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A web-based Java programming learning assistant system (JPLAS) has been developed for novice students to study Java programming by themselves while enhancing code reading and code writing skills. One type of the implemented exercise problem is code writing problem (CWP), which asks students to create a source code that can pass the given test code. The correctness of this answer code is validated by running them on JUnit. In previous works, a Python-based answer code validation program was implemented to assist teachers. It automatically verifies the source codes from all the students for one test code, and reports the number of passed test cases by each code in the CSV file. While this program plays a crucial role in checking the correctness of code behaviors, it cannot detect code plagiarism that can often happen in programming courses. In this paper, we implement a code plagiarism checking function in the answer code validation program, and present its application results to a Java programming course at Okayama University, Japan. This function first removes the whitespace characters and the comments using the regular expressions. Next, it calculates the Levenshtein distance and similarity score for each pair of source codes from different students in the class. If the score is larger than a given threshold, they are regarded as plagiarism. Finally, it outputs the scores as a CSV file with the student IDs. For evaluations, we applied the proposed function to a total of 877 source codes for 45 CWP assignments submitted from 9 to 39 students and analyzed the results. It was found that (1) CWP assignments asking for shorter source codes generate higher scores than those for longer codes due to the use of test codes, (2) proper thresholds are different by assignments, and (3) some students often copied source codes from certain students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After nearly a decade of rapid development, woody biomass has been widely used in Japan for power generation and heating. However, it has faced bottlenecks in recent years, leading to a decline in its popularity. This study aimed to elucidate the current status of woody biomass utilization in Japan by reviewing relevant research papers on upstream resource supply and downstream case studies in the supply chain. The supply potential of woody biomass estimated by reviewed articles ranges from 1.2 to 5.5 m3/year/ha, yet a significant portion of this potential cannot be exploited. The utilization of government subsidies, mechanization, and aggregated forests can substantially enhance the availability. The utilization of woody biomass has garnered widespread attention from the Japanese government and private enterprises, presenting an economic impact ranging from 66 to 249 million JPY/t, along with a GHG emission reduction spanning from −17.29 to 202.44 kg-CO2eq/GJ. However, balancing cost and scale remains the primary challenge facing woody biomass utilization in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the environmental sustainability of Japan by applying the environmental sustainability gap (ESGAP) framework, which builds on the concepts of strong sustainability, critical natural capital, environmental functions, and science-based reference values. The assessment is carried out using two indices of environmental sustainability (Strong Environmental Sustainability Index (SESI) and Strong Environmental Sustainability Progress Index (SESPI)) that provide a snapshot and a trend perspective on environmental sustainability performance and on progress toward it. The results reveal that Japan has not experienced significant changes in terms of aggregate environmental sustainability throughout the 2011–2017 period, but this is primarily a consequence of the mutually offsetting movements of different indicators. The country performs best for the human health and other welfare indicators, but worst for the sink function indicators such as the per-capita CO2 emissions and the eutrophication of fresh water. The indices also expose the main policy areas that Japan needs to strengthen to improve its environmental performance. They include issues such as tropospheric ozone pollution, which has long been discussed in scientific literature but never been a primal policy focus of the government until very recently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the impact of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear incident on the liquidity of non-US stocks in the Asia-Pacific region, specifically those listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear incident occurred in March 2011, following a severe earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and its consequences have extended beyond the borders of Japan. Our study shows that non-US stocks from Japan are associated with significantly wider spreads and higher price impacts. Additionally, we find a similar negative liquidity effect for energy stocks listed on the NYSE and stocks from neighboring countries such as China and South Korea, primarily due to geographic proximity. However, we do not observe any significant changes in the liquidity of stocks from the remaining Asia-Pacific countries. Furthermore, we examine the duration of this negative shock and observe that the illiquidity of stocks from Japan persists for over three weeks. In contrast, the liquidity of energy stocks and stocks from China and South Korea recovers within one week following the incident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of non‐structural elements (NSEs) in the seismic performance of buildings has been highlighted in past years. Research studies following state‐of‐the‐art methodologies generally find that when the structural collapse is not of significant concern, NSEs tend to dominate the repair costs and financial investment required in a building. This paper examines field observations from interviews and data collected from commercial buildings via structural health monitoring (SHM) following the 2018 Osaka earthquake in Japan. It suggests that fragility functions used in current methodologies for estimating NSE damage may not be entirely representative of the in‐situ reality and possibly underestimate actual damage. Additionally, interviews with building owners/managers indicate that the alarm and financial impact of NSEs was not as critical as anticipated, with much of the observed NSE damage not of serious concern and tolerable in many cases. This article provides discussion and insight into possible causes for these differences before discussing how current methodologies can benefit from these observations. It is believed that many of the fragility functions currently used to estimate NSE damage may not be representative because of differences in installation conditions and loading protocols used in experimental testing, possible interaction with other elements, variability in the quality of workmanship during installation and possible wear, tear and degradation during service. On the other hand, it is seen how SHM data recorded during seismic events may provide valuable data for an alternative means to develop fragility functions. Furthermore, it is seen that when building recovery states (RSs) other than the implicitly assumed 'full recovery' state used in guidelines like FEMA P‐58 are explored, the role of NSEs in direct monetary losses significantly reduces. This coincides with the field observations in Japan regarding the impact of NSEs and supports the recent developments in functional recovery on what building owners and occupants are prepared to tolerate post‐earthquake. It indicates that when discussing the relative importance of different building performance groups, it is vital that the expected RS is also stated, as for most decision‐makers following major events, functionality rather than full recovery remains the primary goal; hence, repairs and proactive measures should bear this in mind for more effective use of resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the jet grouting method has been a significant breakthrough in the field of geotechnical engineering. This construction method was initially developed in Japan in the 1960s and has undergone various improvements to enhance its effectiveness and efficiency. The jet grouting method involves the injection of a cement-based grout material into the ground through a high-pressure jet. It has many excellent features, such as a wide range of applicable soils, high improvement strength, and the ability to construct using small-diameter boreholes. This technique enables the creation of a solid column of grout material that can provide support to unstable soil or rock formations. However, the quality of the improved ground is influenced by various factors, including the quality of the injection flow, the lifting speed, the rotation frequency, and the soil conditions. Over the years, there have been efforts to develop new construction methods that can improve the performance of the jet grouting method. These efforts have led to the development of advanced equipment and techniques that can achieve higher grouting pressures and faster injection rates, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective construction process. In this paper, the history of the development of the jet grouting method will be reviewed, and the basic improvement mechanism of the method and case studies that the authors have worked on will be discussed. Furthermore, the development of new methods and future challenges and prospects for the jet grouting method will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how historical inter-firm syndication networks influence venture capitalists' (VCs) propensity to invest in startups pursuing novel, uncertain technologies, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI). We theorize that VCs' positional attributes within cumulative syndication networks determine their access to external expertise and intelligence that aid AI investment decisions amidst informational opacity. Specifically, reachability to prior AI investors provides referrals and insights transmitted across short network paths to reduce ambiguity. Additionally, VC brokerage between disconnected industry clusters furnishes expansive, non-redundant information that is pivotal for discovering and assessing AI opportunities. Through hypotheses grounded in social network theory, we posit network-based mechanisms that equip VCs to navigate uncertainty when engaging with ambiguous innovations like AI. We test our framework, utilizing comprehensive historical records of global venture capital investments. Analyzing the location information of VC firms in this database, we uncovered a history of 14,751 investments made by Korean and Japanese firms. Using these data, we assembled an imbalanced panel dataset from 1984 to 2022 spanning 230 Korean and 413 Japanese VCs, with 4508 firm-year observations. Negative binomial regression analysis of this dataset reveals how historical relational patterns among venture capital firms foster readiness to evaluate unfamiliar innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a replacement for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) have been widely used and detected in different indoor environments all over the world. This paper comprehensively describes the concentration levels and distribution information of 11 kinds of OPFRs from 33 indoor dust and 10 air environments, from which TBOEP, TCIPP, and TDCIPP were observed to have higher concentrations in indoor environments. The ΣOPFRs displayed higher concentrations in indoor dust than in indoor air due to the higher molecular weight and vapor pressure of ΣOPFRs in building decoration materials, specifically for TCIPP and TDCIPP compounds. Considering that it is inevitable that people will be exposed to these chemicals in the indoor environments in which they work and live, we estimated their potential health risks through three human exposure pathways and found that the ingestion exposure to TBOEP for toddlers in Japan may reach up to 1270.80 ng/kg/day, which comprises a significant pathway compared to dermal contact and indoor air inhalation. Specifically, the combined total exposure to OPFRs by air inhalation, dust ingestion, and dermal contact was generally below the RfD values for both adults and toddlers, with a few notable higher exposures of some typical OPFRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present paper describes two new genera and species of the parasitic copepod family Chondracanthidae Milne Edwards, 1840 based on specimens collected from two species of deep-sea fishes at a depth of 212 m off Suruga Bay, Japan. Avatar nishidaigen. et sp. nov. is described from the host fish Chaunax abei Le Danois, 1978 (Chaunacidae). Kokeshioides surugaensisgen. et sp. nov. is described from the host fish Setarches longimanus (Alcock, 1894) (Setarchidae). Methods: Fresh specimens of chondracanthids were collected from the buccal cavity of two species of deep-sea fishes (fish hosts were frozen), Chaunax abei Le Danois, 1978 (Lophiiformes: Chaunacidae) and Setarches longimanus (Alcock, 1894) (Perciformes: Setarchidae), caught at a depth of 212 m in Suruga Bay, Japan (34° 37′48.87″ N, 138° 43′2.958″ E). Both the species are described and illustrated based on ovigerous females. Results: The genus Avatargen. nov. can readily be distinguished from all other chondracanthid genera by the following combination of features: cephalothorax slightly wider than long with anterior pair of large and posterior pair of small lateral lobes, and two pairs of ventro-lateral processes; the very posteriormost part of the first pedigerous somite contributes to the neck; cylindrical trunk with two pairs of blunt proximal fusiform processes; antennule with small knob terminally; antenna bearing distal endopodal segment; labrum protruding ventrally; two pairs of biramous legs each with 2-segmented rami. Kokeshioidesgen. nov. has the following combinations of features that distinguish it from other chondracanthid genera: body flattened, without lateral processes; cephalothorax much wider than long, with paired anterolateral and posterolateral lobes, folded ventrally; the very posteriormost part of the first pedigerous somite contributes to the neck; mandible elongate; legs unique, heavily sclerotized, represented by two pairs of acutely pointed processes. Conclusion: With the addition of two new genera presently reported, the family Chondracanthidae currently includes 52 valid genera. Among the described genera Avatargen. nov. seems to be very primitive, while Kokeshioidesgen. nov. is highly advanced. The deduced evolutionary history of chondracanthid genera is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen energy technologies are envisioned to play a critical supporting role in global decarbonisation. While low-carbon hydrogen is primarily targeted for reducing industrial emissions, alongside decarbonising parts of the transport sector, environmental benefits could also be achieved in the residential context. Presently, gas-dependent countries such as Japan and the United Kingdom are assessing the feasibility of deploying hydrogen home appliances, as part of their national energy strategies. However, prospects for the transition will hinge on consumer acceptance, alongside an array of other socio-technical factors. To support potential ambitions for large-scale and sustained technology diffusion, this study advances a Unified Theory of Domestic Hydrogen Acceptance. Through an integrative, comparative literature review targeting hydrogen and domestic energy studies, the paper proposes a novel Domestic Hydrogen Acceptance Model (DHAM), which accounts for the cognitive and emotional dimensions of human perceptions. Through this dual interplay, the proposed framework can increase the predictive power of hydrogen acceptance models. [Display omitted] • A unified theory of domestic hydrogen acceptance is proposed. • Researchers should integrate multiple acceptance constructs into survey studies. • Comprehensive perceived risks, costs, and benefits predict attitudes toward hydrogen. • Cognitive and emotional processes influence perceptions of hydrogen homes. • Community-level factors should be incorporated into hydrogen acceptance research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River water-level prediction is crucial for mitigating flood damage caused by torrential rainfall. In this paper, we attempt to predict river water levels using a deep learning model based on radar rainfall data instead of data from upstream hydrological stations. A prediction model incorporating a two-dimensional convolutional neural network (2D-CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) is constructed to exploit geographical and temporal features of radar rainfall data, and a transfer learning method using a newly defined flow–distance matrix is presented. The results of our evaluation of the Oyodo River basin in Japan show that the presented transfer learning model using radar rainfall instead of upstream measurements has a good prediction accuracy in the case of torrential rain, with a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) value of 0.86 and a Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) of 0.83 for 6-h-ahead forecast for the top-four peak water-level height cases, which is comparable to the conventional model using upstream measurements (NSE = 0.84 and KGE = 0.83). It is also confirmed that the transfer learning model maintains its performance even when the amount of training data for the prediction site is reduced; values of NSE = 0.82 and KGE = 0.82 were achieved when reducing the training torrential-rain-period data from 12 to 3 periods (with 105 periods of data from other rivers for transfer learning). The results demonstrate that radar rainfall data and a few torrential rain measurements at the prediction location potentially enable us to predict river water levels even if hydrological stations have not been installed at the prediction location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to classify the types of stress experienced by women undergoing infertility treatment in Japan and to clarify the causes of such stress. To achieve this, tweets posted by infertility patients were used to identify the causes of stress through a learning model, followed by dependency analysis. A system is proposed to extract causal relations using dependency analysis, where the dependents are the causes and the leaders are the effects. The study focuses on the stress experienced by infertility patients and limits the analysis to "family issues" and "work." Consequently, the incentives for the causes were clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While research has explored the risk of periodontal disease in various eye conditions, the link between dry eye and periodontal disease remains underexplored, especially in Japanese adults. This study aims to investigate the association between dry eye and periodontal disease in community-dwelling Japanese adults. Methods: This study is a subset of the Uonuma cohort study, which includes Japanese adults aged 40 years and older residing in the Uonuma area of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Participants completed a self-administered, paper-based questionnaire. Statistical analyses, including the chi-square test, independent t test, ANOVA test, and logistic regressions, were employed to assess the association of periodontal disease with independent variables. Results: Among 36,488 participants (average age 63.3 years, 47.4% men), 39.3% had a history of periodontal disease, and gender differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Significant associations were found between periodontal disease and dry eye diagnosis or symptoms. Univariable logistic regression revealed links between periodontal disease and age, gender, living status, alcohol consumption, remaining teeth, bite molar availability, and history of dry eye disease or symptoms. Multiple-adjusted regression found that doctor-diagnosed dry eye was associated with a higher likelihood of periodontal disease (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.22). Participants who never experienced dryness or foreign body sensation had lower ORs of periodontal disease than those who always experienced such symptoms across all models. Conclusion: A significant correlation was found between dry eye and periodontal disease in Japanese adults. Regular check-ups, early detection, and effective management of both conditions are strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to reinterpret asylum theory (1954) propounded by Ortwin Henssler (1923–2017) as a free-space theory of education, as a way of grasping the problematic nature of 'pedagogical protection.' The theoretical potential of Henssler's thought has been more appreciated, accepted, and developed in Japan than in his native Germany. First, I outline Henssler's theory of asylum and show how his theory has been received and developed in Japan, especially in the fields of historical researches. Secondly, I discuss the possibility of reading Henssler's thought of asylum as a theory of 'pedagogical protection.' Thirdly, I consider whether it is possible to interpret 'free space' in education based on the model of asylum. Finally, I delineate some prospects for and challenges involved in connecting the theory of asylum to the theory of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-band radar observations with a transmitting frequency of 9.4 GHz were conducted for over 10 h at the mouth of Tenryu River, Japan, to estimate surface velocity distributions during floods in 2010 and 2020 and analyse changes in the flow field caused by dredging in 2014. X-band radar is an imaging radar that can collect backscatter of floating objects flowing downstream with the flood flow every 2 s. The observation area extends approximately 1000 m × 1000 m. Particle image velocimetry is applied to the image sequences to guess the surface flow pattern. Flow direction in the main river channel changed smoothly, while surface flow speeds ranged from 1 to 3 m s–1 depending on the discharge. Water levels were computed using the estimated surface flow velocities, river cross-section from survey data, and observed discharge for indirect validation: it agreed within an error of 0.3 m with the observed water level. This paper highlights radar's potential for estimating surface velocity distribution during floods and harsh weather conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insulating gas and contacts in the arc extinguishing chamber of high‐voltage circuit breakers are the focus of research. In practical applications, the gas may react with the surface of the contacts. In this paper, C5F10O environmental friendly insulating gas, which has one of the potential alternatives, is selected as the research object. The compatibility of C5F10O and its decomposition products with CuW contacts was studied. This article uses the Dmol3 program based on density functional theory. The adsorption energy, transfer charge, and density of electronic states of C5F10O and selected typical decomposition products on the Cu (111) surface and Cu‐W surface were calculated, respectively. It was found that the original CuW metal properties were not changed before and after adsorption. The carbonyl O atom in C5F10O is easily adsorbed on the top of the Cu (111) surface, forming a stable CuO bond, which belongs to chemical adsorption. The interaction of the other three adsorption sites is weaker than that of the top site adsorption, which belongs to physical adsorption. C5F10O exhibits more active charge transfer and forms active W‐O chemical bonds when adsorbed on CuW surfaces than SF6. C5F10O has poorer compatibility with CuW alloy than SF6. C2F4 and C3F6 in the decomposition gas are chemically adsorbed on the Cu‐W surface. CO2, CF4, C2F6, and C3F8 do not form chemical bonds on the CuW surface. The adsorption stability of COF2 is weaker than that of CF4, C2F6, and C3F8. Compared with SF6 adsorption, the compatibility of C5F10O and CO2 on the surface of CuW contact is inferior to that of Cu contact. CF4, C2F6, C3F8, and COF2 in the decomposition gas can be compatible with the surface of the CuW contact. C2F4 and C3F6 cannot be well compatible with the surface of CuW contacts. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a control method for step voltage regulators (SVRs) to avoid voltage violations in distribution systems with unbalanced voltages due to photovoltaic (PV) generation and electric vehicle (EV) charging. Distribution system operators must effectively address voltage problems resulting from the widespread installation of distributed energy resources under the optimizing the utilization of existing voltage regulators to establish an efficient and rational infrastructure. Therefore, this study focused on advancements in voltage control using SVR based on line‐drop compensator (LDC) control, which is widely used in actual operations. We propose a method that utilizes voltage data from information technology switches to detect and address voltage unbalances in the control section, allowing for the sequential adjustment of the monitoring target in LDC control to maintain appropriate voltage limits under unbalanced conditions. We conducted power flow calculations using a distribution system model that represents an actual distribution system in the Hokuriku area. The effectiveness of the proposed method was evaluated in terms of its impact on PV and EV hosting capacity, as well as the frequency of tap operations. © 2023 The Authors. IEEJ Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Engineering published by Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eccentric harmonic magnetic gear (EHMG) has the characteristics of high torque density, high transmission ratio and high efficiency. The EHMG with Halbach array has better performance than the EHMG with traditional radial magnetization. Accurate calculation of its air‐gap magnetic field is of great significance for design and optimization. Based on the boundary perturbation method, a 2D analytical model of the air‐gap magnetic field of EHMG with Halbach array is established in this paper. The eccentric air‐gap magnetic field is calculated due to the permanent magnets of the eccentric rotor and the stator acting alone, and then the air‐gap magnetic field of the EHMG is obtained according to the superposition principle. The results of the air‐gap magnetic field are compared and evaluated by the regression evaluation indexes. The analytical results are consistent with the finite element results, which verifies the validity and accuracy of the analytical model. Comparing the EHMG with Halbach array and radial magnetization, the maximum static and dynamic electromagnetic torques of EHMG with Halbach array are increased by 59.1% and 55.6% compared with the EHMG with radial magnetization, which verifies the superior performance of EHMG with Halbach array. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequency‐domain electromagnetic (FDEM) instruments are effective tools for detecting underground electrical abnormal targets. However, due to the influence of various noises in the detection process, would lead to l poor signal‐to‐noise ratio of the system and would ultimately affect the detection accuracy. And FDEM detection systems have a defined measuring range. Excessive noise will lead to saturation of the system acquisition and distortion of the measurement. Because of the above problems, an acquisition technique for the FDEM receiving system is proposed to achieve noise suppression in the detection process. The scheme proposes a multi‐frequency LC filtering circuit to optimize the analog signal acquisition module of the receiver system. The circuit converts the measured voltage signal into a current signal, improving the system's immunity to interference. At the same time, the noise of non‐target frequencies in the measured signal is suppressed, avoiding saturation of the receiving system acquisition, and realizing high signal‐to‐noise acquisition of multiple target frequencies. First, the principle of circuit design is analyzed, and the design flow of circuit parameters is proposed. Further, the validity of the design is verified via simulation results. Finally, the optimization scheme is validated with an actual circuit. The results show that for the measurement environment set in this paper, this optimization scheme can suppress the noise of non‐target frequency in the measured signal, so that the noise amplitude can be reduced by more than 90%, and the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the filtered signal can be improved by 23.35 dB. This study helps to facilitate FDEM instruments to achieve high signal‐to‐noise ratio detection. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important for university students studying elementary music education to master basic conducting gestures. We have developed a VR training system for self‐study of Saito's music conducting method. The system uses a depth camera and magnetic motion capture system to measure hand movements, and an HMD to superimpose the teacher's hand on the trainee's own hand. With the system, trainee can self‐study while visually and three‐dimensionally checking the motion and timing of the teacher's and the trainee's own hand gestures. In this paper, we describe an evaluation experiment with our system. The results showed that the VR environment is effective for learning three‐dimensional movements, and that the addition of a visual line display function for trajectories, a function to display trajectories from different viewpoints, and a replay function improves the learning effect. Specifically, the results of a short training session of 5 min revealed that the developed system was effective in bringing 75% of the trainees closer to the teacher's gesture. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an energy management strategy (EMS) based on double‐deep Q‐Networks (DDQN) with demand torque prediction (DTP) to optimize the fuel consumption of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) by online utilizing vehicle‐to‐vehicle (V2V) information. The main framework of the EMS is designed as DDQN, combining Q‐learning with the deep neural network to realize real‐time training and online optimization of the torque distribution between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and given that the model training easily falls into local minima and overestimation, two different Q‐networks are designed to decouple action selection and target evaluation. Meanwhile, BP‐network predicts future demand torque using the ego vehicle speed, front vehicle speed, and distance between the two vehicles to reduce the burden of model training due to the introduction of traffic information. The predicted demand torque is introduced into the DDQN‐based EMS as states, together with the distance traveled in the driving cycle and the current information on HEV. The effectiveness and adaptability to actual driving cycles of the proposed strategy are verified by comparison with DDQN‐based EMS without DTP and rule‐based EMS. The results show that the fuel consumption using DDQN‐based EMS without DTP is reduced by 4.1% compared with rule‐based EMS. The introduction of demand torque prediction resulted in a further 3.9% reduction in fuel consumption. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the results of a survey we conducted on the Japanese public's attitudes toward astronomy. This survey was conducted via an online questionnaire, with 2000 responses received. Based on these data, we present what kind of interest the general public in Japan has in astronomy. We also conducted a questionnaire survey of those involved in communicating astronomy to the public, in order to examine how they differ from the general public. The results suggest that while there are clear differences between these groups in terms of their engagement in astronomy, there is also continuity between them when looking at their attributes in more detail. The data presented in this paper could help us to promote the communication of astronomy to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on migrants' experiences of moving house in the country of settlement, the study explores the housing pathways of Russian-speaking migrants in Japan over their life courses. This paper emphasizes the need for the anthropology of migration to consider not only the housing events but also the housing pathways experienced by cross-border migrants in receiving countries. It is argued that the act of moving from one accommodation to another plays a crucial role in how migrants develop their biographies and perceptions of self. In addition to investigating house relocation, the study borrows from the Russian formalist school of narratology to examine how migrants narrativize their experiences in stories that intertwine housing pathways and movers' identities. The study reveals how the instances of moving—and not necessarily the physical qualities of housing—emerge as dynamic forces that initiate migrants into their desired statuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fukushima power station in Japan was affected by a major earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, inspecting the primary containment vessel remains difficult due to high radioactivity. Long-reach robot arms are useful in inspecting such hazardous environments, and a coupled tendon-driven mechanism enables realizing a long, light-weight, and thin manipulator. However, high elastic elongation of tendons due to gravity may lead to unstable joint control. In this paper, we introduce dynamics-based control as a feasible strategy for a long-reach tendon-driven robotic arm. Additionally, a planning method to identify the joint angle path ensuring stability is proposed. Considering stability analysis, the potential due to the tendon elasticity and gravity is evaluated and used as an index of joint stability. The rapidly exploring random tree is used as the planning algorithm. The effectiveness of the proposed method was demonstrated through the successful manipulation of a 5-kg payload by a 10-m long robotic arm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sakurajima Volcano Observatory, with a history exceeding 60 years, is recognized by researchers in Japan and overseas for conducting frontier research centering on Sakurajima, the most active volcano in Japan. It is owned by Kyoto University and represents the university in the surrounding communities. This paper reviews the open-door events, which have been conducted yearly for the last ten years as a part of a university-wide effort by Kyoto University. They make use of the facilities at Sakurajima Volcano Observatory, which aims to enhance the understanding of volcanoes among the general public in collaboration with geo-guides as "boundary workers." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disaster resilience is an interdisciplinary area of study. Collaboration between humanities and sciences is important to approach issues in this area. However, science and engineering consider disaster resilience as minimizing the scientifically estimated damage induced by natural hazards. In contrast, disaster resilience studies in the social sciences tend to focus on societal vulnerability. The views between the two disciplines can lead to inconsistency or contradiction. This paper discussed this issue. To do so, the author uses the case study focusing on the effects of predictions on Nankai Trough Earthquake countermeasures in Kochi City, Japan. First, this study revealed that not only the revision of hazard prediction but the historical background of land use development affected the large-scale earthquake damage estimation in Kochi City. Second, the upward revision of hazard prediction resulted in strengthening of community disaster management. However, it also accelerated residential relocation associated with class disparities. As a result, ironically, marginalized social groups were unevenly located in predicted tsunami inundation areas. However, such issues are not considered in the existing disaster resilience scheme and policy. Based on this analysis, it is argued that communicating scientific knowledge on hazards to society alone is not enough. Considering the local context, the perspective of literacy for disaster resilience from downstream' is also important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to investigate Japanese university students' entrepreneurial development processes using the happenstance learning theory. The current research was an empirical study investigating the role of risk propensity, lifetime employment orientation, and entrepreneurship-related exploratory behaviour in developing the entrepreneurial intention of university students in Japan. Data were collected from 214 undergraduate students in Japan. The results demonstrated that the risk propensity characteristic of students influenced entrepreneurial intentions through entrepreneurship-related exploratory behaviour and lifetime employment orientation. The research also found that leadership experience moderated the relationship between risk propensity and entrepreneurship-related exploratory behaviour and the relationship between entrepreneurship-related exploratory behaviour and entrepreneurial intention. By applying the happenstance learning theory in an entrepreneurship study, the current research provides meaningful insights for research scholars, educators, and policymakers interested in the entrepreneurial intentions of students. This paper concludes with a discussion on the theoretical implications and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SDG target 12.3 calls for halving food waste in retail, food service, and households by 2030. The food waste index developed for this purpose includes parts attached to food that are usually removed intentionally ("unavoidable food waste") and counts conversion into animal feed and utilisation as biomaterial as a means of reduction. In Japan, the "Food Waste Recycling Law", which has been in effect since 2001, promotes the recycling of food waste generated from businesses, designating feed conversion as a top priority. On the other hand, based on the more recent "Food Loss Reduction Promotion Act" of 2019, the government is currently promoting reduction in avoidable food waste to meet the SDG target. Based on statistical sources and interviews with ministry officers, this paper explains the history and achievements of Japan's 23-year policy based on the Food Recycling Law, as well as the tension between the two legislations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major microvascular complication of diabetes, affecting a substantial portion of diabetic patients worldwide. Timely intervention is pivotal in mitigating the risk of blindness associated with DR, yet early detection remains a challenge due to the absence of early symptoms. Screening programs have emerged as a strategy to address this burden, and this paper delves into the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing DR screening in Japan. There are two pathways for DR screening in Japan: a health screening pathway and a clinical referral path from physicians to ophthalmologists. AI technologies that realize automated image classification by applying deep learning are emerging. These technologies have exhibited substantial promise, achieving sensitivity and specificity levels exceeding 90% in prospective studies. Moreover, we introduce the potential of Generative AI and large language models (LLMs) to transform healthcare delivery, particularly in patient engagement, medical records, and decision support. Considering the use of AI in DR screening in Japan, we propose to follow a seven-step framework for systematic screening and emphasize the importance of integrating AI into a well-designed screening program. Automated scoring systems with AI enhance screening quality, but their effectiveness depends on their integration into the broader screening ecosystem. LLMs emerge as an important tool to fill gaps in the screening process, from personalized invitations to reporting results, facilitating a seamless and efficient system. However, it is essential to address concerns surrounding technical accuracy and governance before full-scale integration into the healthcare system. In conclusion, this review highlights the challenges in the current screening pathway and the potential for AI, particularly LLM, to revolutionize DR screening in Japan. The future direction will depend on leadership from ophthalmologists and stakeholders to address long-standing challenges in DR screening so that all people have access to accessible and effective screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: During Japan's initial pandemic prevention and control period, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan (MEXT) issued several notifications to ensure students' continuous learning according to the "leave no one behind" philosophy. This study focused on the comprehensive measures comprising top-level arrangements to implement the "suspending classes without stopping learning" initiative. Design/Approach/Methods: The study reviewed MEXT's guide on ensuring learning for Japanese primary and secondary school students during the pandemic. Findings: The pandemic has accelerated the development of the information and communications technology educational environment and the implementation of the Global and Innovation Gateway for All (GIGA) schools initiative. These developments laid the foundation for the evolution of diverse pedagogical models and feasible methods for promoting equity. The home schooling experience during the pandemic provided a natural base for students to practice and foster survivability. Originality/Value: This paper provides scholars with an understanding of the opportunities and challenges encountered in educational innovation in Japan. It provides insights into the future direction of pedagogical development, capability development, and effective educational arrangements for extraordinary circumstances to facilitate educational development from a broader perspective, particularly under the new normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the international structure of credit and the potential buildup of a single world cycle using quarterly data for 48 economies between 1985 and 2015. For this analysis, we rely on an approximate factor model and on hard and fuzzy clustering methodologies. The results indicate that, for the whole sample, there are three common components to credit, one of these more pervasive and impacting most countries in the sample, particularly developed ones. One major cluster of countries is identified, but without the presence of both Japan and Germany, thus suggesting that a world real credit cycle is not yet formed. However, we found that the composition of this core cluster has been growing over the years, encompassing more countries and establishing a growing dominance over the credit cycles dynamic, opening the possibility for a single world credit cycle in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Japan's discharge of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear disaster into the ocean has attracted widespread attention. To effectively address the challenge of separating uranium, the focus is on finding a healthy and environmentally friendly way to adsorb uranium using biochar. In this paper, a BP neural network is combined with each of the four meta-heuristic algorithms, namely Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Differential Evolution (DE), Cheetah Optimization (CO) and Fick's Law Algorithm (FLA), to construct four prediction models for the uranium adsorption capacity in the treatment of radioactive wastewater with biochar: PSO-BP, DE-BP, CO-BP, FLA-BP. The coefficient of certainty (R2), error rate and CEC test set are used to judge the accuracy of the model based on the BP neural network. The results show that the Fick's Law Algorithm (FLA) has a better search ability and convergence speed than the other algorithms. The importance of the input parameters is quantitatively assessed and ranked using XGBoost in order to analyze which parameters have a greater impact on the predictions of the model, which indicates that the parameters with the greatest impact are the initial concentration of uranium (C0, mg/L) and the mass percentage of total carbon (C, %). To sum up, four prediction models can be applied to study the adsorption of uranium by biochar materials during actual experiments, and the advantage of Fick's Law Algorithm (FLA) is more obvious. The method of model prediction can significantly reduce the radiation risk caused by uranium to human health during the actual experiment and provide some reference for the efficient treatment of uranium wastewater by biochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Education is widely recognized as a key domain for the promotion of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), prompting an increased focus on sustainable development in foreign language education. Despite increased attention, guidelines about SDGs are often primarily policy-based without concrete guidance, and the integration of education for sustainable development (ESD) within higher education curricula has been slow. This paper aims to mitigate this gap by providing an outline for the curriculum development for three elective English courses integrating SDG themes. Design/methodology/approach: The paper begins by introducing the SDGs, ESD and its application to language education. From there, this paper outlines three content and language integrated learning courses that integrate global issues into their curriculum. Finally, there is a discussion and consideration of various factors to consider when implementing global issues into an English language classroom. Findings: Following practical examples of how to integrate global issues into an English language classroom, considerations such as socio-cultural context, teaching context and the expertise of the instructor are discussed. Originality/value: This paper covers a variety of social topics related to sustainable development in addition to the often addressed environmental topics. Many guidelines about integrating SDGs into education are policy-based without concrete guidance, so this paper aims to provide practical examples and considerations.

Purpose: As UN's sustainable development goals (SDGs) are integrated across Asia-Pacific Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), the purpose of this descriptive and exploratory study is to investigate undergraduates' own self-stated commitment to the SDGs and their perceived feasibility by the 2030 target. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-methodology approach covered quantitative and qualitative approaches facilitated by purposive selection of an Asia-Pacific HEI via a Japanese liberal arts college where a questionnaire survey was administered in Autumn 2021. Responses were monitored from freshmen students in twin courses within the same major (introduction to "Environment" and "Development" studies, respectively; "n" = 177) that both integrated SDGs within their respective curricula. Findings: Students in both classes rated the SDGs as a useful learning tool but were sceptical of their feasibility by 2030. A self-stated commitment was high, especially among environment studies students. Multiple regression was run to predict SDGs commitment from gender, major, perceived SDGs' usefulness and feasibility. These variables partially predicted SDGs commitment but only gender and major variables added statistical significance. Moreover, the same variables were less equivocal in terms of predicting the self-stated belief that the SDGs could be achieved by 2030. Practical implications: The findings can inform instructors of students' perceptions towards SDGs. Significant differences raise academic and applied discussion points, such as how to engage male students, for example, by setting up sustainability "business case" practicums. Originality/value: As global HEIs grapple with effective ways to vertically integrate SDGs into a university's curriculum, students' opinions are often underrepresented. This paper's originality and value address these gaps by exploring a holistic student-centric perspective on SDGs in the context of commitment. This paper also has implications for more effective cross-curricula integration of the SDGs.

Inequality and injustice in education have been viewed from the perspective of social justice. Since the emergence of John Rawls's "A Theory of Justice," social justice issues have attracted the attention of social and political philosophers. Theoretical consequences of social and political philosophy have been actively incorporated into the field of education. However, the issue of educational justice remains controversial and requires further philosophical consideration. To further philosophical consideration, this paper explores how the class or the classroom can generate space and time for democracy, by focusing on the educational specificity of the classroom community, which is called 'Gakkyu' in Japanese. Social justice in education is not only a policy issue, but also a practical issue which should be tackled in the classroom. Rethinking the ways of democracy to face conflicts arising due to differences and equality of children in the classroom is an important method of bridging social justice and education. In this paper, the following question will be explored: how classroom democracy can be nurtured and the classroom community transformed into a democratic place where children from various background and experiences gather and learn from each other.

Purpose: This paper aims to discuss the significance of teacher authorship ("jissen kiroku") developed during "jugyo kenkyu." Specifically, it explores the structural conditions of "jugyo kenkyu" that enabled the flourishing of "jissen kiroku." Design/methodology/approach: To find how "jissen kiroku" developed in "jugyo kenkyu," this paper settled triad of authors-text-readers as the analytical perspective. Disputes through 1960s-1980s are adequate to inquire because it can elucidate how readers read "jissen kiroku," which is typically challenging to observe. Findings: "Jissen kiroku" is a powerful tool for semantically preserving, reconstructing and consolidating professional values and knowledge in "jugyo kenkyu" with deepening connoisseurship. Voluntary educational research associations (VERAs) encourage teachers to write and read "jissen kiroku" to develop their professionalism, which also helped develop exclusive semantics within the field. These developments were possible due to the public nature of "jissen kiroku," disseminated to lesson study (LS) actors, thereby strengthening discussions both inside and outside VERAs. Research limitations/implications: The paper proposes shift in views on educational science and emphasizes authorship as authority in that professionalism of teaching can be protected and elevated through authoring. Originality/value: The significant roles of writing practice have not been explored enough. This paper finds the value of authorship in terms of public nature and openness to all teachers which enable the enhancement of professionalism of the LS field.

In 2020, the Japanese government launched the Go To Eat campaign, a policy initiative involving the distribution of vouchers to households for use at restaurants, with the aim of supporting the food service industry, which had experienced a significant decrease in sales due to the government’s ‘self-restraint request’ during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper uses a nonparametric method to investigate the relationship between the Go To Eat campaign and the spread of COVID-19 in Japan by examining food service expenditures, mobility, positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, and the Indices of Industrial Production. The distribution of food service expenditures changed in October and November, when the campaign started, as well as in December, when the campaign ended. In addition, the distribution of mobility changed in January 2021, when a state of emergency was declared. The Go To Eat campaign was economically effective as a temporary subsidy, and it might have facilitated mobility in a way that was difficult to control for some time. As such, the indirect effect of the campaign on the rise in the number of positive PCR tests is undeniable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a substantial rise in life expectancy throughout the last century, society faces the imperative of seeking inventive approaches to foster active aging and provide adequate aging care. The e-VITA initiative, jointly funded by the European Union and Japan, centers on an advanced virtual coaching methodology designed to target essential aspects of promoting active and healthy aging. This paper describes the technical framework underlying the e-VITA virtual coaching system platform and presents preliminary feedback on its use. At its core is the e-VITA Manager, a pivotal component responsible for harmonizing the seamless integration of various specialized devices and modules. These modules include the Dialogue Manager, Data Fusion, and Emotional Detection, each making distinct contributions to enhance the platform's functionalities. The platform's design incorporates a multitude of devices and software components from Europe and Japan, each built upon diverse technologies and standards. This versatile platform facilitates communication and seamless integration among smart devices such as sensors and robots while efficiently managing data to provide comprehensive coaching functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The increasing older population and demographic shifts highlight the need to understand the digital profiles of older adults, a pivotal factor in developing innovative technologies like the e-VITA virtual coach. This personalized coach provides recommendations for sustainable well-being in a smart home environment. (2) Methods: This study focuses on analyzing the characteristics of older individuals categorized as Internet users (onliners) and non-users (offliners). European Social Survey data from 2021 were utilized for European analysis, determining Internet usage based on frequency. Offliners are defined as users who never use the Internet, and onliners as those who use it, albeit with different frequencies. In Japan, data from the 9th International Comparative Survey on the Lives and Attitudes of the Elderly were employed, based on the responses of 1367 subjects, which defined onliners as individuals using communication devices and offliners as those not utilizing fax machines, cell phones, or the Internet. (3) Results: This paper presents a primary analysis of older end-user context and perspectives, outlining effective strategies for the diffusion of an active and healthy aging coaching system in the market and society. (4) Conclusions: the study emphasizes the importance of analyzing digital behavior in any user-centered design approach to ensure the system's acceptance after deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan is one of the countries with the most frequent natural disasters in the world and is faced with various threats of natural disasters every year, which significantly impact Japan's social economy and people's lives. A great deal of information about disasters is preserved in Japanese literature. Interpreting and organizing this information help us to analyze the regularity of disasters and understand the preventive measures of ancient people. This paper aims to organize, analyze and save disaster data by collecting various information about disasters. Then a disaster spatiotemporal database system is constructed by using deep learning, image processing, and database technology. The system consists of two parts, namely, the disaster database and disaster website. The disaster database is the core of the whole system, which saves the disaster data after organizing and summarizing. The database collects disaster information from various sources, including key information such as disaster type, time, location, scale, and scope of impact. The Disaster website is the system's user interface, providing an interactive platform for users to access and use disaster data easily. The website has many functions, including search, visual display, disaster information query, etc. We also make a detailed analysis of the collected data, aiming to predict the causes and occurrence rules of disasters so as to achieve the target of disaster prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrodynamic coupling between the ionospheric E and F regions is widely recognized as the underlying mechanism for generating medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) during nighttime at midlatitudes. Recently, the double-thin-shell approach has proven to be a useful tool for studying the E–F coupling. By using total electron content (TEC) measurements, this approach enables the simultaneous reconstruction of electron density perturbations in both the E and F regions with broad and continuous coverage. However, the current reconstruction performance is limited when using only GPS-TEC measurements from GEONET, a dense network of ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers over Japan. The expansion of available data sources and the integration of multi-GNSS observation data are considered important to enhance the double-thin-shell model. Fortunately, SoftBank Corp., a Japanese telecommunications provider, has recently developed a dense independent GNSS observation network to improve positioning services. In this paper, we analyze the potential of the improved double-thin-shell approach and emphasize the importance of incorporating multi-GNSS observation data from both GEONET and SoftBank networks. The solvability analysis, simulation, and observation results collectively indicate a substantial improvement in the spatiotemporal resolution. Specifically, the longitudinal and latitudinal resolution is improved from 0.15° to 0.1° in the E region, and from 0.5° to 0.3° in the F region. The temporal resolution is also improved from 2 to 1 min. In addition, significant improvements have been achieved in the reconstruction performance, particularly for the E region under complex background conditions. Based on these assessments, we conclude that the incorporation of GEONET and SoftBank GNSS observation data holds significant potential for improving the double-thin-shell model and advancing our understanding of MSTIDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with Gaucher disease (GD), a rare lysosomal storage disorder, have reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL). A patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for HRQOL developed for type 1 GD (GD1) is not appropriate for patients with neuronopathic GD (nGD) types 2 (GD2) and 3 (GD3). In this study, we developed a new PROM for use in all GD types. We previously reported the qualitative analysis of interviews with Japanese patients with nGD, which was used to create nGD-specific PROM items. Here we evaluated the full PROM combining the type 1 questionnaire with the new nGD-specific items. Methods: Patients with confirmed GD were recruited (Association of Gaucher Disease Patients in Japan or leading doctors) for pre-testing (May 2021) or the main survey (October–December 2021). The PROM had three parts: Parts 1 and 2 were translated into Japanese from the pre-existing GD1 PROM, whereas Part 3 was newly developed. Patients (or their caregivers, where necessary) completed the PROM questionnaire on paper and returned it by mail. Mean scores were determined overall and by GD type. Inter-item correlations, content consistency (Cronbach's alpha), and test–retest reliability (Cohen's kappa; main survey only, taken 2 weeks apart) were calculated. Results: Sixteen patients (three with GD1; six with GD2; seven with GD3) and 33 patients (nine with GD1; 13 with GD2; 11 with GD3) participated in the pre-test and main survey, respectively. All GD2 patients and one-third (6/18) of GD3 patients required caregivers to complete the questionnaire. Mean scores indicated that the burden was highest in GD2 and lowest in GD1. In the main survey, internal consistency was high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.898 overall, 0.916 for Part 3), and test–retest reliability was high for Part 3 (kappa > 0.60 for 13/16 items) but low for Part 1 (kappa < 0.60 for 12/15 items). Conclusions: We have developed a flexible and reliable PROM that can be tailored for use in all types of GD and propose using Parts 1 and 2 for GD1, Parts 2 and 3 for GD2, and Parts 1, 2, and 3 for GD3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success or failure of food technologies in society depends to a large extent on the public interest, concerns, images, and expectations surrounding them. This paper delves into the landscape of public attitudes towards gene-edited foods in Japan, exploring the reasons behind the acceptance or rejection of these products. A literature review and preliminary findings from a survey conducted in Japan in 2022, aim to identify key issues crucial for evaluating societal acceptance of gene-edited foods. The study showed that the public view gene-edited foods as somewhat unnatural, but upon closer examination, significant variation in attitudes was observed among respondents. Some respondents expressed a favorable perception towards gene-edited foods, particularly those that benefit consumers, while others expressed concerns about its perceived artificiality. Moreover, a significant number of respondents displayed indifference or lack of clear perspective regarding gene-edited foods. These findings reflect the complex relationship between public attitudes, naturalness, and social acceptance of gene-edited foods. Furthermore, the study indicates the importance of paying close attention to those who refrain from expressing their viewpoints in the survey. This nuanced landscape warrants further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan launched its Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Strategy in 2016 to reinforce the liberal, rulesbased international order regarded as facing global and regional challenges. Japan hoped to attract other states to the FOIP multidimensional platform, including those with limited adherence to freedom and openness. The diffuse nature of the FOIP Vision encompasses diverse issues beyond geopolitical security, spurring doubts of purpose. Does Japan seek minimal status quo order adherence? Is FOIP primarily a values and governance order-enhancing platform, a strategic China-containing construct, or an influence generating counter to Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative? Ultimately, could Japan cultivate a FOIP ecumenical community defending international law and order across the Indo-Pacific? What form of community does Japan envisage creating and sharing with its partners, with strategic or simply communication purposes? This paper addresses these questions, and the degree to which FOIP could realise tangible FOIP benefits for Japan and others, while investigating how "Free and Open" Japan's Vision has appeared during its three major incarnations under Prime Ministers Abe and Kishida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the amount of the photovoltaic (PV) system has been rapidly increasing from the viewpoint of carbon neutral. There are concerns about voltage rises and grid congestion in the electrical distribution network because of large‐scale PV increases. In order to address these issues, we focused on the control of water supply pumps in the water distribution system, which is infrastructure equipment for consumers. By controlling the start/stop of the water pump, it is expected to contribute to the power distribution system by increasing Demand Response (DR) and reduce CO2 emission from the electricity used by the pump. In this paper, with the aim of constructing an optimal operation planning method for water pumps that can evaluate DR and CO2 reduction effects, the optimal operation plan is formulated as a mixed integer linear programming problem. We numerical evaluated impact of water pump operation for CO2 emission and electrical distribution network. © 2023 The Authors. IEEJ Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Engineering published by Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Object tracking tasks often face problems such as illumination and appearance changes due to various scenarios. To effectively solve such problems, single object tracking algorithms in recent years have improved the stability of the tracker by introducing online learning, reducing tracking drift, and tracking objects stably even with large deformations. However, on the one hand, employing online learning increases computation costs, causing the tracker to run slower. On the other hand, because it learns from the tracking results, the tracking template will only be correctly updated if the object is accurately tracked. Any incorrect update will result in tracking failure. In this paper, we propose a filtering algorithm for online learning sample processing in object tracking to remedy these issues. Our method can select valid training samples and discard unnecessary training samples in object tracking. Numerous experiments demonstrate that our algorithm improves the tracking accuracy, reduces the computation complexity, and improves the running speed and run‐time. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cogging torque can affect the performance of permanent magnet (PM) homopolar inductor machines (HIMs). In order to find the reduction methods of the PM HIM cogging torque, it is necessary to investigate its production mechanism and analytical model. In this paper, the production mechanism of the PM HIM cogging torque is revealed from the perspective of air‐gap field modulation principle. It is found that the air‐gap permeance of PM HIMs can modulate their air‐gap magneto‐motive force (MMF) and then a large number of modulated air‐gap magnetic fields are generated. These magnetic fields with identical production condition but different rotation speeds or rotation directions can interact with each other, hence the production of the PM HIM cogging torque. By the combination of energy method and air‐gap field modulation principle, the cogging torque analytical model of PM HIMs is derived. Based on the obtained analytical model, the methods for reducing the PM HIM cogging torque are further analyzed. Finally, a 48‐slot/4‐pole (48S4P) PM HIM is designed and exampled. The air‐gap flux density of the 48S4P PM HIM is simulated by three‐dimensional (3‐D) finite element analysis (FEA). Based on the harmonic analysis for the simulated results, the correctness of the proposed cogging torque production mechanism is validated. In addition, a prototype of the 48S4P PM HIM is manufactured. The cogging torque in the prototype is obtained by the analytical model, 3‐D FEA and experiments, respectively. The simulation and measurement results verify the correctness of the cogging torque analytical model. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns the bipartite consensus problems of directed cooperative and antagonistic networks (CANs) with time‐varying communication delays. A distributed control protocol is proposed based on the nearest neighbor rule. In order to derive the convergence analysis of the proposed protocol, a model transformation is introduced, based on which the consensus can be equivalently transformed into the asymptotic stability of a reduced‐order system. Besides, the sufficient conditions are provided to ensure the bipartite consensus (respectively, state stability) of CANs whose topologies are structurally balanced (respectively, unbalanced). In addition, numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of our developed results. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to decrease the reradiation interference (RRI) of power transmission lines, aiming at the defects that the existing RRI suppression methods cannot be applied to the constructed power transmission lines, and cannot suppress all the RRI extreme values in the frequency band, this paper innovatively proposes a RRI suppression method based on characteristic mode (CM) theory. Firstly, we briefly introduce the CM theory and decompose the total scattering field into the superposition of the characteristic electric fields; secondly, the influence of inductance and capacitance characteristics of the reactive loads on radiation behavior of the CMs is analyzed, and the ideal position for reactive loading is also discussed to reduce the contribution of CM to the total RRI; finally, a simulation experiment is carried out in AM broadcasting band, and the modal weighting coefficients of main CMs affecting the RRI is greatly reduced in the frequency band by reactive loading. Simulation results show that compared with the existing method, the proposed method can reduce the peak value of RRI by 43.9% and the overall RRI by 29.7%. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]