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In order to mitigate the negative impact brought by the large‐scale grid connection of EVs, it is highly significant to study the optimal charging scheduling strategy of EVs. In this paper, a multiobjective optimization model of ordered charging and discharging with the participation of distribution network operator (DNO), charging station operator (CSO) and EV users is established, which maximize the interest of three parties. At the same time, the real‐time price (RTP) based on the change in load rate is designed and compared with the time‐of‐use (TOU) price model to analyze the impact of both on the interests of all parties. At last, the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) is introduced and three improvements are made. The results demonstrate that different charging modes of EVs and charging price models will affect the balance of interests of the three parties, while the improved SSA performs better under different users' response rates. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil properties have been known to be the factors that influence the ionization process in soil, which cause the impulse impedance, Zimpulse to be lower than that at steady state resistance, RDC. Many studies have established the relationship between the percentage reduction of Zimpulse from RDC in such that the percentage reduction is more pronounced in high resistivity soil, or in high RDC, than that at low resistivity soils. Nevertheless, Zimpulse is not the only parameter in representing the characteristics of soil under high impulse conditions, where from the voltage and current waveforms, the current rise and discharged times can also be established, where more accurate and extensive analysis of the electrical characteristics of ground electrodes subjected to high impulse currents can be achieved. This paper presents the experimental results of four ground electrodes, installed in agricultural land, with soil resistivity, of below 3 Ωm, subjected to high impulse currents, where the parameters of current rise times, Zimpulse and current discharged times were investigated. Two of these ground electrodes are having close RDC values, despite having different electrode's configurations, were also investigated. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dual‐stator permanent magnet (PM) machine has the advantages of high torque density, high efficiency, and compact size, which makes it suitable for low‐speed high‐torque applications. A dual‐stator low‐speed high‐torque permanent magnet drive machine (DLHPMDM) is discussed and studied in this paper, which is applied to the ball mill application. First, in order to meet the requirements of high efficiency and high reliability, a DLHPMDM with the inner and outer windings connected in parallel is obtained through the designs carried out in terms of the magnetic circuit structure, structural size, and the pole‐slot number combination. However, for the DLHPMDM with the inner and outer windings connected in parallel, the power allocation between the inner and outer machines is a critical problem that needs to be accurately analyzed, and the circulating current between the two sets of windings is also a particular issue that merit attention. Therefore, a new modeling method is proposed for the DLHPMDM to solve such cases more accurately. The proposed new method combines the advantages of the rapidity of the finite element analysis (FEA) with current excitations and the accuracy of the FEA with voltage excitations. Finally, a prototype of the DLHPMDM is manufactured and tested. The feasibility of the design theory and the validity of the proposed modeling method is verified by both the tested and simulated results. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on global harmonic mitigation against distributed and high‐proportioned nonlinear loads in modern distribution networks has received extensive attention. In this paper, a distributed compensation method for active power filters (APFs) is proposed, which utilizes a small number of APFs with adjustable reference to alleviate the global voltage distortion caused by a large number of distributed nonlinear loads. The model predictive control (MPC) is employed to calculate the optimal current reference for compensators at each optimization moment by predicting the system's performance in a certain future time period. Furthermore, the Kalman filter (KF) algorithm is used to estimate the initial harmonic voltage for the MPC, reducing the unfavorable effects of the model uncertainty and measurement noise. The test results based on a seven‐bus distribution network in MATLAB are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the robust control problem is investigated for fractional‐order nonlinear systems(FONS) with the unknown‐but‐bounded parametric uncertainties and the external disturbances. First, an H∞$$ {H}_{\infty } $$ adaptive observer is designed to estimate the system states and the unknown parameters. Then based on the observer, a fractional‐order sliding mode controller is designed and the asymptotic stability sufficient condition is derived for the closed‐loop system on the basis of Lyapunov stability criterion. The control strategy can not only realize the system stabilization, but also estimate the system unknown parameters and the system states. Moreover, a fractional‐order power type continuous function is adopted to replace the traditional sign function in the switch control component, the proposed method can avoid the chattering phenomenon. Finally, the simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the presented method. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population‐based evolutionary algorithms are suitable for solving multi‐objective optimization problems involving multiple conflicting objectives. This is because a set of well‐distributed solutions can be obtained by a single run, which approximate the optimal tradeoff among the objectives. Over the past three decades, evolutionary multi‐objective optimization has been intensively studied and used in various real‐world applications. However, evolutionary multi‐objective optimization faces various difficulties as the number of objectives increases. The simultaneous optimization of more than three objectives, which is called many‐objective optimization, has attracted considerable research attention. This paper explains various difficulties in evolutionary many‐objective optimization, reviews representative approaches, and discusses their effects and limitations. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspirations for the future can influence investments made today, and gender gaps in aspirations can perpetuate gender gaps in outcomes. In this paper, we explore how the local labor market affects gender gaps in aspirations. Using a national longitudinal survey from Japan, we begin by documenting large gender differences in adolescents' aspirations with respect to education, marriage, and fertility, as well as parental aspirations for their child's education. We then show that these gender gaps – specifically, boys aiming for higher educational attainment as well as later marriage and fertility – are significantly smaller in municipalities with higher female employment. Consistent with this, we also find that female employment is associated with higher parental investments in girls relative to boys. We detect similar patterns when examining realized outcomes at age 19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What determines people's preferences regarding trade policy? Existing studies have assumed that people consider trade policy merely trade politics; accordingly, these studies have focused on economic factors, such as benefits to individual or national welfare; ideational factors, such as xenophobia; or domestic political factors. This paper reveals that the international political factor of national security influences ordinary people's preferences for trade policy. While several studies have addressed the effect of the national security factor, they did not persuasively reveal the causal mechanism of the relationship between the national security factor and people's trade preferences. The present study conducted a factorial survey experiment to investigate the causal effect and the causal mechanism of the security factor on people's preferences regarding free trade agreements (FTAs). The results of the experiment conducted in Japan reveal that ordinary people consider the national security factor along the so-called realism path in forming their opinions regarding FTAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the victory in the War of Resistance against Japan, the rural economy of Hunan province was in decline. In southern provinces, where per capita arable land was minimal and the proportion of tenant farmers considerable, the tenancy system was notably harsh. In 1945, the Guomindang government implemented a one-year rent reduction policy in the recovered territories. However, due to real difficulties, Hunan province postponed its implementation until 1946 and again enacted a rent limit protection policy for tenants in 1947. Nevertheless, with the establishment of the Hunan Provincial Senate in 1946, provincial senators, representing local gentry interests, engaged in a conflict with the rent reduction ordinance put forth by the Hunan provincial government. The conflicting understandings between the two sides about the relationship between the existing system and rent reduction led to an impasse in the legislative process. Eventually, due to the provincial government's compromises, the rent reduction ordinances were repeatedly revised and ultimately became hollow in substance. At the grassroots level, seeing this situation, implementation was delayed, turning the ordinances into mere paper decrees. Throughout this process, the tenant farmers, deceived by the landlords, resented the government, and the credibility of the Guomindang government was gradually depleted. 摘要 抗战胜利后，湖南农村经济凋敝。南方各省人均耕地较少，佃农比例较大，租佃制度情况颇为恶劣。1945年，国民政府在收复区推行一年的免赋减租政策。湖南省因现实困难迁延至1946年补办，又在1947年推行了限租护佃政策。然而随着1946年湖南省参议会的成立，代表着地方士绅利益的省参议员跻身民意机关，化身为民意代表与湖南省政府的减租法令相博弈。双方对现行制度与减租关系认识的不同，导致省府交议法案搁置难决。最终由于省府的妥协，使减租法令不断被删改，徒具形式。基层见状则迁延执行，终使法令成为具文。在这一过程中，佃农反受地主愚弄而怨恨政府，国民政府的公信力也逐渐消耗殆尽。 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older patients are prone to multimorbidity or related polypharmacy, which may cause various adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and a high incidence of drug‐related health problems. Although not often noted, ADRs include nutrition‐related adverse reactions. Aging, multiple illnesses, mental and psychological problems, declining physical function, and environmental factors can lead to decreased food intake and increased metabolic stress in older people, resulting in energy imbalances that cause malnutrition. ADRs can lead to appetite loss, followed by decreased food intake, which in turn causes malnutrition and deficiencies of various nutrients. However, these nutrition‐related ADRs have received less attention. This review article describes drug–nutrition interactions, with a particular focus on older patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 465–477. Pharmacotherapy is a very important means of disease prevention and treatment for older patients. However, adverse drug reactions can have a significant negative impact on the health of older people. In this paper, the impact of drug therapy on nutritional status, dietary intake, the absorption and excretion of nutrients, and metabolism, with a focus on older people, is reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to enhance understanding of how self‐initiated expatriates (SIE) adjust to new cultural contexts in the under‐explored Indo‐Japanese inter‐Asian context. A literature review identified that Asian focal case studies are under‐developed, especially regarding the important interactions between major advanced Asian economy and emerging Asian economy settings. Therefore, the study developed an illustrative case of advanced economy Japanese SIE managers' lived experience in Indian emerging economy cross‐cultural management situations. Deploying a social constructivist epistemology using interpretive analysis, the current study found clear evidence of an interplay of hitherto under‐recognized common Indo‐Japanese spiritual values with roots in Buddhism surfacing in the Japanese SIE's adjustment. The paper offers important insights to complement extant theory on the individual‐level factors influencing SIE adjustment in an inter‐Asian context. The study contributes to international human resource management literature by surfacing contextualized understanding of the role of traditional spiritual values in SIE adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peak ground acceleration (PGA) is a key parameter used in earthquake early warning systems to measure the ground motion strength and initiate emergency protocols at major projects. The traditional P -wave peak displacement-dependent PGA prediction model (Pd-PGA model) tends to underestimate the PGA for large earthquakes because it cannot make full use of the fault continuity rupture information hidden in the time-varying process of ground motion. In this paper, a continuous PGA prediction long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network model is proposed. The model takes eight sequential features of stations that are proxies of the energy and other physical parameters as input and provides the recorded PGA at the station as the target output. A total of 5961 records from 119 earthquakes recorded by the Japanese Strong-Motion Earthquake Network (K-NET) in Japan are used to train the neural network and 3433 records from 73 earthquakes are used as the test set to verify the model's generalization ability. The results show that within the same data set, the residuals of the predicted PGA for the proposed model are smaller than those of the Pd-PGA model and that the problem of PGA underestimation is resolved. The prediction accuracy also improves with increasing sequence length, which indicates that the LSTM neural network learns the rules hidden in the time series. To further verify the model's generalization ability, the model performance is analyzed for an M 7.3 earthquake that was not included in the training or test data sets. The results show that the residuals of the predicted PGA for the event are consistent with those for the test data set, indicating that the model has good generalization ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the working papers presented during the 20th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Pigment Cell Research in Japan in November 2006. They include "Melanocyte Stem Cells: A Model to Study Stem Cell Biology," "Distinctive Antigenic and Molecular Profile of Acral Melanoma," and "Malignant Melanoma and Ultraviolet Irradiation."

The first news about Japan in the Ottoman press was published in the Ceride-i Havadis in 1841. After the end of the isolation, information about Japan began to reach out to westerners. This article is based on the question "What information was there about the Japanese in Ottoman journals?" that aims to answer the question "How were Ottoman journals the reflection of the Japanese making great achievements with the Meiji restorations?" For this purpose, the date range of the study has been determined as the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Articles about Japan and Japanese people from journals published during the Ottoman period were scanned. In the first stage of the composition process of the article, secondary sources that may be relevant to our subject were scanned. In the second stage, we scanned journals and listed articles about Japan from the scanned journals. In the third step, the listed articles were read in detail and categorized to determine the subject headings. Considering the number of papers, similar papers or papers with short information were excluded from the study during the screening process. In our research, articles on various subjects were found in the journals Sırât-ı Müstakîm, Musavver Muhit, Mecmûa-i Fünûn, Maârif, Ma'lûmât, İctihad, Servet-i Funun, Şehbal, and Mecmûa-i Ebüzziyâ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public transport providers often attempt to prevent passenger behaviour they consider dangerous, deviant, or otherwise undesirable through media technologies such as posters, signage, and overhead announcements. This paper explores the rationale of such mediated regulatory endeavours by taking up the example of 'manner improvement' poster campaigns by urban rail providers in Tokyo. Based on expert interviews with individuals involved in the production of poster campaigns and analysis of industry documents, it examines the motives and considerations guiding company interventions into passengers' everyday mobility practices. While previous scholarship has largely viewed such initiatives as a form of social control, this paper interprets manner improvement efforts as a customer service strategy. The paper examines posters' content, design, and limitations to argue that manner improvement efforts by urban transport providers are not primarily concerned with disciplining passengers but satisfying customer sensibilities. Enquiring into transit etiquette posters from the perspective of transport and design companies involved in creating them, this paper presents a novel contribution to the study of urban mobilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to survey the findings of phenomenological studies built up in the field of diabetes care in Sweden. This is a meta-synthesis of phenomenological studies on experiences related to diabetes in Sweden focusing on learning to live with diabetes. We proceeded by reference to the seven phases of Noblit & Hare. We examined papers from seven phenomenological studies on learning to live with diabetes in Sweden. From the papers, which describe the experience of living with diabetes, three overarching themes were selected—perception and awareness of the body; integration and responsibility; and presence of others who provide support. From those describing the expert's experience, an overarching theme emerged—encouraging reflection in persons with diabetes. We interpreted each of these themes in phenomenological terms and compared them with theories in Japan. Persons with diabetes take responsibility for coping with a range of things brought on by the illness and learn to live with diabetes. Experts support these persons so they can see their world objectively and critically scrutinize it. By building a model of diabetes care in Japan that references Scandinavian human science, it will be possible to find new approaches that support learning at the existential level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularity of Japanese comics or better known as manga had reach worldwide. The production of the manga had also led to the creation of derivative products such as animated series and doujinshi. However, most readers outside Japan accessed these media in a translated format that is published independently from the original publisher. As such, many of the readers might not know the distribution system of the original media. In this paper, we discussed the distribution of manga and doujinshi in Japan. These include discussions regarding the general overview of the manga industry, the different types of published manga and doujinshi, as well as their distribution system. Lastly, this paper also discussed briefly what is the unique characteristic of the Japanese manga and doujinshi industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: No study has investigated sleep‐related environmental factors in patients according to their functional independence measure (FIM) cognitive scores. Aims: The aim of this study is to examine the associations between environmental factors such as noise and sleep latency according to the FIM cognitive scores among inpatients in rehabilitation wards. Design This is a prospective longitudinal study. Methods: This study measured the sleep state using a bed‐based actigraphy, environmental data from Environmental Sensor®, and medical record information of 33 inpatients in the rehabilitation wards during 2018. A linear mixed‐effect model was used to analyse the associations between sleep latency and environmental factors. Participants were grouped according to high or low FIM cognitive scores. Results: The average patient age was 77.2 ± 10.9 years, and 48.5% were male. In the high FIM cognitive score group, the loudness and frequency of noise exceeding 40 dB during sleep latency were significantly associated with sleep latency. In the low FIM cognitive score group, only the noise frequency was associated with sleep latency, and intra‐individual variance was larger than that of the high group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that providing night care with attention to subdued noise is important, particularly for patients with low cognitive functional independence levels measured by the FIM cognitive score. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Many elderly individuals have sleep disorders, such as difficulties falling and staying asleep.Environmental factors, like light and noise, influence inpatients' sleep. What this paper adds? Patients with high functional independence measure (FIM) cognitive scores had longer sleep latency when both the loudness and frequency of noise exceeded 40 dB.Patients with low FIM cognitive scores had longer sleep latency with frequent noise, regardless of loudness.Nurses should provide care with more caution, taking into consideration the frequency of noise produced, regardless of loudness, particularly for patients with a low cognitive functional independence level measured by the FIM cognitive score. The implications of this paper For elderly inpatients with a lower cognitive functional independence level measured by the FIM cognitive score, the number of nurses' visits at night should be minimized to avoid disturbing the patients' sleep by using devices such as nonwearable sleep monitoring sensors, which can also contribute to reducing nurses' burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the Japanese crown prince and emperor Hirohito during the 1920s to think more critically about how fashion historians can analyze "western" dress in non-western contexts. In particular, this essay looks at Hirohito's embrace of new forms of middle-class menswear—particularly sportswear and the lounge suit—to signal fundamental shifts in the relationship between monarch and subject. These innovations rested upon far more than simply imitating western centers of men's fashion. Instead, this paper argues that to understand the meaning of "western" clothing styles in non-western contexts, fashion studies needs a more sophisticated paradigm than the term "western clothes." While some garments carried strong resonances of their European antecedents, Japanese men like Hirohito adopted them primarily for what they could do in Japan, while also understanding their potential for integrating Japan into the broader world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Japan, the complexity of the teaching profession has been downplayed in the course of repeated systemic reforms, wherein the profession is increasingly viewed as a technical operation. In response to this trend, the concept of "reflective practitioner" (Schön, D. A.) has been proposed as a counterpoint. While it has influenced the discussion of teacher education reform thereafter, it has also been coopted into what Gert Biesta calls "learnification" of teacher education. This paper outlines the trends and debates of teacher education reform in Japan and discusses ways to avoid the "learnification" of teacher education. This paper speaks directly to Item No. 1 of the 8 challenges put forward by the APJTE editors, which concerns the redefinition of teaching "as a technical operation aimed at the effective production of measurable learning outcomes" and its implications for teacher agency, identity and professionalism. It uses Japan as a case to depict the situation in which the trivialisation of teaching into a technical operation and the de-professionalisation of the teaching profession are proceeding not only through the action of educational policy but also through the interaction with discourses that are intended to criticise it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are increasingly surrounded by talk of digitalization. Yet, we remain unsure about what impact this digitalization will have upon socio-economic institutions, how the introduction of this digitalization will be contested, the likely role of the state in managing the adoption of digital technology, and the likely consequences for the broader political economy if and when it is introduced. This article examines the process of digitalization as it has unfolded in the service sector in Japan. Based on qualitative interviews with managers in the hospitality industry and union officials, the paper depicts a process that contrasts starkly with the more optimistic view adopted by some commentators, according to which digitalization has the potential to improve working conditions and contribute to a more stable form of growth. Instead, the paper draws on Regulation Theory to argue that the introduction of digitalization is part of a wider process of neoliberalization. As such, digitalization has contributed to deskilling, the fragmentation of work tasks, a digital divide, the intensification of work, and higher levels of workplace surveillance. This represents a further dismantling of the social compromise that underpinned Japan's earlier period of economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When designing a controller based on a fuzzy model composed of fuzzy rules, in most cases controllers are designed only based on the consequent parts of the fuzzy rules, equally meaning the information of the antecedent parts is merely ignored. This paper first partitions all of the rules into two groups based on the information of the antecedent parts, in which one contains certain rules around the origin, and the other is a group of rules away from the origin. While being able to make the former arbitrarily small, each rule of the latter leads to a favorable quadratic inequality, which will be useful in controller design by the help of the S‐procedure. On the other hand, while the affine T‐S fuzzy model is much more effective for describing the dynamics of the system concerned in comparison with the regular T‐S fuzzy model, it encounters some difficulties when designing a controller based on the model because of the affine terms within. This paper makes clear that the difficulties can be overcame by using the quadratic inequalities based on the fuzzy rule partition. In addition, the effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated by applying it to the CSTR for an exothermic irreversible reaction. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to expectations that the greater visibility of aid increases the donor's prestige, this paper examines why certain donor countries may seek to render their aid programs invisible. As the case of Japan's early Triangular Development Cooperation (TDC) in Southeast Asia demonstrates, donors at times seek to conceal their presence to better secure their national interests. By approaching this (in-)visibility puzzle through the focus on its politics, this study highlights the complexity of donors' motivations in selectively activating (in-)visibility in TDC. Via a historicised account of Japan's post-war aid/economic cooperation relationship with Southeast Asia, the paper finds how the triangular mechanism allowed Japan and Thailand as an intermediary to selectively render their presence in-/visible to shun hostile sentiments against them in order to pursue their respective diplomatic goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an unconventional clean resource with huge reserves and a wide distribution, natural gas hydrates (NGHs) have good application prospects. However, due to limited understanding and available production technology for NGHs, there is still a large gap between current production tests and commercial exploitation. A breakthrough in reservoir stimulation technologies is key to realizing the industrialization of NGHs in the future. Through a comprehensive summary of hydrate production test cases in Japan and China, this paper highlights the difficulties in the transformation of weakly-consolidated reservoirs. By systematically reviewing the theory and technology of hydrate reservoir transformation and engineering applications, this paper elucidates in detail the technical principles and mechanisms of several available stimulation technologies for weakly-consolidated reservoirs, and assesses the feasibility of their application to increase the production of NGHs. Existing problems and challenges are summarized and future prospects are discussed. Finally, suggestions are put forward for research and development of transformation technology for weakly-consolidated NGHs reservoirs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analysed the nature of autonomy, in particular respect for autonomy in medical ethics/bioethics in Japan. We have undertaken a literature survey in Japanese and English and begin with the historical background and explanation of the Japanese word Jiritsu (autonomy). We go on to identify patterns of meaning that researchers use in medical ethics / bioethics discussions in Japan, namely, Beauchamp and Childress's individual autonomy, relational autonomy, and O'Neill's principled autonomy as the three major ways that autonomy is understood. We examine papers discussing these interpretations. We propose using the term 'a form of autonomy' first used by Edmund Pellegrino in 1992 and examine the nature of 'a form of autonomy.' We finally conclude that the crux of what Pellegrino calls 'something close to autonomy,' or 'a form of autonomy' might best be understood as the minimization of physician paternalism and the maximization of respect for patient preference. Simultaneously, we introduce a family-facilitated approach to informed consent and respond to criticism by Laura Sullivan. Finally, we discuss cross-cultural approaches and global bioethics. Furthermore, we use the term 'Bioethics across the Globe' instead of 'Global Bioethics', calling for international scholars to write works to provide an in-depth understanding of each country. We conclude that deep understanding of others is pivotal for dialogue to be of value. We hope this article will deepen the reader's understanding of Japan and will contribute to the progress of bioethics worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents several papers published in the 2005 issue of the journals "Journal of the Society of Powder Technology, Japan" and "Powder Science & Engineering." "Effect and Behavior of Liquid Additive Molecules in Dry Ultrafine Grinding of Limestone," by M. Hasegawa et al; "Characteristics and Hydrogen Desorption Property of Nanostructured Graphite Produced by Grinding in Vacuum Atmospheres," by M. Shirahige et al; "Powder Technology and Electrostatics," by Y. Murata.

Presents a bibliography of original research papers about powder process industry already published in Japanese journals including the "Journal of the Society of Powder Technology" and the "Powder Science & Engineering." "Study on Influential Factor in Hardening Phenomena of Coal Ash Bed," K. Higashiyama, H. Kanda, H. Shirai, H. Makino and R. Kurose; "Influence of Humidity on Binderless Granulation in a Spouted Bed," by S. Hatano, K. Kaneko, Y. Oura and S. Mori; "Formation and Reduction of Dioxin," by M. Takeuchi; "Trend of Chemical Accidents," by M. Wakakura.

Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is a popular optimization technique known for its simplicity and effectiveness. This paper introduces a variant that achieves a better balance between exploration and exploitation, named DiPSO. DiPSO incorporates a novel strategy based on trends in mean distance between individuals for local exploitation control. Experiments on 29 benchmark functions demonstrate that DiPSO consistently outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art variant of PSO. Convergence analysis reveals that DiPSO achieves faster convergence and superior solutions. These results highlight the effectiveness of DiPSO in solving optimization problems. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societies of the East are often contrasted with those of the West in their stances toward technology. This paper explores these perceived differences in the context of international ethics guidance for artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Japan serves as an example of the East, while Europe and North America serve as examples of the West. The paper's principal aim is to demonstrate that Western values predominate in international ethics guidance and that Japanese values serve as a much-needed corrective. We recommend a hybrid approach that is more inclusive and truly 'international'. Following an introduction, the paper examines distinct stances toward robots that emerged in the West and Japan, respectively, during the aftermath of the Second World War, reflecting history and popular culture, socio-economic conditions, and religious worldviews. It shows how international ethics guidelines reflect these disparate stances, drawing on a 2019 scoping review that examined 84 international AI ethics documents. These documents are heavily skewed toward precautionary values associated with the West and cite the optimistic values associated with Japan less frequently. Drawing insights from Japan's so-called 'moonshot goals', the paper fleshes out Japanese values in greater detail and shows how to incorporate them more effectively in international ethics guidelines for AI and robotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the trends and challenges of Taiwanese studies in Japan, focusing on political history. The first section reviews Taiwanese studies in Japan in recent years, with a focus on political research. The second section discusses the issues to be worked on for this discipline's future, especially pertaining to the discussion on "external" and "internal" legitimacy for the postwar Republic of China (ROC) government in Taiwan. The third section examines ways to comprehend the changes in the ROC's status in Taiwanese politics and society after the political transformation began in the 1970s. Taiwanese studies in Japan have long emphasized revealing the characteristics of Taiwanese society and history. Although such an attitude is still quite important, this paper highlights that knowing how to value the "Chineseness" of the ROC government in Taiwan is also an important subject. Further examination of the link between international and internal politics in Taiwan will be one of the most important subjects for future Taiwanese studies in Japan on politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a three‐layer coordinated optimization strategy based on fuzzy control of renewable energy sources (RESs), vehicle‐to‐grid (V2G) and energy storage. Firstly, the overall structure of this strategy is introduced, which is composed of V2G management system, renewable energy dispatching system and energy storage (ES) real‐time balancing system. Secondly, the control strategy is proposed for different systems, among them, the V2G management system considers shortage of power grid, forecasted maximum output of RESs, and state of charge (SOC) of electric vehicles (EVs) to calculate the charging plan for each EV in next time interval by fuzzy control algorithm; The renewable energy management system gets the expected shortage state of the power grid in the next period according to the charging plan and the current state of the power grid, then combined with the battery state of the energy storage system, the renewable energy guiding power generation in the next period can be calculated by the fuzzy control algorithm; The energy storage real‐time balancing system can charge or discharge according to the real‐time frequency and shortage of power grid to ensure balance between supply and demand of power grid. Finally, the simulation proves that the three‐layer management strategy proposed in this paper can help grid to cut peak and fill valley effectively, improve the load characteristics of the regional power grid and reduce the amounts of the rejected renewable energy. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive research investigates how immigration shapes natives' anti-immigrant sentiment. However, several areas require further scrutiny. This paper explores how processes of immigration affect anti-immigrant sentiment in a new immigration destination country—Japan—drawing on longitudinal data to examine these processes over time and explicitly testing the mechanisms of perceived threat and intergroup contact posited to underpin this relationship. Through this analysis, the paper aims to: examine how generalizable the immigrant share/immigration attitudes theoretical framework is to non-Western societies; refine our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning this relationship; and more robustly test its causal assumptions. To pursue these aims, the study draws on two sets of nationally representative Japanese data, designed to generate complementary insights, including: four waves of longitudinal panel data (2008–2014) and a unique cross-sectional dataset containing measures of perceived threat and contact. Applying multilevel and fixed-effects panel data approaches, the findings demonstrate that as immigration increases in Japanese prefectures and municipalities, residents become increasingly averse toward immigration (although there is some evidence of non-linearity at the municipality level, with sentiment improving again in high immigrant share environments). This overall relationship appears largely driven by two competing processes. In higher immigrant share environments, perceived threat is higher, increasing anti-immigrant sentiment. However, concurrently, intergroup contact also increases in these environments, reducing anti-immigrant sentiment. Therefore, despite the overall negative relationship (driven primarily by perceived threat), rising contact exerts a countervailing positive effect as immigration increases. Taken together, this research demonstrates that theories of attitudinal-change with higher immigration, developed within Western-contexts, also appear salient for newer destination, non-Western societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bio-medical model of 'mental health' and 'mental illness' that relates to the relationship between wellbeing and distress informs psychopathology and dominates conceptualisation in many Western Educated Industrialised Rich Democratic (WEIRD) populations. This paper aims to critique the model, questioning the appropriateness of psychopathology as a conceptual framework when working as a Western trained clinician with populations such as in China, Japan, Asia, the Middle-East and Africa. The paper also considers the cultural appropriateness of western notions of psychopathology when working inter-culturally in relation to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, and the Review of the Implementation of the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is aimed at improve accuracy of angular position synchronization control of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor driving system. Traditional PID controller could not meet requirement due to poor dynamic characteristics. The Global Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Control (GFTSMC) has good ant‐disturbance ability, could make system more robust and realize synchronization control of angular position. But due to error in load torque observation, system state convergence error will be caused, which will reduce the accuracy of synchronization. In this paper, fractional‐order differentiation is used to replace the nonlinear part of GFTSMC, constructed Fractional Order Differentiation—GFTSMC (FOD‐GFTSMC) controller to improve accuracy of synchronization. Theoretical analysis will be used to demonstrate that this control strategy could improve convergence accuracy of system state, reduces error of synchronization, and some experiments will be carried out to verify that this kind of controller has high synchronization accuracy, fast dynamic response ability and strong robustness. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population aging has led to the establishment of Healthcare Real Estate Investment Trusts (HC-REITs) to boost the supply of nursing homes, but these initiatives have met with contrasting success in different countries. This paper bridges two strands of research on financialization, social welfare and the built environment, to explain the uneven geography of HC-REIT development in France, the UK and Japan. It argues that nation-specific processes of nursing home securitization are shaped by the interrelationships between three crucial factors: (i) the regime of retirement income, (ii) public policies dedicated to long-term institutional care and (iii) the power relations between the REITs and care providers themselves. Drawing on discussions with experts in these sectors, the paper demonstrates that liberal welfare states such as the UK have an especially attractive profile for Healthcare REIT investors due to the advanced state of financialized pension reforms, significant state disengagement in the provision of long-term care and REIT-friendly regulations that facilitate investment operations and leases. On the one hand, these tendencies are driving financial investors to satisfy a growing demand for retirement savings in niche markets such as Healthcare REITs. On the other hand, value extraction is being increasingly sought through the capture of care-dependent residents' home equity. By linking social benefit provisioning to later life housing accommodation, this article casts important light on current debates on the political economy of real estate financialization, while also emphasizing the need for continued state support for long-term institutional care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explains the implementation of Quality Management System right from the inception of factory. At first stage, to establish the plant quality system, Sample Motor Accomplishment Project (SMAP) was conceived. A CFT (Cross Functional Team) was formed so that quality systems are established at all functions viz. Design, PPC, SCM, Production, QAQC. The supplier quality evaluations were also performed to establish quality for outsourced parts. 5 Sample products covering the complete manufacturing range of motors were selected, the necessary regulations, QCP, WSS check-sheets, design standards, material standards, manufacturing standard documents were prepared as part of quality documents. The products were designed, manufactured, and tested complying to above stated quality documents. The entire process was validated and confirmed by Japan Technology Executive. The necessary awareness on Quality Management Systems, Internal auditor course were provided to concerned employees. In the second stage, Motor Factory decided to get the QMS certified as per ISO 9001-2015 standard. Accordingly, approached reputed international certifying agency, got the audit done and obtained QMS certification. The paper explains the initiatives taken to share the learnings constantly and upgrading the supplier know-how and know-why related to Quality Management Systems. The paper will also share few experimential learnings, best practices related to unified systems, new capabilities being added to the existing QMS Systems, analytic solutions to improve the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the close cultural exchanges between China and Japan, the demand and quality of Japanese talents are gradually increasing. Traditional Japanese teaching modes and measures cannot meet the basic requirements. With the rapid development of network multimedia technology and virtual reality technology, in the process of Japanese teaching, virtual reality technology is used to reform the traditional teaching mode and to improve the quality of Japanese teaching. Based on virtual reality technology, this paper studies the online Japanese teaching mode, analyses the characteristics of Japanese teaching, combines modern information technology to assist teaching, comprehensively improves the quality of Japanese teaching, and improves the traditional Japanese teaching mode. By describing the concept, basic features, and components of the AR system in detail and by introducing the virtual construction method based on the geometric model, this paper improves the traditional Japanese teaching mode and establishes the online Japanese teaching mode. Finally, the online Japanese teaching mode for one semester is applied in colleges and universities to analyze whether this mode can improve students' interest in Japanese learning and the effect of Japanese learning. The results show that 59% of the students using this mode expressed an increased interest in Japanese learning, while only 25.8% of the students not using this mode showed an increased interest in Japanese learning. 72% of students indicated that they could improve their oral Japanese performance after using this model, while 45% of students who did not use this model could improve their oral Japanese performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we describe a new genus and species of hydromedusa belonging to the family Halimedusidae (Hydrozoa, Anthoathecata) that is found off Oarai, Sagami Bay, and Tosa Bay, Japan. This family comprises four species in three genera: Halimedusa, Tiaricodon, and Urashimea. The new genus and species can be distinguished from all other Halimedusidae species by genetic sequences and morphological characteristics. A comparative table of the primary diagnostic characteristics of the genus Halimedusa is provided. In addition, the diagnosis of Halimedusidae was modified. Jellyfish blooms cause serious problems in fishing, industry and public health. This paper contributed to the understanding of ecology and diversity of jellyfish on our planet. Approximately 300 species of cnidarian jellyfish have been reported in Japanese waters. However, many specimens remain unidentified. In this study, taxonomic investigations, including morphological observations and molecular 16S phylogenetic analyses, were conducted on unknown specimens collected off Oarai, Sagami Bay, and Tosa Bay, Japan. The specimens have the following morphological characteristics: distinct peaks in jelly above the base of the manubrium, a red band on the manubrium, and cylindrical marginal bulbs, each with an abaxial ocellus that is common to the family Halimedusidae. However, the specimens can be distinguished from other Halimedusidae species by their eight radial canals, eight tentacles with numerous stalked nematocyst knobs, and eight nematocyst tracks on the exumbrella. Moreover, molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Kimura two-parameter distance between the specimens and other Halimedusa species was 0.066–0.099, which is considered to represent intergeneric variability. Based on this result, we described it as a new species and established a new genus for taxonomic stabilization. We also emended the diagnostic characters of the family Halimedusidae owing to the establishment of the new genus. Halimedusidae comprises five species in four genera. This paper provides taxonomic keys for the identification of species in the family Halimedusidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rural areas due to the low capacity of resources on the one hand and the increase in demand, on the other hand, the use of load management will be a little different. In this paper, load energy management programs considering three modes are used to minimize the cost of operating a rural multi‐microgrid system and increase the accessibility of its controllable load. Consumers in this paper are divided into two sets of controllable and uncontrollable loads, and microgrids will respond economically to the energy management system due to the capacity of renewable resources and distributed generation. Consumption coordination in the form of an optimization program with a mixed‐integer nonlinear programming mathematical model is designed to reduce the overall operating costs in the microgrid. For microgrid's lowest cost, three different scenarios including only the use of uncontrollable loads, simultaneous use of uncontrollable and controllable loads, and the use of adjustable generation sources with considering generation ceiling of distributed generation have been used. Simulations have been performed in different scenarios in a modified IEEE 33 bus system in the GAMS environment with different solvers to achieve the best response, which shows a significant reduction by LINDO and DECOPT solver. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: At the 7th Electropalatography Symposium in Japan, held online on the 24 January 2021, a few speakers were invited to talk about how the COVID‐19 pandemic had impacted their research and/or speech therapy that involved the use of electropalatography (EPG) as well as the procedures adopted in order to continue their work in a safe manner. The information on protective measures when using instrumental techniques in speech research and therapy may be useful for colleagues in research and the clinic. Aims: The primary aims are: (1) to find out whether there are any published recommendations regarding protective measures for using EPG in research and clinic settings; (2) to discuss the impact of the pandemic and the corresponding restrictions and general protective measures directed (or advised) by local government and professional bodies at each stage of EPG work; and (3) to share experiences in using modified procedures for face‐to‐face EPG therapy sessions and combined EPG teletherapy. In addition, a brief overview of EPG and a summary of EPG research and clinical activities in Japan presented by one of the symposium organizers at the symposium are included. Methods & Procedures: A review of the literature regarding protective measures recommended for using EPG for speech assessment and treatment or research, supplemented by a discussion of our own experiences. Main Contribution: The literature review showed that there are no guidelines regarding protective measures for using EPG, but there is some advice regarding speech recording using microphones. Most published articles related to speech and language therapy (SLT) service during COVID‐19 are about telepractice or general clinical guidelines for face‐to‐face speech therapy sessions. The protective measures for using EPG developed based on the general guidelines recommended by local government and professional bodies (e.g., using visors, transparent acrylic board) were described. Using EPG in telepractice was discussed as well. Conclusions: It has been challenging to continue EPG research and therapy during the pandemic. In order to deal with this crisis, available knowledge regarding infection control and recommendations from local government and professional bodies were applied to design methods and procedures that allowed EPG research and therapy to continue. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: There are general protective measures recommended by local government and professional bodies regarding speech therapy sessions (e.g., using personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing), but little is known about the measures for using instrumental techniques in speech research and therapy, particularly EPG. The equipment of each instrumental technique is different, so measures that are appropriate for one may not be suitable for others. Hence, specific recommendations are needed for EPG. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: This paper provides pointers to information about recommendations regarding protective measures for speech research and therapy, supplemented with suggestions specific to EPG provided by experienced users based on actual experience. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: In evaluating the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on EPG research and therapy, an analytical approach was taken to break down the steps involved in carrying out those activities, and the challenges we faced and the possible alternatives for completing the tasks were discussed. A similar approach can be applied to evaluate other aspects of speech therapy service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term “bourbon” has become increasingly popular in markets all over the globe. The popularity of the bourbon trend has been exploited for both labelling liquors and describing nonalcoholic products. Bourbon has several separate definitions, usually differing on the issue of the geographical scope of the spirit’s production. The bourbon liquor industry has experienced periods of significant downturn followed by periods of explosive revival, motivated mainly by foreign interest, from countries such as Japan, in the product In the 1970s, Japanese interest in whisky and US bourbon facilitated a resurgence of the then-struggling US bourbon industry. In 2018, production of bourbon reached its highest level since 1972. Compared to the exports of 1997, bourbon exports to foreign countries tripled in volume and price in 2018 There are minimal legal protections currently available to America’s bourbon producers to insulate their unique spirit from foreign competition. Despite successful adoption and use of geographical indications (GIs) in many countries, the United States has avoided employing GIs to insulate local products in international markets, with the exception of a few protections for regionally produced wines. GIs have been gaining significance as accessibility to international markets has increased substantially in recent years. In 2015, Japan joined the GI trend, agreeing to recognize GIs with the EU. Products such as Scotch whisky are recognized and protected as GIs in Japan. The previous year, the Japanese company Suntory acquired Jim Beam, a Kentucky-based company comprised of several well-known bourbon labels. The relationship between the US bourbon and Japanese whisky markets has a long history and an arguably longer future ahead. Many of the arguments for the use of GIs have not been updated since countries such as Japan joined the international trend towards GI adoption. Thus, this paper will use the bourbon industry as an example to illustrate and further arguments presented by advocates of GIs. Looking to the successful adoption of GI agreements in Japan, this paper will highlight the benefits of participation in GI recognition and advocate for the US’s entering into GI agreements with Japan and other international bodies generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study aimed to examine the effects of a learning programme for nurse managers on connecting learning with their own experiences and fostering competence. Background: In Japan, second‐level programmes for certified nurse administrators represent the main opportunity for formal training for nurse managers. However, it is difficult for nurse managers to transfer second‐level programme learning to their workplace. Methods: This quasi‐experimental study used a two‐group pretest–posttest design with purposive sampling and non‐random assignment of 29 consenting Japanese nurse managers who were participating in a second‐level programme through a prefectural nursing association. The programme provided reflection papers and feedback from a researcher, as well as reflective group sessions. The outcome measure was the Japanese First‐Line Nurse Managers Competence Inventory (JNMCI) score. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvement in JNMCI scores after participating in the programme. A significant difference in JNMCI scores was also observed between the intervention and comparison groups. Conclusion: This learning programme led to improved competency among nurse managers. Implications for Nursing Management: Nurse manager development programmes should include reflection papers and feedback, as well as reflective group sessions, to improve competency among nurse managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the modes of contact and the developmental steps that came out of the high-frequency analysis of an isolated young patient and the corresponding counter-transference feeling of »closest distance«. With this concept, the paper examines the seemingly contradictory experience of both great closeness and vast distance in such a way that they can be viewed as complementary. The paper will examine this variable and emergent experience and will show how room for developing new relationship possibilities could develop out of the transference-countertransference experiences that take place in the communities and games available in the complex world of the internet. The question will be discussed as to how far the term hikikomori, coined in Japan for young people who have totally withdrawn from society, can be helpful in the treatment of secluded patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares the energy consumption of elderly and non-elderly households, recognizing the ever-increasing importance of the aging population for energy policy. Decisions of the domestic (in-home) and transport (out-of-home) sectors at the household level are jointly incorporated by building a multivariate Hierarchical Archimedean Copula model with intra-sector and inter-sector dependencies. Data from a life-oriented behavioral survey in Japan are used, which includes 532 elderly households and 340 non-elderly households. A variety of life-related factors, together with built environment factors, are introduced into the above model. Modeling analysis results show that inter- and intra-sector dependencies are heterogeneous across households in terms of these factors. It is found that almost equal numbers of influential factors are sensitive and insensitive to age-based sample segmentation. Various similarities and dissimilarities across energy types between elderly and non-elderly households are revealed. The paper concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the otolith microstructural analysis of reared larvae of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica in Japan. Validation of the daily deposition of otolith increments; Problems with the rearing techniques used with eel larvae; Estimation of the early growth of artificially fertilized larvae in comparison with wild glass eels.

Investigates the biological indicator for stock identification of sandfish Arctoscopus japonicus in Japan. Role of the copepod Steindachner Acanthochondria priacanthi; Parasitic relationship between the sand fish and the crustacean; Percentage of infected hosts in a sample.