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The phenomenon of women's underrepresentation in engineering is well known. However, the slow progress in achieving better gender equality here compared with other domains has accentuated the "numbers" issue, while the quality aspects have been largely ignored. This study aims to shed light on both these aspects via the lens of mentors, who are at the coalface of guiding female engineers through their education and subsequent careers. Based on data collected from 25 mentors (8 men and 17 women from 8 countries), the paper explores their experiences of being mentors, as well as their views on recommended actions for nurturing female engineers. The findings reveal that the primary motivation for becoming a mentor was personal for men and women. Many mentors from countries with relatively lower female labour participation rates perceive their roles as guarantors of their mentees' successful future career paths, and a similar trend can be found in mentors in academia. The study underscores the need for invigorating mentors' roles in order to secure a more equitable future for engineering education.

In 1929, the Japanese avant-garde Kinugasa Teinosuke's film Crossroads was screened on Bulgarian screens. The critic Pantelei Karasimeonov wrote an enthusiastic review of the work and devoted an entire page of the authoritative magazine Nasheto kino to it. The aim of the present study is to re-read the film and the text through the optics of the legacy of the Bulgarian modernism and our early attempts to theorise the film. And also try to understand why Kinugasa attracts the attention of the erudite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first decade after the end of World War Two, nūdo satsueikai (nude shooting sessions in which naked female models were photographed by groups of primarily male photographers in public parks, beaches, and studios) offered a particularly popular way to engage in photography in Japan. Photographer Tokiwa Toyoko was one of the many women entering male dominated workplaces in this period and through her portrayal of the male participants at the nude shooting session she critiqued assumptions that women were more suited to being in front of, rather than behind, the lens of the camera. The following article pursues a detailed analysis of mass media depictions of the so-called 'birth of the female photographer in postwar Japan' and intervenes in debates surrounding nude shooting sessions to provide a new interpretation of Tokiwa's photographs of women who labored with their bodies. In so doing, it calls into question the foundational discourses of Japanese postwar photographic realism and reveals a new perspective on the gendered dynamics therein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To evaluate early effects of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on the retina using adaptive optics (AO). Methods. This was a prospective observational single-center study of 29 eyes of 29 patients who had been treated with HCQ for the first time and followed with AO for a minimum of two years. Cone counting was performed in 4 quadrants, nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior, at 0.75 mm from the foveal center. The changes of cone density on AO, visual acuity, and foveal thickness within two years of use were analyzed. The changes of mean cone density of patients whose cumulative dose was over 200 g in 2 years were also assessed. We evaluated the correlation between cone density and cumulative dose of HCQ. Results. There was no significant decrease in cone density in the first 2 years of HCQ use. VA and foveal thickness did not show obvious change, either. Among 9 patients whose cumulative dose was over 200 g in 2 years, the mean cone density showed no significant change at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months compared with baseline (P = 0.381 , P = 0.380 , P = 0.281 , and P = 0.534 , respectively). There was no correlation between cone density and cumulative dose of HCQ at two years (Spearman's correlation coefficient, r = −0.0553, P = 0.780 ; n = 29). Conclusion. AO showed no change in cone density in the first two years of HCQ use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the progress of deep learning techniques, people tracking using video cameras became easy and accurate. However, privacy and security issues are not enough to be concerned with vision‐based monitoring. People may not be tolerated surveillance cameras installed everywhere in our daily life. A camera‐based system may not work robustly in unusual situations such as smoke, fogs, or darkness. To cope with these problems, we propose a two‐dimensional (2D) LiDAR‐based people tracking technique based on clustering algorithms. A LiDAR sensor is a prominent approach for tracking people without disclosing their identity, even under challenging conditions. For tracking people, we propose modified density‐based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) and ordering points to identify cluster structure (OPTICS) algorithms for clustering 2D LiDAR data. We have confirmed that our approach significantly improves the accuracy and robustness of people tracking through the experiments. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GroundBIRD is a ground-based experiment for a precise observation of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarizations. To achieve high sensitivity at large angular scales, we adopt three features in this experiment: fast rotation scanning, microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKID), and cold optics. The rotation scanning strategy has the advantage to suppress 1/f noise. It also provides a large sky coverage of 40%, which corresponds to the large angular scales of l ∼ 6 . This allows us to constrain the tensor-to-scalar ratio by using low l B-mode spectrum. The focal plane consists of 7 MKID arrays for two target frequencies, 145 GHz and 220 GHz band. There are 161 pixels in total, of which 138 are for 145 GHz and 23 are for 220 GHz. This array is currently under development, and the prototype will soon be evaluated in telescope. The GroundBIRD telescope will observe the CMB at the Teide observatory. The telescope was moved from Japan to Tenerife and is now under test. We present the status and plan of the GroundBIRD experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many students majoring in science may not have a chance to directly observe spherical aberration or understand its mechanism during their study of optics. In this paper, the author reports a method of directly observing spherical aberration under a microscope by comparing focal spot images of spherical mirrors and parabolic mirrors made of celluloid concave micromirrors, fabricated by Suzuki's universal microprinting method, invented in Japan in 1930. The application of concave micromirrors to the optical-axis alignment of a microscope light source is also explained. Furthermore, the application of concave micromirrors to a substrate of micro-watch glass, used in microorganism microscopy, is also explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total scattering measurements enable understanding of the structural disorder in crystalline materials by Fourier transformation of the total structure factor, S(Q), where Q is the magnitude of the scattering vector. In this work, the direct calculation of total scattering from a crystalline structural model is proposed. To calculate the total scattering intensity, a suitable Q‐broadening function for the diffraction profile is needed because the intensity and the width depend on the optical parameters of the diffraction apparatus, such as the X‐ray energy resolution and divergence, and the intrinsic parameters. X‐ray total scattering measurements for CeO2 powder were performed at beamline BL04B2 of the SPring‐8 synchrotron radiation facility in Japan for comparison with the calculated S(Q) under various optical conditions. The evaluated Q‐broadening function was comparable to the full width at half‐maximum of the Bragg peaks in the experimental total scattering pattern. The proposed calculation method correctly accounts for parameters with Q dependence such as the atomic form factor and resolution function, enables estimation of the total scattering factor, and facilitates determination of the reduced pair distribution function for both crystalline and amorphous materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method to fabricate undulator magnets of a‐few‐millimetre‐period length is being explored. Plate‐type magnets, 100 mm‐long with 4 mm‐period length, have been successfully fabricated. They produce an undulator field of approximately 3 kG at a gap of 1.6 mm. Prototype undulators based on this technology have been constructed. Field measurements and characterization show that the quality of the undulator field of these plate magnets is sufficient for an undulator light source, and the calculated spectrum shows that the fundamental radiation emitted from this field is quite satisfactory. Test experiments for light generation using a real electron beam have been carried out at a test accelerator at the Research Center for Electron Photon Science (ELPH), Tohoku University, Japan, which is able to realize optics conditions to accept a very short gap of ∼1.6 mm. First observation and characterization of blue light was successfully accomplished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon contamination of optics is a serious issue in all soft X-ray beamlines because it decreases the quality of experimental data, such as near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure, resonant photoemission and resonant soft X-ray emission spectra in the carbon K-edge region. Here an in situ method involving the use of oxygen activated by zeroth-order synchrotron radiation was used to clean the optics in a vacuum ultraviolet and soft X-ray undulator beamline, BL-13A at the Photon Factory in Tsukuba, Japan. The carbon contamination of the optics was removed by exposing them to oxygen at a pressure of 10−1-10−4 Pa for 17-20 h and simultaneously irradiating them with zeroth-order synchrotron radiation. After the cleaning, the decrease in the photon intensity in the carbon K-edge region reduced to 2-5%. The base pressure of the beamline recovered to 10−7-10−8 Pa in one day without baking. The beamline can be used without additional commissioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a correction procedure for light refraction effects at a two-medium boundary, based on the stereo view of underwater objects, to estimate underwater topography using photogrammetry. Because theoretically, no solution exists for photogrammetrically observed positions when the incident angles of light rays from an underwater object of interest to two cameras are different; approximation in solving the positions is needed. We show the feasibility of the approximation theoretically by examining the horizontal differences between the observed and true positions when objects are in line along an airplane track or when the incident angles are identical. We applied the procedure to bathymetric mapping of Shiraho Reef, southwest Japan, using a stereo-pair of aerial photographs. Comparison of the corrected depths with measured depths at 658 points showed a mean error and standard deviation of -0.06 m and 0.36 m, respectively, for measured depth range of -3.4 m to -0.2 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of a joint project to identify the origin of a discrepancy between the value of the Si lattice-parameter obtained by the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica and that obtained by the National Metrology Institute of Japan. The re-evaluation of diffraction in the laser interferometry indicates that misalignment of the interfering beams could account for the observed difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using an immersive VR system (the “CAVE”), we investigated the sensitivity and threshold of depth order judgment in the central visual field by subjects placed in a visual environment that simulated optical flow, producing vection in a wide-area visual field (front, floor, and both sides) associated with forward movement inside an endless toroidal tunnel. Experiments showed that when an optical flow is produced in the wide-area visual field, the sensitivity and threshold of depth judgment exhibit a systematic change that depends on the direction of rotation. Possible explanations of this result are the use of an implicit reference plane by the subject, and change of body sensation in response to the peripheral visual field information. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(8): 107–116, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.20021 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past 10 years Nitzschia sigmoidea (Nitzsch) W. Sm. has begun to occur in Japanese rivers in various areas. It is a common diatom in Europe but was previously absent in Japan. Each chloroplast of N. sigmoidea contains many unusual linear-oblong structures. The internal structure of the chloroplast in this species was observed using epifluorescence and electron microscopy with immunolocalization techniques. The linear-oblong structures in the chloroplasts could hardly be observed by conventional light microscopy of living cells, but were obvious in cells stained with propionocarmine. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the cross sections of this structure were lanceolate to fusiform with penetration by a single thylakoid. In cells stained with DAPI, chloroplast DNA was detected along both sides of the linear-oblong structures, and DNA fibrils were detected by electron microscopy. Immunofluorescence microscopy of sectioned cells and also immunoelectron microscopy revealed specific localization of Rubisco between these DNA-containing areas, which divided at the same time as the chloroplast. Our observations confirmed that the linear-oblong structures are pyrenoids. The diversity of localization patterns of chloroplast DNA in diatoms is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enable face-to-face communication between remote users, we developed a prototype system that projects real-time realistic images of human figures into a virtual space. Since real-time responsiveness, in particular, is required for this kind of use, the prototype equipment has the following special features. First, it uses a simple technique that extracts images captured by multiple cameras and projects them onto a plane located in the virtual space. Since the geometric shape of the human figure need not be obtained when using this technique, the required computing power is extremely small. The generated image error becomes large if the subject is not in the vicinity of the virtual plane. We formulated this by defining a fixed range within which the subject should exist as the “equivalent depth of field.” Also, among the video signals obtained by the multiple cameras, the implemented system selects only the ones required for image generation and enters them into the computer in terms of scan line units. By selectively discarding information at an early stage in this way, a high-precision image can be generated without degradation even if there are few video-capture boards. These special features enabled us to show the effectiveness of the proposed technique by successfully generating real-time images using a consumer-oriented, low-cost personal computer. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 34(11): 91–100, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.1216 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explains the principle of near field optics and lists the problem of high density optical memory for which a storage density of 1 Tbit/inch2 is expected as an application. Furthermore, the possibility of tracking avoidance is introduced in storage and read out, especially the latter, by using a planar probe array. The present status of probe array fabrication discussed. © 1998 Scripta Technica, Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 81(8): 41–48, 1998 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An asymptotic analysis is discussed for the radiating field when a whispering gallery (WG) mode is radiated from the edge aperture plane of a cylindrical concave conducting boundary and is propagated as a beam. The integral representing the radiation field derived by the method similar to the one used in the problem of diffraction of a plane wave from a semiinfinite conducting plane is evaluated by means of the saddle point method taking into account the existence of the poles and the residue theorem. An asymptotic representation for the beam wave is a combination of the geometric optical ray and the edge diffracted ray. The phenomenon of the radiation of a geometric optical ray from the edge aperture and the phenomenon of diffraction of the modal ray at the terminating edge are clarified. The asymptotic solutions applicable in the shadow boundary, reflection boundary, and the nearby transition region caused by the incidence of the modal ray onto the edge are compared with those obtained by the Fresnel-Kirchhoff formula so that the effectiveness of the asymptotic expression is determined. Also, it is demonstrated numerically that the radiation field expression based on the diffraction coefficients by the GTD cannot provide good results in the transition region. Further, propagation phenomena of beam fields are clarified from numerical results and the geometrical picture obtained from the ray tracing technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An optical digital cross-connect system (DCS) comprised of both photonic switching networks and electric DCSs is proposed for applications in network-failure restorations. Optical DCSs exhibit excellent characteristics in restorations of multiple failures and when compared against their electrical counterparts, size-reduced apparatus can be expected. The design of DCSs for applications in metropolitan-area networks are investigated and it is shown that such DCSs can be realized using LiNbO3 photonic switch matrices together with traveling wave optical amplifiers (TWA). With respect to the problem arising from the polarization dependency of TWA gain, it was solved using the output power controller (APC) which is shown theoretically to cause no difficulty in the noise characteristics. The optical DCS is designed and manufactured using LiNbO3 switch matrices and TWA, by which its basic operation properties are verified. Using this trial system, it is confirmed that the network failures can be restored by changing the optical routes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a meeting titled "2012 Spring Meeting" of the Japan Society of Applied Physics (JSAP), that was held on March, 15-18, 2012 in Tokyo. Topics include quantum devices based on silicon and diamond, imaging using the X-ray Berry-phase effect and terahertz near-field microscopy. It also mentions the names of several researchers which include Nobuyuki Matsuda, Takaaki Shimooka and Yoshiki Kohmura.

The last six months have seen a dramatic change in the landscape of neutron scattering. At the end of May, the J-PARC Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility in Japan measured first neutrons on the Noburu beamline. This was closely followed in the UK at the start of August when first neutrons were measured on the Inter instrument at the ISIS Second Target Station. Soon afterwards, ISIS achieved full power running of both neutron targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A test accelerator as coherent terahertz (THz) source project (t-ACTS) has been under development at Tohoku University, in which generation of intense coherent THz radiation from the very short electron bunch less than 100fs will progress. Such short bunch will be utilized to generate broad-band coherent radiation from bending magnets in a ring of which isochronous optics is adapted to preserve the short bunch length. In addition, narrow-band coherent THz radiation from an undulator has been considered. We describe design of the test accelerator and expected performance of undulator radiation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reports that scientists from the University of Tokyo in Japan have developed a document scanner on a sheet of flexible plastic. Description of how the scanner was built; Features and applications of the device.

Introduces the articles featured in the September 2003 issue of "Optical Review," devoted to the Asian Symposium on Biomedical Optics and Photomedicine, held in October 2002, at the University Conference Hall of Hokkaido University in Japan. Organizers and sponsors of the conference; Emergence of optical imaging, optical spectroscopy and photonic approaches as new modalities in the field of medicine and biology.

Introducers the papers presented at the International Conference on Optical Design and Fabrication at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan in November 2000 and published in the July/August 2001 issue of 'Optical Review' journal.