Bilateral stimulus presentation in memory scanning.

24 18–40 yr olds performed a memory-scanning task (S. Sternberg, 1966, 1969) in which probe letters were displayed unilaterally or bilaterally after sets of 2, 4, or 6 letters were memorized. The mean response time (RT) to bilateral presentations was significantly longer than the mean RT to unilateral presentations, but the slope of the set-size function was not affected, suggesting that presenting stimuli bilaterally affected stages other than memory scanning. There were no significant visual-field effects in either the bilateral or unilateral conditions, suggesting that memory scanning is not a lateralized process. There was no evidence that bilateral presentation increased visual-field differences. This is not consistent with D. B. Boles' (1983, 1990) hypothesis that visual-field asymmetry effects are more pronounced with bilateral than with unilateral presentation of stimuli. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dependence of the efficiency-bandwidth product on electrical volumeof small dielectric loaded antennas

The efficiency fractional efficiency bandwidth product (EB) that is expressed as a ratio of the radiation resistance to the absolute value of an input reactance of an antenna is used as a performance measure for small dielectric-loaded monopole antennas (DLMAs). The dependence of the efficiency bandwidth (EB) on the permittivity of the dielectric loading (i.e., the electrical volume) is experimentally investigated for the first time after we succeeded in measuring the small radiation resistance of the DLMAs precisely on the basis of the Wheeler cap method. As a result, it was found that the EBs of some DLMAs were enhanced over a bare monopole antenna and an EB characteristic curve has a maximum point. This result suggests the presence of the optimum electrical volume for the dielectric loading in order to obtain the best EB performance. A calculation by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method was also conducted to confirm the presence of the maximum EB value under a certain condition. A general reason for the existence of the peak value is also explained using a mathematical deduction     

Performance of compression/absorption hybrid refrigeration cycle with propane/mineral oil combination

This paper discusses the feasibility of a vapor compression/absorption hybrid refrigeration cycle for energy saving and utilization of waste heat. The cycle employs propane as a natural refrigerant and a refrigeration oil as an absorbent. A prototype of the cycle is constructed, in which a compressor and an absorption unit are combined in series. The performance of the cycle is examined both theoretically and experimentally. Although the solubility of the propane with the oil is not enough as a working pair in the absorption unit, the theoretical calculation shows that the hybrid cycle has a potential to achieve a higher performance in comparison with a simple vapor compression cycle by using the waste heat. In the experiment, the prototype cycle is operated successfully and it is found that an improvement of an absorber is necessary to achieve the good performance close to the theoretical one. The application of an AHE (absorber heat exchanger) can reduce the heat input to a generator. Further examinations on some other combinations of refrigerant/refrigeration oil and additives are desirable.     

A novel method of suppressing the inrush current of transformers by using a series‐connected voltage‐source PWM converter

This paper proposes a novel method of suppressing the inrush current of transformers. A small‐rated voltage‐source PWM converter is connected in series to the transformers through a matching transformer. As the connected PWM converter serves as a resistor for the source current, no inrush phenomena occurs. The required rating of the PWM converter, which serves as the damping resistor for the inrush phenomena, is 1/400 that of the main transformers in single‐phase circuits. In three‐phase circuits, it is 1/900. The basic principle of the proposed method is discussed. Digital computer simulation is implemented to confirm the validity and excellent practicability of the proposed method using the PSCAD/EMTDC. A prototype experimental model is constructed and tested. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can perfectly suppress the inrush phenomena. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 157(4): 56–65, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20174     

Interconnected power systems with superconducting magnetic energy storage

The objective of this work is to discuss the concept of back‐to‐back interconnection systems with energy storage, especially with a Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) incorporated into a back‐to‐back DC link. In this case, each converter of the back‐to‐back system is used as a power conditioning system for the SMES coils. Since the AC–DC converter can be designed independently of the frequency of the power system, a two‐way switch is connected to the AC side of each converter. This two‐way switch can select the interconnected power systems. By using the two‐way switches, this system can provide the stored energy in the SMES system to each interconnected power system through two AC–DC converters. For instance, lower‐cost power of each power network can be stored through two converters during the off‐peak hours and made available for dispatch to each power network during periods of demand peak. Then this system increases the reliability of electric power networks and enables the economical operations depending on the power demand. This paper describes the unique operations of the back‐to‐back interconnection with SMES and discuses the optimal SMES configuration for a 300‐MW‐class back‐to‐back interconnection. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 164(2): 37–43, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20482     

The Strategic Control of Multiple Routes in Imitation of Actions.

The aim of this study was to bring to the surface the strategic use of imitative processes in the context of a 2-route model: (a) direct imitation, used in reproducing new, meaningless actions, and (b) imitation based on stored semantic knowledge of familiar meaningful actions. Three experiments were carried out with healthy participants who reproduced meaningful and meaningless actions within an established time limit. The study investigated 3 factors that could potentially affect the selection of processes used for imitation: (a) the composition of the experimental list (blocked or mixed presentation), (b) the presence-absence of instructions (Experiments 1 and 2), and (c) the relative proportions of the stimuli (Experiment 3). Overall, the results suggest that each of these factors influences the selection of imitative strategies in healthy individuals with temporarily reduced capacities, as happens in the case of brain-damaged patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sintering of fibrous barium titanate powder compacts with preferred orientation

The sintering of fibrous BaTiO₃ powder particles was investigated. Special emphasis was given to the role of particle orientation in the compact on densification and microstructure development. Compacts were made by dry-pressing. During the initial stage of sintering, the fibrous particles rearranged and bundles of particles were formed. The volume of pores between bundles of particles decreased on further heating. Grain growth started when the sintered density reached ca. 56% of the theoretical density. Higher temperatures of sintering increased the degree of the crystal axis orientation. Thus, highly orientated sintered bodies with high densities were prepared by heating at 1500 °C.     

Expert system for dispatch control in restoration of ehv power system after complete blackout

Present-day power systems operate with high reliability, and it is rare that a blackout will extend over an entire system swiftly and securely. This paper considers automatic power supply to loads after a complete blackout of a system. First, taking into account characteristics of generators, loads, and initial power sources, a method is proposed of allocating several generators to each load in parallel to the system and supplying power to the load sequentially. Second, to remove the imbalance between supply and demand of power, a method is proposed of adjusting the amount of supply and generation according to a present imbalance and the sum of past ones. Third, to automatically issue orders for start-up, parallel, follow-up, stand-by, and stoppage of generators, several rules for each power station are set and an expert system is made based on them. Finally, the expert system is applied to a model power system, and it is verified that it can restore loads without any trouble for a complete blackout which occur at any time of a day and in any restoration pattern.     

Analysis of polarization plane rotation characteristic in 2D photonic crystal waveguide with chiral medium by condensed node spatial network

Using the photonic band gap in photonic crystals, the fundamental waveguide structures for the light wavelength range have been developed. Based on the fine structure of these many functional devices have been proposed by analytical or numerical simulation methods and the experiments of trial manufacture. In this paper, the treatment of chiral dielectric in the Condensed Node Spatial Network for the vector potential is explained, and we show the polarization plane rotation property in air‐hole and pillar type photonic crystal waveguide structures with the chiral medium substrate. Then, we show the fundamental advantage of the air‐hole type photonic crystal waveguide structure in application to a mode converter. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 152(1): 7–14, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience. wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20098     

Novel UV absorbers prepared from 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone and hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene

The UV-stabilizing ability and thermal loss from the polystyrene film of novel UV absorbers, 2-[(3-hydroxy-4-benzoyl) phenoxy] pentachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HBPC) and hexakis[ (2-hydroxy-4-benzoyl) phenoxy] cyclotriphosphazene (HBPP), were investigated. The UV-stabilizing ability of HBPC estimated by the formation of carbonyl groups in polystyrene was comparable to that of 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (DHB), suggesting that the phosphazene moiety does not affect the efficiency of the stabilizing ability of DHB units. No significant difference of efficiency per stabilizing units between HBPC and HBPP was observed. HBPC and HBPP are noteworthy for their low thermal losses from the polystyrene film, i.e., the thermal loss of HBPP was completely suppressed and the diffusion coefficient of HBPC at 160°C was two orders of magnitude smaller than that of DHB. The thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry measurement showed that HBPC and HBPP are nonvolatile and stable up to 230 and 300°C, respectively. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.