Developing tools and methods for applications incorporating neuro, fuzzy and chaos technology

In recent years, intelligent industrial systems and consumer electronic products are widely and intensively developed. Fuzzy logic, neural network, and neuro & fuzzy technology which integrates these approaches are now regarded as an effective method to realize such intelligent features. Furthermore, a novel paradigm, “chaos engineering”, is now expected to be another key technology for various applications such as nonlinear prediction of time series, diagnosis for complex systems and comfortable home appliances. In this paper, a review of the fuzzy boom in consumer electronics market in Japan is presented, and the research projects, developing tools, and applications by Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd concerning fuzzy logic, neural network, and chaos technology, are described.     

Lateral growth of GaAs on patterned {-1-1-1}B substrates for the fabrication of nano wires using metalorganic molecular beam epitaxy

We have grown GaAs nano wire structures (45 × 20 nm²) buried in AIAs layers by lateral metalorganic molecular beam epitaxy on the terraced sidewalls of mesa-grooved (-1-1-1)B substrates. The growth of GaAs occurred primarily on the sidewall of the mesa-grooves and not on the (-1-1-1)B surface for arsenic pressures greater than 2.0 × 10⁻³ Pa at a substrate temperature of 480°C. An (0-1-1) facet formation during the lateral epitaxy at the intersection region between the bottom (-1-1-1)B surface and the (1-2-2)A sidewall has been directly observed by real-time scanning microprobe reflection high-energy electron diffraction. The growth rate on the (0111) facet was estimated from the variation of its width with growth time.     

Structural analysis of β-form poly(p-xylyene) starting from a high-resolution image

The crystal structure of β-form poly(p-xylylene) is analysed starting from a high-resolution image of a single crystal of this polymer. The high-resolution image corresponding to the projection of molecules onto the ab-plane along the chain axis shows clearly the mutual position of each molecule in a unit cell. The molecules are aligned wavily in the direction along the a-axis and the rough positions of their centres in a unit cell can be determined from the image. The refinement of the structure is carried out by the usual least-squares method using the intensities of electron and X-ray diffractions. The space group of the β-form is trigonal, P3, and the lattice dimensions are a=2.052 nm, c=0.655 nm and γ=120°. The unit cell contains 16 molecules and one of them is considered to occupy statistically one of three equivalent orientations so as to satisfy the P3 symmetry.     

Site-directed mutational analysis for the ATP binding of DnaA protein. Functions of two conserved amino acids (Lys-178 and Asp-235) located in the ATP-binding domain of DnaA protein in vitro and in vivo

DnaA protein, the initiator of chromosomal DNA replication in Escherichia coli, is activated by binding to ATP in vitro. We introduced site-directed mutations into two amino acids of the protein conserved among various ATP-binding proteins and examined functions of the mutated DnaA proteins, in vitro and in vivo. Both mutated DnaA proteins (Lys-178 --> Ile or Asp-235 --> Asn) lost the affinity for both ATP and ADP but did maintain binding activity for oriC. Specific activities in an oriC DNA replication system in vitro were less than one-tenth those of the wild-type protein. Assay of the generation of oriC sites sensitive to P1 nuclease, using the mutated DnaA proteins, revealed a defect in induction of the duplex opening at oriC. On the other hand, expression of each mutated DnaA protein in the temperature-sensitive dnaA46 mutant did not complement the temperature sensitivity. We suggest that Lys-178 and Asp-235 of DnaA protein are essential for the activity needed to initiate oriC DNA replication in vitro and in vivo and that ATP binding to DnaA protein is required for DNA replication-related functions.     

Long-term study of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis sequelae after bilateral thoracoplasty-airway obstruction and its causes

Chest roentgenograms and results of pulmonary-function tests in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis sequelae 30 years after bilateral thoracoplasty were studied retrospectively to detect airway obstruction in these patients and to determine its causes. For periods of more than 10 years, vital capacity (VC) changed at a rate of 15.5 +/- 5.0 ml/year, and forced expiratory volume in one second as a percent of VC (FEV1%) changed at a rate of 0.546% +/- 0.380% per year (n = 13). Thirty years after thoracoplasty, the VC was 920 +/- 180 ml (%VC = 28.4% +/- 5.3%), and the FEV1% was 66.2% +/- 13.7% (n = 21). Thus, mild airway obstruction was found in about half of the cases. For each patient, the distance from the hilum to the diaphragm was measured along the mid-clavicular line on the side with fewer ribs resected, and this distance was divided by the patient's height. The results of that computation was found to be significantly and negatively related to FEV1% (r = -0.681, which suggests that longer bronchi in the lower and middle lobes on that side were associated with lower values of FEV1%. These findings are similar to those in patients with pulmonary tuberculous sequelae after total pneumonectomy. Over an average of 26 years, scoliosis, the vertebra showing the most bending, the intrapulmonary lesion, and the position of the diaphragm did not change, but the cardio-thoracic ratio increased.     

Operational Broadcasting Satellite in Japan

The Broadcasting Satellite-2 (BS-2) Program is intended to establish the first Japanese operational domestic satellite broadcasting system using K-band frequencies allocated to Japanese domestic satellite broadcasting service by 1977-WARC-BS. This paper presents the outline of the BS-2 program, including mission objectives, spacecraft, ground system and home receiver.     

Spotted fever group rickettsiosis and vectors in Kanagawa prefecture

Primer pairs for PCR were designed from the gene encoding the 17,000-molecular-weight genus-common antigen of Rickettsia japonica, Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia prowazekii. Primers R1, R2 were designed for amplifying the genomic DNA from spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae and epidemic typhus rickettsiae. Primers Rj5, Rj10 were designed for amplifying the genomic DNA from only R. japonica. Using the primers R1, R2, about a 540-bp fragment was observed by amplifying the genomic DNA from R. japonica, R. rickettsii, R. conorii, Thai tick typhus TT-118, Rickettsia sibirica, Rickettsia montana, Rickettsia askari, R. typhi, R. prowazekii and Katayama strain isolated from the patient infected with SFG rickettsiae. Using the primers Rj5, Rj10, the 357-bp fragment was observed by amplifying the genomic DNA from R. japonica and Katayama strain. Therefore, the Katayama strain was identified to belong to R. japonica. With primers R1, R2 and Rj5, Rj10, 537 bp and 357 bp bands were amplified from blood of the patients infected with SFG rickettsiae in Kanagawa prefecture. These findings indicate that the causative agent of SFG rickettsiosis in these two patients was R. japonica. The ticks, Ixodes ovatus and Haemaphysalis flava, were collected by out field research in Kanagawa prefecture. With primers R1, R2 and Rj5, Rj10, 537 bp and 357 bp were amplified from these ticks. This indicates that I. ovatus and H. flava were the vector of R. japonica in Kanagawa prefecture. Also, with the primers R1, R2, about a 540 bp fragment was amplified but with primers Rj5, Rj10, no fragments were amplified from I. ovatus and H. flava. Therefore, these ticks may have SFG rickettsiae other than R. japonica and epidemic typhus rickettsiae.