What perceptual rules do Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus Apella) follow in completing partly occluded figures?

Capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) matched a variety of rodlike figures, distinguishable only by their central portions. The monkeys were then tested for perceptual completion rules by examining which comparison figures they would choose as matching the sample with the critical central portion occluded by a horizontal belt. In Experiment 1, the monkeys overwhelmingly chose a straight rod over disconnected rods and rods having irregular shapes at their center, irrespective of the presence-absence of common motion of visible parts of the samples. The monkeys chose a connected rod for relatable rods and disconnected rods for nonrelatable ones in Experiment 2. In Experiments 3 and 4, some of the monkeys chose rods specified by the global regularity of the contour, whereas others did not. Experiment 5 showed that humans and capuchin monkeys basically follow similar perceptual rules in completing occluded contours, but the global regularity rule may be stronger in humans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Temperature dependence on addition of urea and its related compounds on formation of neodymium condensed phosphates

Urea (CO(NH₂)₂) and its related compounds (biuret: NH(CONH₂)₂ and cyanuric acid: (CONH)₃) were mixed with phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) and neodymium oxide (Nd₂O₃). The thermal behavior of these dried mixtures was estimated by differential thermal analyses, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, specific surface area of phosphates was calculated by BET method using nitrogen adsorption. The addition of urea prevented the crystal growth of Monazite-type NdPO₄ in samples at P/Nd = 2 heated at 450 and 550 °C, and promoted the dehydration–condensation reaction of phosphate. Urea was considered to be decomposed at 400–450 °C in these systems. The decomposition of urea was considered to be related to the formation of neodymium dihydrogenphosphate and then this phosphate transformed to neodymium polyphosphate. The ratio of urea and phosphorus had influence on the promotion of the dehydration–condensation reaction. Thermal behavior of sample added with biuret or cyanuric acid was also investigated.     

Locomotion Control of a Biped Robot Using Nonlinear Oscillators

Recently, many experiments and analyses with biped robots have been carried out. Steady walking of a biped robot implies a stable limit cycle in the state space of the robot. In the design of a locomotion control system, there are primarily three problems associated with achieving such a stable limit cycle: the design of the motion of each limb, interlimb coordination, and posture control. In addition to these problems, when environmental conditions change or disturbances are added to the robot, there is the added problem of obtaining robust walking against them. In this paper we attempt to solve these problems and propose a locomotion control system for a biped robot to achieve robust walking by the robot using nonlinear oscillators, each of which has a stable limit cycle. The nominal trajectories of each limb's joints are designed by the phases of the oscillators, and the interlimb coordination is designed by the phase relation between the oscillators. The phases of the oscillators are reset and the nominal trajectories are modified using sensory feedbacks that depend on the posture and motion of the robot to achieve stable and robust walking. We verify the effectiveness of the proposed locomotion control system, analyzing the dynamic properties of the walking motion by numerical simulations and hardware experiments. Shinya Aoi received the B.E. and M.E. degrees from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan in 2001 and 2003, respectively. He is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Kyoto University. Since 2003, he has been a research fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). His research interests include dynamics and control of robotic systems, especially legged robots. He is a member of IEEE, SICE, and RSJ. Kazuo Tsuchiya received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in engineering from Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan in 1966, 1968, and 1975, respectively. From 1968 to 1990, he was a research member of Central Research Laboratory in Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Amagasaki, Japan. From 1990 to 1995, he was a professor at the Department of Computer Controlled Machinery, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan. Since 1995, he has been a professor at the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Kyoto University. His fields of research include dynamic analysis, guidance, and control of space vehicles, and nonlinear system theory for distributed autonomous systems. He is currently the principal investigator of “Research and Education on Complex Functional Mechanical Systems” under the 21st Century Center of Excellence Program (COE program of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan).     

Transformation rules for CNOT-based quantum circuits and their applications

This paper introduces a simple but nontrivial set of local transformation rules for designingControl-NOT(CNOT)-based combinatorial circuits. We also provide a proof that the rule set iscomplete, namely, for any two equivalent circuits,S ₁ andS ₂, there is a sequence of transformations, each of them in the rule set, which changesS ₁ toS ₂. Two applications of the rule set are also presented. One is to simulate Resolution with only polynomial overhead by the rule set. Therefore we can conclude that the rule set is reasonably powerful. The other is to reduce the cost of CNOT-based circuits by using the transformations in the rule set. This implies that the rule set might be used for the practical circuit design. Currently Graduate School of Information Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology Kazuo Iwama, Ph.D.: Professor of Informatics, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. Received BE, ME, and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Kyoto University in 1978, 1980 and 1985, respectively. His research interests include algorithms, complexity theory and quantum computation. Editorial board of Information Processing Letters and Parallel Computing. Council Member of European Association for Theoretical Computer Science (EATCS). Shigeru Yamashita, Ph.D.: Associate Professor of Graduate School of Information Science, Nara Instutute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan. He received his B.E., M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in information science from Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, in 1993, 1995 and 2001, respectively. His research interests include new type of computer architectures and quantum computation. He received the 2000 IEEE Circuits and Systems Society Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems Best Paper Award.     

Design of a CW 1 THz Gyrotron (Gyrotron Fu Cw III) Using a 20 T Superconducting Magnet

Design of a CW 1 THz gyrotron at second harmonic operation using a 20 T superconducting magnet has been described. The mode competition analysis is employed to investigate operation conditions of second harmonic mode, which is being excited at the frequency ranging from 920 GHz to 1014 GHz. The output power up to 250 watt corresponding to the efficiency of 4.16 percent could be achieved by using an electron beam with accelerating voltage 30 kV and current 200 mA. The important advantage of this gyrotron is that the single mode excitation at second harmonic, and extremely high frequency of the radiation, could be maintained even at high currents. It opens possibility to realize a high power radiation source at 1 THz. Such gyrotron is under construction at FIR Center, University of Fukui.     

Fucoxanthin Prevents Pancreatic Tumorigenesis in C57BL/6J Mice That Received Allogenic and Orthotopic Transplants of Cancer Cells

Fucoxanthin (Fx) is a marine carotenoid with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties in various animal models of carcinogenesis. However, there is currently no information on the effects of Fx in animal models of pancreatic cancer. We investigated the chemopreventive effects of Fx in C57BL/6J mice that received allogenic and orthotopic transplantations of cancer cells (KMPC44) derived from a pancreatic cancer murine model (Ptf1a^Cre/+; LSL-kras^G12D/+). Using microarray, immunofluorescence, western blot, and siRNA analyses, alterations in cancer-related genes and protein expression were evaluated in pancreatic tumors of Fx-administered mice. Fx administration prevented the adenocarcinoma (ADC) development of pancreatic and parietal peritoneum tissues in a pancreatic cancer murine model, but not the incidence of ADC. Gene and protein expressions showed that the suppression of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21 (CCL21)/chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) axis, its downstream of Rho A, B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA), N-cadherin, αSMA, pFAK(Tyr³⁹⁷), and pPaxillin(Tyr³¹) were significantly suppressed in the pancreatic tumors of mice treated with Fx. In addition, Ccr7 knockdown significantly attenuated the growth of KMPC44 cells. These results suggest that Fx is a promising candidate for pancreatic cancer chemoprevention that mediates the suppression of the CCL21/CCR7 axis, BTLA, tumor microenvironment, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and adhesion.     

Causes and characteristics of the electromagnetic vibration of a squirrel cage induction motor under load

Three-phase squirrel cage induction motors (IM) have been used in all types of industry, because of their robustness and simplicity of structure, low cost, and ease of maintenance. Due to the resultant air gap flux wave, an IM produces electromagnetic vibration and noise more or less regardless of the slot combination. Recently, reduction of electromagnetic vibration and noise has become important from the standpoint of environmental improvement. Vibration caused by an IM at no-load has been studied for many years and its basic factors have been analyzed. However, electromagnetic vibration under load has not been analyzed sufficiently. Since vibration under load conditions is affected by load and installation, analysis of this vibration is a rather difficult task. But study of the electromagnetic vibration of the motor itself under load is basically the most important item. This paper clarifies, theoretically and experimentally, the causes and characteristics of the electromagnetic vibration of an IM under load conditions. First, general equations are derived for the dominant electromagnetic force waves that produce electromagnetic vibration. Causes and vibration modes are clearly classified and a theoretical analysis provides a basic concept for electromagnetic vibrations. Second, electromagnetic vibrations for various loads are measured taking the effect of natural frequency of the motor into consideration. The measured data are classified and analyzed in detail, based on the proposed theory. © Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 120(4): 81–89, 1997     

Measurement of space charge distribution in epoxy resin

Internal space charge behavior of insulating materials has recently attracted attention of many researchers, and a large number of experimental studies were carried out by using the materials for dc cables, such as XLPE, LDPE, and HDPE. Epoxy resins are used for insulation under strong electric fields in power apparatus and in electronic devices, and we investigated the behavior of internal space charge using the pulsed electroacoustic method. Two types of epoxy resins were studied: insulation-grade and craft-grade. When dc electric fields were applied to the craft resins treated by immersing them into room-temperature water for 8 and 24 h, positive and negative charges accumulated near the anode and the cathode, respectively, and the charge distribution changed with the immersion time. On the other hand, no charge was observed in the insulation-grade epoxy resin. Next, we treated the samples by immersing them into 100 °C water for 8 h. When the sample was treated for 8 h, hetero charge distribution, which means positive charges near the cathode and negative charges near the anode, was observed. This result is consistent with a previous paper reporting that by chemical analysis, secondary decomposition had occurred. These results show that water and temperature influence the internal space charge behavior of epoxy resins. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 129(3): 9–16, 1999     

Accuracy of LLP system and lightning frequency map evaluated from transmission line faults

The accuracy of an LLP system and a lightning frequency map are evaluated by using transmission line faults in the Hokuriku area from November 1993 to October 1996. The accuracy and efficiency of the system are calculated by statistical methods. From these results, a lightning frequency map with a 10-minute grid was proved that can replace the Isokeraunic Level Map with a 15-minute grid now used for lightning protection design. However, the correlation between the number of detected lightning flashes and transmission line faults in each mesh was found to be weak. This result suggests that a more detailed analysis taking into account the length of the transmission lines in each mesh is necessary. The correlation is stronger in winter than in summer, despite the fact that there is a difference in the lightning current distribution in each mesh in winter. This characteristic can be explained if upward flashes from transmission lines are dominant among lightning faults in winter. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 129(4): 45–57, 1999     

用IAD法制作的高密集型分波复合器滤光片的特性

随着高密集型分波复合器需要的不断增加,在光纤通讯领域中,光学薄膜滤光片已经成为了一个很关键的光学元件。在高密集分波复合器中,我们用ＩＡＤ方法制作了低损失、高稳定性的超窄带滤光片并在本文加以讨论。在湿度环境试验中,这种高堆积密度的光学薄膜显示了没有任何波漂。在温度环境试验中,它的热稳定性为０．００１２ｎｍ ／℃。在使用Ｔａ２Ｏ５／ＳｉＯ２,用于１００ＧＨｚ的滤色片的场合下,窄带滤色片的插入损失为０．３４ｄＢ。在使用Ｎｂ２Ｏ５／ＳｉＯ２,用于２００ＧＨ２ 的滤色片的场合下,插入损失为０．１７ｄＢ,两者都显示了极好的分光光谱特性,甚至半宽为０．６６ｎｍ 的情况下,它们的截面ＳＥＭ 微结构显示了非晶结构,平坦的表面与界面。