and the opening distance of the grounding contact as the inputs, and takes the maximum electric field strength of the two static side contacts and the moving side contacts as outputs; Finally, the structural parameters are optimized by MOGOA algorithm. Compared to the pre‐optimization period, the electric field strengths of the bus bar static‐side contact, dynamic contact and static side contact of the B‐phase after optimization decreased from 20.2, 9.28 and 17.5 to 11.4, 6.65 and 11.5 kV/mm, respectively. The electric field strengths of the dynamic and static side contacts are significantly reduced, which is beneficial for improving the insulation performance of the three‐phase enclosed GIS disconnector. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the pulse width modulation (PWM) harmonic suppression effect of the three‐phase VSI‐fed PMSM system, this paper proposed a novel random switching period (RSP)‐Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM) technique for the three‐phase power converter. First, the proposed technique replaces the 10‐bit linear feedback shift register pseudorandom number generator (LFSR‐PRNG) with a Tiny Mersenne Twister (MT)‐PRNG to quickly generate high‐quality pseudorandom number sequences. Then, to reduce the sampling error caused by the current ripple, this paper analyzes the sampling timing under different modulation techniques. Based on the interrupted update mechanism of the Infineon AURIX‐TC264, the variable frequency sampling of the RSP‐SVPWM technique is implemented to ensure the best sampling of the motor phase current. Finally, the simulation and experimental results show that the proposed technique can effectively disperse PWM harmonic energy. Meanwhile, the RSP‐SVPWM technique based on variable sampling frequency effectively improves the phase current quality of the PMSM system. The proposed technique shows great potential for suppressing PWM harmonics in integrated PMSM systems. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To clarify whether the Whitney Comorbidity Index (WCI) is useful in Asian adults with cerebral palsy (CP) and whether aspiration pneumonia and pressure ulcers improved the prognostic significance of the WCI. Method: This cohort study evaluated individuals aged at least 18 years with CP in Japan. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to analyse 2‐year mortality rates. The predictive performance of the Charlson Comorbidity Index, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, and WCI were compared as comorbidity assessment criteria. Aspiration pneumonia and pressure ulcers were added to the Cox models, and their impact on hazard ratios was determined. Results: Of the 2232 adults with CP, 72 died during the 2 years. The model with a previously reported weighted WCI with aspiration pneumonia and pressure ulcers produced the best fit. Additionally, the hazard risk of 2‐year mortality for an unweighted WCI score of at least 4 was 2.56; when CP‐specific comorbidities were added, it increased to 8.94. Interpretation: This study showed that the WCI can be used in Asian adults with CP. Furthermore, assessing patient age, aspiration pneumonia, and pressure ulcers in addition to the WCI increased the predictive value for mortality. Our findings indicate that the WCI can promote valid comparisons between international populations. What this paper adds: The Whitney Comorbidity Index (WCI) is useful among adults with cerebral palsy, irrespective of ethnic differences.Assessment of aspiration pneumonia and pressure ulcers increased the WCI predictive value.The WCI helps identify adults with cerebral palsy at risk of adverse outcomes. What this paper adds: The Whitney Comorbidity Index (WCI) is useful among adults with cerebral palsy, irrespective of ethnic differences.Assessment of aspiration pneumonia and pressure ulcers increased the WCI predictive value.The WCI helps identify adults with cerebral palsy at risk of adverse outcomes. This article's abstract has been translated into Japanese. Follow the links from the abstract to view the translations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This research explores the initial skepticism and bewilderment among zoo staff about animal welfare and environmental enrichment introduced in Japanese zoos in the mid-1990s. Based on the results of a 2001 questionnaire survey conducted by the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums and publicly available literature, this paper demonstrates that this skepticism and confusion are not simply due to wariness of a new initiative but to a complex combination of factors, including inadequate information, historical and cultural context, and differing perceptions of animal care in the legal system. For example, it was shown that in the early 2000s, environmental enrichment was misinterpreted as exhibit strategy, leading to resistance from zoo staff. This misinterpretation and resistance can be traced back to the post-World War II popularity of mobile zoos and the legal perception of animals as mere "living beings", not "sentient beings" under Japan's Animal Protection Law. Through the analysis of a case study in Japan in the early 2000s, this paper aims to identify some of the early challenges to introducing and practicing animal welfare and environmental enrichment in non-Western cultures and contribute to better understanding and practice. Despite regional differences, this study aims to contribute to understanding and improving the universal acceptance and application of animal welfare. This study examines the Japanese zoo staff's initial skepticism and bewilderment regarding animal welfare and environmental enrichment in the mid-1990s. Utilizing a 2001 questionnaire conducted by the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums and existing literature reveals that this resistance stemmed from inadequate information, cultural history, and legal perspectives on animal care. Specifically, environmental enrichment was initially misunderstood as an exhibition strategy, partly due to post-WWII trends in mobile zoos and legal views of animals as non-sentient under Japan's Animal Protection Law. The research highlights the early hurdles in adopting animal welfare and environmental enrichment in non-Western settings, aiming to provide insights for other regions dealing with similar transitional challenges. It also addresses misperceptions about environmental enrichment in the context of empathetic relationships and professional ethics in Japanese zoology, offering insights into regions facing similar issues. Additionally, the paper discusses the progression of animal welfare practices in Japanese zoos and related managerial challenges, acknowledging cultural and institutional factors. Despite regional differences, this study aims to contribute to understanding and improving the universal acceptance and application of animal welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper focuses on evaluating the log piling technique as a sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for reducing soil liquefaction risks during earthquakes. Although this method has been used extensively in Japan, mainly aiming for complete soil layer penetration, its economic viability is questionable in cases requiring very deep soil improvements. The study highlights that shallow ground improvement can notably enhance the seismic behavior of the soil-improvementstructure system, as evidenced by the reduced total and penetration settlements caused by liquefaction. The paper presents a methodology for determining the optimal dimensions of the modified ground zone using both small and medium-scale 1-g shaking table tests. The small-scale tests involve a detailed parametric study, examining variables like improvement width, pile spacing, and the depth-to-thickness ratio of the improved layer. Medium-scale tests, on the other hand, are geared towards identifying the minimum effective pile length. This approach provides a practical guideline for engineers to implement log piling for small residential buildings. Additionally, the paper utilizes finite element method (FEM) effective stress analysis, incorporating a PLAXIS 2Dbased constitutive model (PM4Sand) calibrated with laboratory undrained cyclic torsional tests. This model accounts for the changes in effective stress during seismic activities. Finally, the study correlates its numerical findings with the results from the 1-g shaking table experiments, offering a well-rounded perspective on the effectiveness of log piling in mitigating liquefaction risks during seismic events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For users of Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Multi-GNSS Advanced Orbit and Clock Augmentation PPP signals provide corrective data. When using the PPP approach and/or PPP-Ambiguity Resolution (AR) method, the QZSS signal provides globally applicable error corrections on satellite orbit, clock offset, and code/phase biases. In addition, from FY2024, as a part of the MADOCA-PPP technology demonstration, wide-area ionospheric correction data will be provided for the Asia-Oceania region. A software estimator of precise satellite information developed by JAXA, Multi-GNSS Advanced Demonstration Tool for Orbit and Clock Analysis (MADOCA), allows u-blox CO99-ZED-F9P and MSJ 3008-GM4-QZS utilizing MADOCA-PPP to be used in GNSS applications that need sub-decimetre precision but don't have to be expensive. Errors caused by positioning satellites are computed by using observation data from domestic and overseas GNSS monitoring station networks such as IGS and MIRAI, and obtained correction data is transmitted from QZSS signal to provide highly precise positioning augmentation services that can be used in the Asia-Oceania Region. Users may utilize the PPP technique for high-precision locating by employing a GNSS receiver that supports the QZSS signals. This paper describes an experiment carried out with the static method to combine GPS, GLONASS, and QZSS signals in the project site (ISHI, USUD and MIZU stations in Japan). This paper examines the GPS/GLONASS/QZSS obtainable accuracy. These obtained results indicate that integrating GPS system with GLONASS and QZSS is favoured for surveying applications. It appears that integrating GPS/GLONASS/QZSS (MADOCA precise ephemeris file) static measurements in the study area between 0-4 millimetres accuracy can be guaranteed on all occasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legal psychology is field of research which seeks to bring evidence-based practice to the vital work of the criminal justice system. This research is increasingly being conducted and its findings applied around the world. However, worldwide legal systems and their processes can vary greatly. In the current paper, we summarise discussions between legal psychology academics and criminal justice practitioners from Japan. Together, we examine how practices in the Japanese criminal justice system interact with the international evidence base for psychologically-informed 'best practice' approaches. Our discussion targets areas of popular study in legal psychology, focusing on concealed crime knowledge detection, line up identification procedures, and investigative interviewing of witnesses, suspects, and victims. Each section features a description of current Japanese practice, followed by a review of the current state of the relevant academic legal psychological literature. We then connect this practice and research synergy to a reflection with suggestions for future research. Taken together, our paper acts as a conduit to incentivise more research and practice collaboration for Japanese and non-Japanese audiences and presents opportunities for collective international legal psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In central Japan, adult Patanga japonica (Bolívar) grasshoppers overwinter as adults while in reproductive diapause. At this local, February nights fall as low as -7°C, whereas days can exceed 16°C. Adults respond to the diel thermal cycle with daily vertical movements out of and back into leaf litter. This paper documents and discusses the significance of this interesting winter behavior. Temperature strongly influenced the daily vertical movements. Time of morning emergence, duration of aboveground occupancy, and number of adults emerging all highly correlated with current and maximum daily temperatures. In January, adults were immobile at < -1°C but could stand up when their body temperatures reached ~3.7°C. In contrast, adults held outdoors in semi-natural conditions emerged from the litter at ~14°C, suggesting threshold temperatures of ~14°C for morning emergence. The numbers of adults emerging or hiding varied over the winter season. Light also influenced movements. Adults held in horizontal transparent tubes, each with half covered with black paper (D-area) and the other half exposed to light (L-area), moved into the L-area during the day and returned to the D-area in the afternoon. In both cases, movement was into a colder microhabitat, implying that the direction of daily movements was possibly via phototaxis, not thermotaxis. Further experiments suggested that increasing temperatures elicited positive phototaxis, and decreasing temperatures elicited negative phototaxis and that the phototaxis was controlled by the direction, magnitude, and absolute range of the temperature change in P. japonica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has developed the third Japanese global atmospheric reanalysis, the Japanese Reanalysis for Three Quarters of a Century (JRA-3Q). The objective of JRA-3Q is to improve quality in terms of issues identified in the previous Japanese 55-year Reanalysis (JRA-55) and to extend the reanalysis period further into the past. JRA-3Q is based on the TL479 version of the JMA global Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) system as of December 2018 and uses results of developments in the operational NWP system, boundary conditions, and forcing fields achieved at JMA since JRA-55. It covers the period from September 1947, when Typhoon Kathleen brought severe flood damage to Japan, and uses rescued historical observations to extend its analyses backwards in time about 10 years earlier than JRA-55. This paper describes the data assimilation system, forecast model, observations, boundary conditions, and forcing fields used to produce JRA-3Q as well as the basic characteristics of the JRA-3Q product. The initial quality evaluation revealed major improvements from JRA-55 in the global energy budget and representation of tropical cyclones (TCs). One of the major problems in JRA-55--global energy imbalance with excess upward net energy flux at the top of the atmosphere and at the surface--has been significantly reduced in JRA-3Q. Another problem--a trend of artificial weakening of TCs--has been resolved through the use of a method that generates TC bogus based on the JMA operational system. There remain several problems such that the volcanic-induced stratospheric warming is smaller than expected. This paper discusses the causes of such problems and possible solutions in future reanalyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on Realism theory, this paper provides an explanation of the importance of power in International Relations, by analyzing the behavior of China and Japan in the East Asian region, and also the behavior of the United States of America towards them as the dominant superpower under the current international system. It answers the problem of the transfer of power from the West to the East, and in return supports the assumption that the Great Powers seek to possess relative power as much as possible. The paper also emphasizes that the State should not undermine or renounce its offensive power, as with Japan, because that will put it in front of a dilemma of the growing the power of neighboring States that seek to achieve regional hegemony, such as China. Therefore, all of these transformations show that international relations are a complex field and should not be reduced to a specific ideal field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maritime route connecting the Chinese continent and the Japanese archipelago facilitated a significant exchange of commercial goods and sociocultural knowledge throughout the Southern Song dynasty. Within this context, Japanese pilgrim monks traveling along this route acted as key conduits for the transmission of Buddhist teachings. Their journeys profoundly influenced the establishment and development of new Buddhist monasteries in Japan. Focusing on biographical accounts that portray the experiences of these pilgrim monks during their twelfth- and thirteenth-century sea voyages, this paper aims to explore how these accounts drew on intertextual links with existing Buddhist records to fulfill the compilers' intentions. Specifically, this paper examines the structure and sources of biographical accounts detailing miraculous encounters between pilgrim monks and Buddhist deities during perilous situations at sea. By interpreting the role of these deities in the corpus of Buddhist literature and within Japanese Buddhist monasteries founded by pilgrim monks, this paper argues that the increasing emphasis on pilgrim monks' attainment of divine protection in their biographical records suggests a growing concern for reinforcing the authority of their dharma lineages. Moreover, the composition and reception of these miraculous accounts reflected the changing religious needs and reshaped strategies for promoting specific Buddhist sects in subsequent periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political apologies have been argued to contribute to reconciliation among groups and nations but their efficacy has also been questioned. This paper examines the acceptance of political apologies, their content and the protagonists in the victim nation, the perpetrator nation and their subgroups. Guided by studies on the structure of apologies, it distinguishes 10 features of apologies, seven of which concern their content and three of their protagonists. Following the analysis of apology statements by Japan to South Korea, the paper further breaks these features (factors) down into 32 elements (levels). The acceptance of around 70,000 possible apology combinations is examined in a randomized conjoint experiment, which was embedded in online quota‐based surveys in Japan (n = 2700) and South Korea (n = 3000). The analysis reveals that the content of apologies matters, protagonists matter more than content and some subgroups matter more than protagonists. The subgroup analysis showed that some within‐country differences are larger than cross‐country differences, which challenges the SIT. Apology statements that would be acceptable in both nations are summarised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'China threat' has been identified as an important driver of Japan's security agenda and discourse. The threat posed by China has been discussed either as a given factor determining the trajectory of Tokyo's security approach, as a product of identity construction, or as an expression of securitizing processes that facilitate institutional and policy change. This paper contributes to this debate by offering an alternative explanation of the process through which the Abe government constructed China as a threat. Building on securitization theory, the paper examines the modes and strategies employed by the Abe Administration to successfully securitize China. The paper argues that, while Beijing was labeled a 'concern' rather than an 'existential threat,' it was still securitized through a process of securitization that involves an association with those domains in which China engages assertively, namely the maritime commons. The paper suggests calling this type of securitizing pattern 'transversal securitization' and explores how this indirect strategy allowed the Abe government to pragmatically pursue its objectives both domestically and at the international level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bibliometric analysis is a mature method for quantitative evaluation of academic productivity. In view of the rapid development of research in the field of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the past decade, we used bibliometric methods to comprehensively analyze the literature in the field of SLE from 2013 to 2022. Methods: The relevant literature in the field of SLE from 2013 to 2022 was screened in the Web of Science Core Collection database. After obtaining and sorting out the data, CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were used to visualize the relevant data, and SPSS software was used for scientific statistics. Results: A total of 18,450 publications were included in this study. The number of articles published over the past 10 years has generally shown an upward trend, while Altmetric attention scores have also shown a clear upward trend in general and in most countries. Citation analysis and Altmetric analysis can mutually prove and supplement the influence of papers. The USA, China, Japan, Italy, and the UK are the most productive countries, but China and Japan are significantly inferior to other countries in terms of research influence. Four of the top ten authors are at the center of the collaboration network. LUPUS is the most contributing journal. The theme of systemic lupus erythematosus research mainly focuses on the pathogenesis, treatment, and management of SLE, and the emerging trend is related research on machine learning and immune cells. Conclusion: This study shows the research status of SLE, clarifies the main contributors in this field, discusses and analyzes the research hotspots and trends in this field, and provides reference for further research in this field to promote the development of SLE research. Key Points • Through bibliometric analysis, Altmetric analysis, and visual analysis, we reveal the global productivity characteristics of SLE-related papers in the past 10 years. • The number of global SLE-related studies has shown a significant increase, indicating that SLE is still a hot topic and deserves further study. • Citation analysis and Altmetric analysis can mutually prove and supplement the influence of papers, and the attention of related literature among non-professional researchers is increasing. • The theme of SLE research mainly focuses on the pathogenesis, treatment, and management of SLE. The emerging trend is machine learning and immune cells, which may provide new strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of SLE in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Human resources development aided the developing space program of the Philippines. • Most of the selected personnel for training came from the academia. • Trainees taken from the industry followed later to support the push for space. • Most of trained personnel opted to stay in the country to support the space program. The Philippines has experienced a shift of interest in space technology development and utilization over the past decade, culminating with the establishment of its national space agency in 2019. In cooperation with different universities in Japan, the Philippines successfully developed and launched two microsatellites, DIWATA-1 and DIWATA-2, and six nanosatellites, MAYA-1 to MAYA-6. By sending personnel to Japan and other space-faring countries, the country was able to rapidly ramp up its satellite development and utilization capabilities. In this paper, we examine and evaluate the complex human resources development efforts conducted by the country to support the creation of a local space ecosystem and ensure its long-term sustainability. Through a careful review, we identify how many people benefited from training programs, studies abroad or other forms of capacity building, and how these skilled individuals were retained in the budding Filipino space sector. Precisely, we looked at the backgrounds of the different people trained by the country, what type of training they received (funding, location, and duration), and how they are supporting the local space ecosystem at the time of writing this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How does a country embark on large-scale R&D programs? Among R&D programs, this is an intriguing question for large scale Science and Technology (S&T) projects such as space programs, because of the necessity for large resource commitments, and the difficulty of being accountable to the taxpayers when the outcome is not always known. It can be assumed that engineers, scientists, bureaucrats, and politicians play respective roles. This paper aims to shed light on the specific role of politics, through the examples of policies of and decisions by NAKASONE Yasuhiro. Nakasone was the minister for science and technology (1959–1960, 1972), and later became the prime minister (1982–1987). He played a crucial role in establishing the Science and Technology Agency and the National Space Activities Council in the 1950s, which would be the foundational institutions responsible for space policy for the next half century. As prime minister, he decided to participate in the Space Station program. Within his vision for Japan for the 21st century, he emphasized the need for radical change in economic policy, education, defense and S&T investment. He was one of the few politicians that had vision to promote S&T and recognized the strategic value to the nation. He was able to explain to the nation why Japan should promote the development of a launch vehicle, when the engineers faced development difficulties in doing so. Thus, he was influential both in the policy layer and in promoting specific programs to support his national vision. Politics intersects with S&T projects because of the uncertainty and tradeoffs associated with these efforts. Japan did not address space programs for national security and commercial space for a long time. It is a politician's role to create institutions, to allocate resources and, more importantly, to explain to the taxpayers why policy measures or programs are necessary. R&D investment is a societal activity: it reflects the social, political, and economic situation, as well as being important for diplomacy and international relations. Bearing in mind that it would be misleading to attribute the initiation of largescale S&T projects to the leadership of a single individual, this paper will attempt to show the driving forces behind, and fundamental objective of Japan's space policy, in addition to the historical shift in that policy by examining the influence of this notable politician. • Nakasone played the key role in establishing institutions promoting space development in post-war Japan. • Nakasone made the best use of close relationships with the U.S. in promoting Japan's space activities. • Nakasone made decisions on space policy process, resource allocation with vision, thus integrating the stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) machines with the parallel magnetic circuit (PMC) rotor can effectively improve its torque density. The PMC rotor consists of two sub‐rotors, radial Halbach array permanent magnet (PM) and tangential PM. The magnetic fields generated by two sub‐rotors are not in the same 2‐D analytical planes. In this paper, an equivalent analytical model of PMC‐AFPM machines is proposed to solve this problem. The radial Halbach array PM rotor is equated to the axial Halbach array PM rotor based on the equivalent transformation principle. The exact subdomain models of equivalent axial Halbach array PM rotor and tangential PM rotor are built respectively and then superimposed to obtain the magnetic field distribution. The electromagnetic characteristics of the PMC‐AFPM machine under no‐load and load conditions are calculated by the proposed analytical model and compared with calculations of the finite element model (FEM). The results verify the accuracy of the equivalent analytical model. The comparative analysis of the AFPM machines with PMC rotor and tangential PM rotor verifies the advantage of PMC rotor configuration to improve the torque density. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nonlinear multivariable highly coupled system that is susceptible to both internal and external perturbations is the permanent magnet synchronous motor. A new reaching law‐based control approach that combines a sliding‐mode disturbance observer and an enhanced two‐vector model predictive current control is suggested in order to enhance the dynamic performance of the permanent magnet synchronous motor and its robustness to system disturbances. First, a new reaching law is developed in this paper to resolve the conflict between the traditional reaching law's chattering of the system and the reaching time of the sliding‐mode surface. This new reaching law not only makes the system's response more rapid but also reduces chattering; second, taking into account the possibility of systems with internal parameter uptake and external load disturbance, a sliding‐mode disturbance observer based on t is developed. Finally, the q‐axis current obtained from the speed sliding‐mode control rate is added to the model predictive current control, and an optimal duty cycle model predictive current control based on space vector modulation is designed because the traditional two‐vector model predictive current control is to optimize the duty cycle and voltage vectors separately, and the switching frequency is not fixed. The method suggested in this research may successfully suppress the sliding‐mode control system chattering and increase the resilience and dynamic response performance of the speed control system, according to simulation findings compared to the traditional reaching law and traditional duty cycle. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Federated Learning (FL) is a distributed machine learning paradigm that enables multiple data holders to collaborate on building machine learning models while preserving the privacy of their data. FL can be categorized as horizontal or vertical, depending on the distribution characteristics of the data. Specifically, horizontal FL uses data partitioned in the sample space, whereas vertical FL uses data partitioned in the feature space. Traditional vertical FL methods aim to facilitate collaboration among clients to infer a single global target. However, these methods may be impractical because each client often has a unique target to be inferred. In this paper, we propose a novel vertical FL method, called personalized vertical federated learning (pvFed), which addresses this limitation by allowing each client to perform inferences specific to their individual task. To the best of our knowledge, no existing method currently addresses this limitation. The objective of pvFed is to construct a global model that generates a representation vector to support client inference. The global model, constructed using distillation and dimensionality reduction, takes a sample ID common to all clients as input and outputs a sample‐specific representation vector. Clients utilize the intermediate representation of their own model and the representation vectors output by the global model for inference. Because these vectors are not dependent on client‐specific tasks, clients can repurpose them for any additional tasks. Our experiments, conducted on two distinct data types—image and tabular data sets, under a vertical partitioning where each client had its own specific task, demonstrated the efficacy of vectors generated by the global model in pvFed for client inference. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incipient faults in interface converters can potentially lead to catastrophic failures. Detection of incipient faults contributes to proactive fault management and predictive maintenance, which effectively improves system reliability. In this paper, a detection method in correlation space is proposed to address this problem, which is based on the inherent feature of correlation changes when a fault occurs. First, a convolution process is used to weaken noise and highlight the correlation feature. Second, the current signals are transmitted to correlation space by using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Third, an accumulation and a reference compensation method are designed for enhancing the features and equalizing influence of reference adjustment. Finally, a fault detection rule is designed based on correlation features and fault excitation. Experiments on a hardware‐in‐loop(HIL) semi‐physical platform indicate that the proposed method outperforms three commonly used correlation analysis algorithms. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cascaded H‐bridge (CHB) converter can achieve rich functions, such as active rectification, active power filtering, distributed energy storage, etc. The control of the CHB converter is a multiobjective optimization problem. Finite control set model predictive control (FCS‐MPC) is an effective method developed in recent years to solve this problem. However, because of the large amount of calculation, traditional FCS‐MPC cannot be directly used to control the multilevel CHB converter. It is also difficult to tune the weighting factors in traditional FCS‐MPC. To solve these problems, this paper proposes an improved sequential MPC (IS‐MPC) method for the CHB converter. The proposed method divides the control objectives of the CHB converter into different layers according to their priorities and the control degrees of freedom of each layer can be adjusted according to the system state. Simulation and hardware‐in‐the‐loop (HIL) implementation on a three‐phase 7‐level CHB converter shows that the proposed method can effectively control the ac current and submodule voltage of the CHB converter and reduce the switching loss. Moreover, it significantly reduced the calculation burden of traditional FCS‐MPC, and the use of the weighting factors is also avoided. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new eye‐tracking data correction method for the development of an automatic detection system for difficult‐to‐read characters in Japanese text. The proposed method, which adjusts the x‐axis of the eye, was compared with existing methods that adjust only the y‐axis. Data correction was performed for each method, and the detection accuracy of difficult‐to‐read Japanese characters was calculated and compared. The experimental results indicate that adjusting the x‐axis and y‐axis can improve the detection accuracy of difficult‐to‐read characters in Japanese text. This research advances easy correction techniques for difficult‐to‐read character detection in Japanese text and broadens the use of eye trackers, including low‐cost eye trackers. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Convolutional neural networks possess the capability of feature learning and nonlinear mapping, which has significant advantages in classifying and recognizing optical fiber vibration signals. In order to further enhance the recognition rate of vibration signals, this paper combines wavelet transform with convolutional neural networks and designs a convolutional layer based on parameterized wavelets. In this layer, the initial signal is convolved with parameterized Laplace wavelet dictionaries to complete the wavelet transform. Such customized filters make more sense than filters with randomly initialized parameters for traditional CNNs. Simultaneously, we introduce the channel attention mechanism to enhance the features of the filtered signals. Subsequently, standard CNNs are employed to extract and process signal features, ultimately utilizing a multi‐layer perceptron for recognition and classification. The experimental results show that the network model possesses better recognition refinement. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate prediction of employment rate of graduated students can greatly help education authorities to make informed decisions as well as for universities to adjust their teaching plans. Unfortunately, prediction of the employment rate of graduated students is still a difficult problem because the historical employment rate data exhibits fluctuations. In this paper, a new method is proposed for employment rate prediction using fractional gray GM(1,1|$$ \mid $$sin) model, which aims to alleviate the effect of data fluctuation on prediction accuracy and increase the contribution of new data in the prediction procedure. To further decrease prediction error, a Fourier series is adopted to model the residual series. The proposed model, called Fourier Fractional GM(1,1|$$ \mid $$sin) Model (FFGMsin), is used to predict the employment rate of graduated students of Yanshan University from 2010 to 2019. Results show that the proposed method can obtain more accurate prediction results than GM(1,1) model and its variants. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The architecture of software‐defined network (SDN)enhances the openness of the network by separating the control and forwarding functions, but the centralized SDN control form is susceptible to distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. In this paper, entropy value and back‐propagation neural network (BPNN) were applied to the DDoS attack detection of SDN, and then the two detection algorithms were simulated in MATLAB software and compared with the K‐means algorithm. The results showed that in the face of four DDoS attacks, SYN Flood, ACK Flood, UDP Flood and ICMP Flood, the BPNN‐based DDoS detection had higher accuracy and less detection time; the switch that adopted the BPNN‐based DDoS detection algorithm adjusted the traffic ratio back to normal level faster when facing DDoS attacks, reducing the impact on other switches and maintaining the traffic stability of the network. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millimeter wave MIMO wireless communication systems are deployed in 5G and next‐generation networks. The effectiveness of deep learning models for improving the performance of these systems has been proven in the literature. However, several deep learning models are vulnerable to security threats, such as adversarial attacks. Therefore, for the deployment of these systems, it is essential to make them resilient to such kinds of attacks for good quality secure communication. Adversarial training is a solution by which deep learning models are trained for adversarial attacks beforehand. Adversarial training for three types of adversarial attacks, that is, Fast Gradient Sign Method, Iterative Fast Gradient Sign Method, and Momentum Iterative Fast Gradient Sign Method is implemented in this paper. The simulation results depict a decrease in the error at the receiving end after adversarial training, even after an adversarial attack has been applied. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on Chinese football fans' reactions to the Japanese national team and their fans' behaviour during the World Cup 2022. Despite the historical and contemporary problems that make friendly relations with Japan difficult to achieve, football fans in China largely welcomed the good performance of the Japanese national team. This attitude may be described as 'thin cosmopolitanism' because Chinese fans' major frame of reference was still nationalistic. For them, the impressive performance of the Japanese national team means that Asians and the 'yellow race people' can also play good football. However, the Japanese fans, whose cleaning up of stadia received wide coverage during the World Cup, were criticized by the Chinese fans who interpreted the Japanese fans' action as reinforcing the existing global racial order. The findings of this paper help reveal the limits regarding football's role in contributing to a more cosmopolitan worldview. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Japan, the so-called neoliberal-inspired transition generally refers to an ideological agenda. However, one should distinguish between neoliberal reforms carried out in accordance with a political agenda and the genuine local evolution of ideas based on the influence of foreign thinkers. By leveraging key notions such as 'individual responsibility' (jiko sekinin), 'self-help' (jijo), 'mutual aid' (kyōjo) and 'public aid' (kōjo), this paper accounts for older roots of Japanese-style neoliberalism. It highlights how, throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, predating current liberal norms, certain notions preceded contemporary liberal ideas and served as a discursive framework, while others became intertwined with 'foreign' ideas as they permeated the political discourse. It illuminates how shorter-term politics characterized by conflicts of interest and political strategies fit within longer-term political notions and their ideological evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the COVID-19 epidemic continues, concerns about long-term health impacts, specifically long COVID, persist. While the prevalence and symptomatology of long COVID have been explored in various global contexts, large-scale cohort studies in Japan remain limited, especially after the advent of the Omicron variant. In this observational study, 4,047 residents with a history of COVID-19 living in Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture, were assessed for long COVID symptoms using the VOICE mobile application and a paper survey. Respondents provided demographic and health information, as well as information regarding COVID-19 infection and subsequent symptoms. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to estimate the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios and 95 % confidence intervals for overall morbidity of long COVID symptoms. The survey found that 5.2 % of participants reported the persistence of one or more symptoms at 30 days post-onset. Fatigue was the most commonly reported symptom (1.75 %), followed by hair loss (1.41 %), and cough (1.28 %). Factors associated with an increased risk of experiencing long COVID symptoms included BMI, severe illness during the acute phase, and infection with certain COVID-19 variant strains, including Alpha, Delta, and Omicron. However, the incidence rate of long COVID appears to be decreasing with the dominance of the Omicron variant. This large-scale study from Toyonaka City suggests a 5.2 % prevalence rate for persistent COVID-19 symptoms 4 weeks post-infection, potentially indicating a lower prevalence of long COVID in Japanese populations after the rise of the Omicron variant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the National Metrology Institute of Japan provides six national primary pH buffers under the Japan Calibration Service System. Each batch of these buffers is certified by the primary pH method using a Harned cell. On the basis of these primary buffers, the designated laboratories supply the secondary and working pH standards using a high-precision pH meter. This paper provides an estimate of the batch-to-batch reproducibility of the primary pH standard production based on the history of the certification of primary carbonate buffers in NMIJ. This buffer, which was chosen as the subject of the study because of the relative difficulty of its measurements (and thus a greater dispersion of results), is nominally the 0.025 mol kg−1 equimolal solution of disodium carbonate and sodium hydrogen carbonate. As its pH value is significantly affected by the purity of the reagents used, the evaluation of their source materials is made by both pH measurements and acidimetric gravimetric back titrations. Considering the experimentally determined pH reproducibility of ca. 0.010, potential risks to the pH accuracy are discussed when using recipe-based carbonate pH standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. This study aims to elucidate the gender gaps in the strategies for maintaining the social participation and interaction of older adults with people in a local community. Methods. The subjects were 130 older adults aged 65 years or older and independently living in their homes in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The authors conducted an anonymous questionnaire survey on paper and performed multiple regression analysis for men and women separately using the Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6) as the dependent variable. Results. Among the independent variables used for the analysis, those that significantly influenced LSNS-6 in men were social activities related to the daily life satisfaction of the elderly (SARDS). The independent variables that significantly influenced LSNS-6 in women were SARDS, sense of coherence-13 (SOC-13), and the number of family members living with the subjects. Discussion. Health promotion is not associated with interaction with people in men compared with women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most significant interannual signal in the tropical Pacific, the influence of ENSO on the interannual variability in TC genesis location in the western North Pacific (WNP) has received much attention in previous studies. This paper mainly emphasizes the underlying SST factors independent of the ENSO signal and explores how they modulate interannual tropical cyclone genesis (TCG) latitude variability. Our study finds that the meridional sea temperature gradient (SSTG) between the Kuroshio Extension and the WNP still has a significant effect on the interannual variability in the TCG latitude after removing the effect of ENSO (r = 0.6). The interannual forecasts of the TCG latitude were effectively improved from 0.67 to 0.81 when the ENSO-independent SSTG and ENSO were regressed together in a multi-linear regression. We then propose an ENSO-independent physical mechanism affecting the TCG latitude. The equatorward (poleward) SSTG excited the positive (negative) Pacific–Japan telecorrelation pattern over the WNP, forming Rossby wave trains and propagating northward. A significant cyclonic vortex (anticyclonic vortex) with strong convective development (suppression) developed near 20° N, leading more TCs to the northern (southern) part of the WNP. These findings provide a new perspective for the prediction of the interannual variability in the TCG latitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to support the learning of novice students in Java programming, the web-based Java Programming Learning Assistant System (JPLAS) has been developed. JPLAS offers several types of exercise problems to foster code reading and writing skills at different levels. In JPLAS, the code writing problem (CWP) asks a student to write a source code that will pass the test code given in the assignment where the correctness is verified by running them on JUnit. In this paper, to reduce the teacher's workload during the marking process, we present the answer code validation program that verifies all the source codes from a large number of students for each assignment and reports the number of passing tests for each source code in the CSV file. Besides, to test a source code with various input data, we implement the test data generation algorithm that identifies the data type, generates new data, and replaces it for each test data in the test code. Furthermore, to verify the correctness of the implemented procedures in the source code, we introduce the intermediate state testing in the test code. For evaluations, we applied the proposal to source codes and test codes in a Java programming course in Okayama university, Japan, and confirmed the validity and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]