History and current status of the motor vehicle energy labeling and its implementation possibilities in Malaysia

The road transport and particularly the passenger cars are responsible for increasing the share of transport energy consumption and harmful emissions level growth. The fuel economy label is an informative tool to influence customers and manufacturers to put special care to the energy efficiency issue. The implementation of fuel economy label for motor vehicles in Malaysia will prevent the up going trend of petroleum consumption which will be beneficial to consumer and society. As a consequence, the harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are the main causes of the global warming and air pollution will be reduced. Studies in developed countries show that implementing the fuel economy label is beneficial for society, government and the environment. This paper focused on a review of international experiences on fuel economy label. It also attempts to discuss about the energy savings possibilities that lead to reduce GHG emissions by implementing the program. The last but not least recommendation is the fact that the sooner the fuel economy label applies for the passenger cars in Malaysia will be more beneficial for the country.     

Robust market design for power industry deregulation by simulations

This paper proposes one concept of robust market design subject to stakeholders’ strategic behavior. The key to robust design is the application of computer simulations, which is used to as a tool to avoid detectable loopholes in the market. An example illustrates the method. Computer simulation not only provides much information about the dynamics of economic agents’ interaction, but also allows modeling of aggregate market outcomes from heterogeneous individual behavior. With this method, the policymakers have a better opportunity to communicate with others and to understand the possible consequences of different decisions under different optional policies and market conditions.     

The load forecasting technology in the electric power distribution system

The authors proposed a method for creating a prediction model for dynamically predicting the load curve in a power distribution system whose composition varied day by day, and then validated its effectiveness for comparisons with measured current values. In the results, the authors divided power distribution lines into interval increments using the contract power category composition ratio and then created a prediction model for various interval patterns based on the substantial dependence of the consumer load curve on contract type. Furthermore, when confirming the prediction precision using their model, the authors found that the absolute average error was 7.7 A, with 95% within 30 A. The relative average error rate was confirmed at 9.6%. Upon systematizing the current value prediction method and performing opinion surveys and evaluations of users running trials in the power distribution system operation business, the authors were able to confirm that the prediction precision of their method was sufficient for the system's needs. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 153(2): 14–27, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20146     

Reconstruction of the aortic arch in invasive thymoma under retrograde cerebral perfusion

Extensive en-bloc resection of the aortic arch and anterior wall of the main pulmonary artery was performed in a 46-year-old man with invasive thymoma. The aortic arch was replaced with a Hemashield vascular graft under hypothermic circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion. Patch plasty with Xenomedica was performed for the anterior wall of the main pulmonary artery under cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient was treated with postoperative radiotherapy and has remained asymptomatic for 15 months after the operation. An extensive operation is considered necessary to improve the prognosis of invasive thymoma.     

Market power and trading strategies on the electricity market: a market design view

In this paper, we examine auction-based electricity markets from the viewpoint of a power company in order to evaluate the market design. Optimal trading strategies under uncertainty are developed by abolishing the widespread assumption that a single company has no influence on the market price. The resulting trading strategies explain the high prices and the high volatility observed in real electricity auction markets and show to what extent power companies can manipulate the market price. From these trading strategies, we derive critical points in market design and formulate necessary and sufficient conditions that characterize a competitive electricity auction market. Unfortunately, these conditions are far from being realizable in practice, from which follows that electricity auction markets cannot be competitive.     

Development of an optical flying head for a next-generation magneto-optical recording system

We have developed an optical flying head (OFH) comprising a thin-film coil and a high numerical aperture lens for magneto-optical (MO) disk drives. Experiments have shown successful writing and reading of MO media. The following describes the design and testing of the OFH.     

Application of a new automatic gauge control system for the tandemcold mill

In July 2000, a new automatic gauge control (AGC) system was successfully installed at the Kakogawa Works, Kobe Steel, Ltd., Hyogo, Japan. The new AGC system consists of two functions: multivariable AGC based on mass flow thickness; and roll eccentricity control. The multivariable AGC is designed using inverse linear quadratic theory, a type of optimal control theory, and controls both thickness and tension. Repetitive control theory is applied to roll eccentricity control as roll eccentricity is a periodic disturbance related to the rotational angle of the rolls. The new AGC system has contributed to improved thickness accuracy and stable rolling. In this paper, details of the new AGC system are described and the application results are shown