Neocognitron: A new algorithm for pattern recognition tolerant of deformations and shifts in position

Suggested by the structure of the visual nervous system, a new algorithm is proposed for pattern recognition. This algorithm can be realized with a multilayered network consisting of neuron-like cells. The network, “neocognitron”, is self-organized by unsupervised learning, and acquires the ability to recognize stimulus patterns according to the differences in their shapes: Any patterns which we human beings judge to be alike are also judged to be of the same category by the neocognitron. The neocognitron recognizes stimulus patterns correctly without being affected by shifts in position or even by considerable distortions in shape of the stimulus patterns.     

Surface temperature of Pd/C catalyst under microwave irradiation in dechlorination process of PCBs

In recent years, a new effective method of processing for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been developed: It enables PCBs to become harmless by dechlorinating them using a 2.45 GHz microwave (MW). Compared with conventional thermal heating, MW processing hardly produces any harmful byproduct materials, and has high reaction velocity. To investigate such promotion of chemical reaction by MW irradiation, the surface temperature of the catalyst is measured by an infrared camera just after the irradiation by MW. It is recognized that there are some heated regions on the catalyst and the temperature is not uniform. It is natural to say that chemical reaction is promoted well on such a heated region. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Current trends of international standardization activities on ultra-high-voltage technologies

A world economy expands over boundaries between countries and regions. In Japan, there are many splendid technologies which the world requires. In order to transfer these technologies to the world an international standard which includes them as a standard is necessary. Activities by which 1100 kV UHV technologies are standardized in the IEC standard were conducted by starting with discussions in IEC/SB1. The activity has been followed by IEC/JICCG which coordinates IEC and CIGRE activities. The horizontal standards were started in advance at TC 8 and TC 28. The equipment standards will start from 2009 after the CIGRE committee finishes their reports by the end of 2008. Activities by the IEEJ standard committee have been carried horizontally to proceed with the UHV standardization rapidly and efficiently. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Dielectrics loss of PCBs leading to microwave heating

A new effective processing for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been recently developed. PCBs become harmless by dechlorination using 2.45 GHz-microwave (MW). To investigate such chemical reaction by MW irradiation, the dielectric loss of pure PCBs solutions and an isomer mixture in MW band is measured. Some PCBs and isopropyl alchol, added as a source of hydrogen supply have high dielectric loss in MW band. This suggests that MW heats PCBs and isopropyl alchol, and then the temperature of the solvent consisting mainly of insulating oil rises by the thermal conduction. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Efficient microbial degradation of bisphenol A in the presence of activated carbon

The biodegradation of bisphenol A (BPA) was carried out with Sphingomonas sp. strain BP-7 and Sphingomonas yanoikuyae BP-11R in the presence of activated carbon (AC). When AC was present, both BPA-degrading bacteria efficiently degraded 300 mg/l BPA without releasing 4-hydroxyacetophenone, the major intermediate produced in BPA degradation, into the medium. The biological regeneration of AC was possible using the BPA-degrading bacteria, suggesting that an efficient system for BPA removal can be constructed by introducing BPA-degrading bacteria into an AC treatment system.     

Analysis of the peculiarity of the japanese software development style in offshore software development

Offshore software development (OSD) is now becoming a global trend. While western companies are using OSD effectively, Japanese companies have not yet used it effectively. Several studies have concluded that this is due to the peculiarity of the Japanese software development style in OSD and have pointed out the problems of Japanese OSD. However, the peculiarity of the Japanese software development style has not been identified yet. Therefore, this paper attempts to identify it. Most previous studies have described the problems of Japanese OSD without considering the software development method. We have focused on agile methods and attempted to analyze the problems pointed out previous studies in accordance with the features of agile methods. It was found that the Japanese software development style is agile‐like. In addition, a survey was conducted to find out what kind of software development method is being used in Japanese OSD projects. It was found that the waterfall method is mainly used. It is concluded that the peculiarity of the Japanese software development style and problems come from the conflict between the software development methods used and their actual implementations. IEEJ Trans 2010 DOI: 10.1002/tee.20605     

High-Intensity Discharge Lamp with Mo–SiO2 Functionally Graded Material

We show the invention of the new type of hermetically sealed high-intensity discharge lamps, made of Mo–SiO₂ functionally graded material (FGM) as an electrode and a sealing component. In the case of high-intensity discharge lamps with Mo–SiO₂ FGM (FGM lamp), the thermal expansion coefficient between Mo and SiO₂ is functionally graded so that it tolerates a large number of heating cycles, with no cooling system required. Furthermore, lamps survive without breakage. The W electrode is totally separated from the lamp envelope by the FGM, so that no leakage of the luminous elements or gases takes place, when a large gas pressure exists inside a lamp.     

Electrical breakdown characteristics of nitrogen and air at cryogenic temperature in a quasi‐uniform electric field

The breakdown voltages of the longer‐gap configurations in gaseous nitrogen and air that are necessary in designing superconducting electrical power apparatuses are measured at temperatures of 293 and 93 K. The quasi‐uniform electric field made by a sphere‐to‐sphere electrode with a diameter of 150 mm and a gap length of about 10 to 100 mm is used in the measurement of the breakdown voltages. When 50‐Hz ac and dc voltages are applied to the sphere‐to‐sphere gap, the breakdown voltages in nitrogen and air obey Paschen's law even at cryogenic temperatures (93 K). When a 1.4/50‐μs lightning impulse voltage is applied to the gap, the 50% breakdown voltage of nitrogen also obeys Paschen's law under UV irradiation of the cathode electrode. However, the breakdown voltage in air at 93 K is higher in the case of lightning impulse voltage applications, and the delay from impulse voltage application to breakdown occurrence is apparently longer at 93 K than at 293 K. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 132(4): 28–33, 2000     

Design and evaluation methods for a water cooling panel system for decay heat removal from a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor

An experiment was performed to simulate a water cooling panel system for decay heat removal from a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) and to investigate the performance of decay heat removal and the temperature distribution for components of the system. The experimental apparatus is composed of a pressure vessel 1 m in diameter and 3 m in height, containing heaters with a maximum heating rate of 100 kW which simulates the decay heat of the reactor core and cooling panels surrounding the pressure vessel. The analytical code THANPACST2 was applied to analyze the experimental data and to investigate the validity of the analytical method and model proposed. Under conditions using helium gas at a pressure of 0.73 MPa and temperature of 210°C in the pressure vessel, temperatures of the pressure vessel were well estimated to within differences of −29 to +37°C compared to the experimental data. The analyses indicate that the heat removed by the cooling panel is 11.4% less than the experimental value and the heat transferred by thermal radiation is 74.4% of the total heating value. It was also found that the lower head of the pressure vessel is effectively cooled by natural convection through the flow channels at the upper and the lower edges of the skirt-type support of the pressure vessel. © 1998 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Jpn Res, 26(3): 159–175, 1997