bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blink reflex abnormalities in diabetes mellitus
Authors: Nazliel B. , Yetkin I. , Irkeç C. , Koçer B.
Published: August 2002

Background

Damage of the peripheral nervous system is particularly frequent in diabetes mellitus (DM), but somatic cranial neuropathies usually presenting as mononeuropathies are rare. Oculomotor and facial nerves are among the most commonly affected, whereas the Vth, IXth and Xth cranial nerves are less often affected. While existing neurophysiological tests in the subclinical diagnosis of damage to the peripheral nerve in diabetic patients have advanced, the same does not hold true for the subclinical diagnosis of the central nervous system (CNS). Electrophysiological studies such as the blink reflex was shown to be an effective method for revealing subclinical involvement of cranial nerves in generalised neuropathies.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of blink reflex as a method for obtaining early diagnosis of cranial nerve involvement in diabetic patients frequently affected with peripheral neuropathy.

Methods

Twenty diabetic patients with electrophysiologically confirmed neuropathy were included in the present study for the evaluation of blink reflex. Patients with earlier cranial nerve involvement were excluded.

Results

Abnormal blink reflex responses were found in 55% of patients studied. R2Y and R2C latencies in diabetic patients were prolonged relative to controls (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). However R1 values in diabetic patients did not differ significantly from those of normal controls (p<0.5). R2Y and R2C prolongation showed a positive correlation with the duration of disease (p=0.015 and p=0.009, respectively). However the same correlation could not be found with R1 values. No correlations were found between R1, R2Y, R2C values and HbA1c nor between R1, R2Y, R2C values and patients' age.

Conclusion

We suggest that blink reflex testing is a useful method for obtaining early diagnosis of cranial nerve compromise in diabetic patients who do not show any clinical symptoms or signs of CNS involvement. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cell death along the embryo midline regulates left–right sidedness
Authors: Kelly Kristine A. , Wei Yan , Mikawa Takashi
Published: August 2002

During embryogenesis, left–right sidedness is established by asymmetric expression of laterality genes. A recent model predicts the presence of a functional midline that divides the left side of the embryonic disc from the right side, separating left‐ and right‐inducing signals. We show evidence that this midline is formed from a distinct population of cells within the primitive streak. Cells in the dorsal midline of the chick primitive streak display unique expression of the gastrulation markers fgf‐8 and brachyury. These midline cells are fated to die, and dead cells remain in the midline during gastrulation. Inhibition of midline cell death compromises the early expression of laterality genes, such as shh and nodal and randomizes the direction of heart looping. We suggest that cell death along the primitive streak midline is a novel mechanism involved in the regulation of left–right asymmetry during early embryogenesis. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Case Study: A virtual non‐reader achieves a degree
Authors: Cooke Ann
Published: August 2002

J, a mature age student with severe dyslexia, entered university with virtually no reading and writing. She could recognize very few words, she had difficulty with spelling simple words and her handwriting was poor. She also had distinctive difficulties with numbers. Yet, she graduated successfully 3 years after entry. In this paper, the characteristics of her disabilities are discussed and the teaching programme and support systems set up to help her are described. Some theoretical and practical implications which arise from J's case are also considered. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of fasting on attentional biases for food and body shape/weight words in high and low Eating Disorder Inventory scorers
Authors: Placanica Jennifer L. , Faunce Gavin J. , Soames Job R. F.
Published: August 2002

Objective

To assess attentional biases associated with food and body shape/weight words in fasted and nonfasted high and low Eating Disorder Inventory‐2 (EDI‐2) scorers.

Method

Subjects were 56 female first‐year undergraduate psychology students, aged 17–24 years, participating for course credit. High and low scorers on the Drive for Thinness and Body Dissatisfaction subscales of the EDI‐2 completed alternative modified dot probe tasks containing food words, body shape/weight words, and control words, under fasted and nonfasted conditions.

Results

Fasting increased attentional bias toward high‐calorie food words across all subjects. High EDI‐2 scorers also showed an attentional bias toward low‐calorie words, but only when nonfasted.

Discussion

Food‐related attentional biases, commonly observed in eating disorder patients, may reflect a pervasive concern with food‐related stimuli as opposed to being simply a product of chronic hunger. That is, with increasing hunger, high EDI‐2 scorers shift their focus away from low‐calorie foods to high‐calorie foods. This result suggests an attentional bias basis for the cycle of high‐calorie binging when hungry and low‐calorie food selections when less hungry. © 2002 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 32: 79–90, 2002.
Antibodies against human putamen in adolescents with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Harel Zeev , Hallett Joseph , Riggs Suzanne , Vaz Rosalind , Kiessling Louise
Published: August 2002

Objective

To examine whether antiputamen antibodies are present in adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN).

Method

Using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with an extract of human putamen as an antigen, sera samples obtained from 22 adolescents with active AN and from 22 healthy adolescents (control group) were assayed for antibodies to neuronal components

Results

Mean optical density (OD) readings for serum antibodies against human putamen in adolescents with AN was significantly greater than the mean OD readings in the control group (0.492 ± 0.086 vs. 0.275 ± 0.028, p = .02). When serum positivity was defined as an OD level greater than 2 SD above the mean control group value (0.541), antiputamen antibodies were detected in the blood of 6 AN patients (27%) whereas they were detected in the blood of 1 patient (5%) in the control group (p < .05; Fisher's exact test).

Discussion

The detection of antiputamen antibodies in adolescents with AN suggests an underlying immune process at the putamen level in some patients with this eating disorder. © 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disorder 29: 463–469, 2001.
Proposal and analysis of multicast communication method in a department VPN
Authors: Kamata Minoru , Kawase Tetsuya , Watanabe Akira , Sasase Iwao
Published: August 2002

In recent years, VPN (Virtual Private Network) has become an important subject not only in the Internet, but also on intranets and extranets. The VPN enables us to communicate safely by using public networks. A number of researchers have studied DVPN (department VPNs). Furthermore, multicasting has been attracting attention as a means to increase the volume of voice data and multimedia data on the Internet. However, a multicast router is needed to deliver data with multicasting on the default network. Although it is possible that the IP multicast function will be added to all new routers in the future, it is not realistic to convert all default routers in use to multicast routers at this moment. Systems which make use of multicast servers without using multicast routers have been proposed. However, many problems arise in the conventional model, such as excess load on the multicast server, and traffic on its domain when data with multicasting are sent or received over the DVPN. In this paper, we propose an effective method of multicast communication over the DVPN in order to establish a secure DVPN for multicast applications such as video conferencing. In the proposed method, the relay function for multicast communication is added to the DVPN terminals themselves, which leads to easy use compared to the conventional method with multicast server. We propose two packet delivery system models, the daisy chain model and the extended daisy chain model. The daisy chain model is made up of a group of DVPN hosts, which have the copy function. In the extended daisy chain model, a branch division function is added to the daisy chain model. We present a network model for numerical calculation to show the efficiency of our proposed models. We investigate the effects of load variance, network traffic, and delay time on the performance of the two proposed models compared to the conventional model, and show that the two proposed models are superior to the conventional model. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 84(7): 45–56, 2001
Broadband monopole Yagi–Uda antenna
Authors: Taguchi Yujiro , Chen Qiang , Sawaya Kunio
Published: August 2002

A broadband Yagi–Uda antenna composed of several monopole elements is proposed. By locating the director close to the excited element and superposing the characteristics of the reflector in a lower band to those of the director in a higher band, a broadband property is obtained for both the input impedance and the unidirectional pattern. Analysis by the method of moments indicates that the Yagi–Uda antenna (type 1) composed of three monopole elements has a bandwidth of 1:1.67 for VSWR ≤ 2, 1:1.84 for
Gd/Gr ≥ 9 dB
, and more than one octave for
Gd≥8 dBi
, where
Gd
and
Gr
denote the directive gains in the front and back directions, respectively. It is also shown that the Yagi–Uda antenna (type 4) composed of five monopole elements has about one octave for a bandwidth of VSWR ≤ 2 and
Gd≥8 dBi
. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 85(1): 49–57, 2002
VP protection switching on ATM ring network architecture
Authors: Okada Mitsumasa , Uematsu Yoshihiko , Ohta Hiroshi , Tsuboi Toshinori
Published: August 2002

With an increase in demand for traffic and in modes of network services, it is required that the backbone network be able to cope flexibly with changes in demand for traffic with high speed and reliability. ATM ring networks can enhance the path capacity by unified processing of various service modes. In addition, due to the low transmission path cost attained by network topology, economical construction of a transport network is possible. In this paper, it is recognized that the path capacity becomes larger as the path length of the protection VP becomes longer. Then, a VP switching method for an ATM ring network, BPSR/PF (Bidirectional Path‐Switched Ring/Path‐Failure detection), is proposed in which the path length of the protection VP becomes the shortest. With regard to the items for evaluation, such as the maximum required link capacity, switching time, required number of link VPs, data sustaining number by VP pairs, and path survival rate, the proposed method is compared quantitatively with the conventional ATM ring network VP switching method. It is made clear that the proposed ATM ring network VP switching method BPSR/PF is superior. © 2002 Scripta Technica, Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 85(5): 57–70, 2002
BntNetL and its evaluation on a situation of congestion
Authors: Doi Shigeo , Yamamura Masayuki
Published: August 2002

AntNet was reported to exhibit an undesirable effect called “Routing Lock.” If a link is congested or down, a node can select another link easily with the ability to cancel the effect quickly. As means of canceling the effect, the decay method and the negative feedback method were proposed. However, the decay method is not effective in balancing the cancellation of the effect with the learning speed of network traffic statistics. Also the negative feedback method requires ants to move on at least one congested link so that it takes a long time to cancel the effect. In this paper, we propose an improvement algorithm, BntNetL, which cancels the effect indirectly by giving ants the ability to update routing tables bidirectionally. BntNetL shows better performance than its competitors in simulations. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 85(9): 31–41, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecja.1123
Random code selection for a multibeam adaptive array in a slotted ALOHA radio network
Authors: Ito Kuniaki , Ohgane Takeo , Ogawa Yasutaka
Published: August 2002

Usually, in the slotted ALOHA system using a multibeam adaptive array, separate detection of colliding packets is carried out from the shift of PN code due to the difference in arrival time. In this paper, unlike the usual method, a method for separate detection of colliding packets is proposed in which each user randomly selects a PN code among several alternatives. As a result of the evaluation of the throughput by computer simulation, it is found that a high throughput can be obtained without consideration of arrival‐time difference in the proposed method with only code selection as the separation condition, even though packet collision occurs due to identical PN code. Therefore, by restraining the increase of the preamble length, the transmission efficiency can be improved. In the case of 16 codes and 4 elements, the throughput is about 2.2, constituting significant improvement. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 85(9): 69–77, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecja.1127
IS simulation for the waiting time of ATM burst cell traffic
Authors: Ueda Takeshi , Nakagawa Kenji
Published: August 2002

Investigations of cell delay characteristics for various kinds of traffic are necessary for the design of buffer sizes in ATM converters. The purpose of this research is to obtain the cell delay characteristics, particularly the cell delay α value, using simulations. However, using the prior method, the Monte Carlo (MC) method, requires considerable design time and imposes limits on the precision of the pseudo‐random numbers. As a result, cell delay characteristics for a very small α cannot be obtained. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to apply Importance Sampling (IS) and obtain cell delay characteristics quickly at a precision below 10−9. In particular, the IS method is applied to the waiting time characteristics in the steady state for Geo/D/1, a queue model for random cell traffic, and to the two‐state MMGP/D/1 queue for burst cell traffic. An approximate optimal simulation distribution is obtained based on large deviation theory. Then an actual IS simulation is performed using the obtained simulation distribution. Compared to the MC simulation, the IS simulation is shown to have superior speed and a higher confidence interval. In addition, the IS estimated values are shown to be more precise compared to theoretical values or approximate values. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 85(11): 97–105, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecja.1142
Facial movement synthesis by HMM from audio speech
Authors: Kakihara Kiyotsugu , Nakamura Satoshi , Shikano Kiyohiro
Published: August 2002

This paper proposes a method of synthesis of a facial movement image, which helps to realize natural and realistic communication synchronized with speech on the basis of voice input. If human communication through the computer is realized in a more natural form, the range of human–computer communication will be greatly enlarged. The authors have already proposed several methods of synthesis of a lip movement image from speech based on the HMM. In particular, they succeeded in realizing a remarkable naturalness by considering the mouth shape element of the following phoneme. This paper further proposes a method of synthesis considering both the preceding and following mouth shape elements, and then extends the method from the lip image to a three‐dimensional facial model. In order to generate the talking face, principal component analysis is applied to three‐dimensional measurement points on the facial surface. By preparing facial shapes corresponding to the principal components, a natural and smoothly talking face is synthesized. The talking face image generated by the proposed method is evaluated in terms of parameter generation error and subjective judgment. The results show that the proposed method can synthesize a natural and smoothly talking face image corresponding to the input speech. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 85(4): 37–46, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.10044
Simulation of the surface trap effect on the gate lag in GaAs MESFETs
Authors: Hasumi Yumiko , Kodera Hiroshi
Published: August 2002

The surface‐trap effect on the gate lag in GaAs MESFETs is investigated by a two‐dimensional device simulation. The energy level of the acceptor‐type traps is made a variable. The dc characteristics and transient performance are analyzed to gain a detailed understanding of the phenomena. In the dc characteristics, surface traps cause a surface depletion layer which results in a threshold voltage shift, a decrease in the drain saturation current, and a reduction of the short channel effect due to lateral expansion of the gate depletion layer. The gate transients are classified according to the trap level location in the energy gap: (1) no gate lag, (2) two‐step increase of the drain current, and (3) typical gate lag. These results are explained by the relative time variation of the surface and gate depletion layers: the delayed contraction of the surface depletion layer is the main cause of the gate lag. Based on this finding, a method for suppression of the gate lag is proposed, based on control of the surface potential. © 2002 Scripta Technica, Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 85(2): 18–26, 2002
A positive integer code by coding multiple length information
Authors: Nakamura Hirofumi , Murashima Sadayuki
Published: August 2002

A positive integer code Fh,m,b(h⩾3,m⩾2,b⩾3) is proposed. It codes recursive length information with two types of code. One codes repeatedly m length information each value of which is equal to or more than 2h&minus1. The end of codeword is expressed in b bits. The other codes length information each value of which is less than 2h&minus1. The codeword length of Fh,m,b(n) is not more than log*n+C1w*(n)+C2, where log*=log2n+log2log2n+log2log2log2n+ ⃛, w*(n) is the number of zero or positive terms of log*n, and C1,C2 are constants that depend on h, m, b. C1 is expressed as −log2log2e<C1<−logloge+2.0374/2h+(logloge−log(1−2403/(404ċ2b)))/m⩽ −log2 log2e+2.0374/2h+2.4918/m. If C1 < 0, C2 is expressed as C2 < (w*(h−2)+m+ 1)log2log2e+b+2.5186. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 84(8): 46–56, 2001
Approximation of inverse system (many‐valued function) by neural network
Authors: Shinki Masakazu , Shimizu Kiyotaka
Published: August 2002

If the inverse function x=f1(y) of the system y=f(x) with an input of x and an output of y is multivalued, learning of the inverse system by the neural network is difficult. Hence, in this paper, the mapping of (y,x)→x is learned by the neural network as the inverse system by making use of the extended generalized learning method. Next, the learning of the inverse system (many‐valued function) is carried out by solving the obtained inverse system (nonlinear equation) by means of the successive substitution method after the desired output value yd is given so that the desired input value xd is derived. In this case, the learning problem of the neural network that satisfied the convergence condition of the successive substitution method is formulated as a satisfaction optimization problem. This is solved by the nondifferentiable optimization method. As a result of simulation experiment, it is confirmed that an inverse system of a one‐to‐multivalue correspondence is obtained. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 84(8): 57–66, 2001
The gate size estimation method and the optimal gate shape for target tracking
Authors: Kosuge Yoshio , Matsuzaki Takafumi
Published: August 2002

This paper presents a discussion of the gate in target tracking. Here, the gate is defined as the region in which the tracked target is expected to exist. The observation vector in the gate is used for tracking. For instance, in tracking in a two‐dimensional plane, various shapes can be conceived as a gate, including a rectangle, circle, and ellipse. However, no publication has dealt with the shape of the optimal gate. As the gate is made larger, more clutter or observation vectors other than the tracked target are included within it, so that tracking becomes more difficult. On the other hand, if the gate is made smaller, there is an increasing danger that the observation vector from the tracked target may no longer fall within the gate. There exists no practical method of determining the gate size in terms of the target detection probability or the tracking situation, such as the clutter density. In this paper, the gate shape that maximizes the in‐gate probability, indicating the probability that the tracked target falls within the gate when the gate volume is constant, is found. Further, a method for determining the in‐gate probability by increasing the average rate at which the detected tracked target falls within the gate and by decreasing the average number of false signals from objects other than the target detected within the gate is presented. © 2002 Scripta Technica, Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 85(5): 10–22, 2002
Performance comparison and improvement in adaptive arrays based on time‐ and frequency‐domain signal processing
Authors: Kamiya Yukihiro , Karasawa Yoshio
Published: August 2002

It has been known that an adaptive array antenna is effective for reducing frequency‐depending selective fading, which is a problem in wide‐band land‐mobile communication systems. In an environment in which many delayed signals arrive, it is desirable to improve their SN ratio by using co‐phase synthesis. There have been two types of adaptive array antenna for this purpose: an antenna based on time‐domain signal processing using a TDL (tapped delay line), and an antenna based on frequency‐domain signal processing using a fully reconfigurable filter. The latter has variations in its configuration, and is useful for making practical apparatus. However, its convergence process and behavior in a fading environment have not been clearly understood. In this paper, the performance and the advantages and disadvantages of adaptive array antennas based on various configurations with time‐ and frequency‐domain signal processing are compared. It is found that combinations of some configurations improve their performance. The improvement in performance is also described. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 85(9): 35–42, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.1117 Copyright © 2002 Scripta Technica
Estimation of effective magnetic field in ferromagnetic alloys by magnetoacoustic effect
Authors: Hatafuku Hiroshi
Published: August 2002

The magnetic field strength in a nickel rod with an applied uniform external field is studied by transmitting ultrasonic waves. In nondestructive testing (NDT), longitudinal plane waves are transmitted from an ultrasonic transducer to the object, which is characterized by alternating regions of compression and dilation. If the objects are ferromagnetic materials, the compression waves generate the magnetoelastic energy in magnetic substances, which are equivalent to the magnetic anisotropy field. This field passes through magnetic substances with the velocity of ultrasound and is observed as the electromotive force (emf) induced in the sensing coil. As the ultrasonic waves are transmitted continuously to a rod specimen, the ultrasonic stationary wave is formed in it and the high‐frequency magnetic field is generated in nodes of the stationary state by the inverse effect of magnetostriction, then the emf is induced in the nodes. In this paper the strength of the effective magnetic field in the nickel rod is estimated by measuring the electromotive force induced by ultrasonic waves passing through magnetic materials. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 140(1): 1–7, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10025
Applying data mining to a field quality watchdog task
Authors: Hori Satoshi , Taki Hirokazu , Washio Takashi , Motoda Hiroshi
Published: August 2002

This article describes a watchdog program that discovers “meaningful” repair cases from a field service database. “Meaningful” cases are those judged worth probing further to prevent an epidemic of quality problems. Our system has employed the apriori algorithm, a data mining technique that efficiently performs the basket analysis. Our system proves that this data mining technique is not only useful in knowledge discovery but is also capable of performing the database watchdog task. The apriori algorithm automatically generates frequent itemsets from a large set of records. A frequent itemset is an arbitrary combination of values that appear more often than a threshold “minimum support.” The algorithm often generates too many itemsets for quality engineers to review carefully in their daily work. Many itemsets do not provide sufficient information to investigate further. Hence, in order not to generate these valueless itemsets, the apriori algorithm is modified in two ways. One way is “basket analysis on objective and explanatory attributes” and the other is “itemset reduction.” The advantage of our method is demonstrated with some experimental results. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 140(2): 18–25, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10034
Parallel processing of network calculations in order to speed up transient stability analysis
Authors: Nagata Masaki , Uchida Naoyuki
Published: August 2002

Power systems have become very large, and in addition the forthcoming open electricity market will make power system operation more complex. Therefore, power system operation must become more efficient and flexible. Very fast power system simulation is a means of achieving more sophisticated power system on‐line monitoring and control, and parallel computing is a key technology for very fast power system simulation. This paper proposes an efficient and fast parallel network calculation algorithm that will contribute to the development of fast power system simulation programs. Numerical examples show that the proposed method using six processors is about 4.0 times as fast as the usual serial algorithm when applied to a large‐scale radial power system and about 3.2 times as fast when applied to a large‐scale loop power system. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 135(3): 26–36, 2001
Electric field calculation in composite dielectrics by a curved triangular surface charge method
Authors: Hamada Shoji , Techaumnat Boonchai , Takuma Tadasu
Published: August 2002

This paper describes a triangular surface charge method (TSCM) called (3,1)‐TSCM, which uses curved surface elements for calculating electric fields in composite dielectrics. The boundary element utilizes a cubic shape function with nine degrees of freedom and a linear function for representing the charge density on its surface. Conventional SCMs, including the (3,1)‐TSCM, show a very large relative error in the composite dielectrics where the permittivity is much higher in one medium than in the other. A modified method called the β method can suppress such relative errors, which expresses electric fields by surface charges without subtraction causing large relative errors. We have applied the β method to the (3,1)‐TSCM and calculated electric fields for a spherical dielectric under a uniform field. The calculated results show that the (3,1)‐TSCM improves the accuracy of the electric field by more than one order compared with the method using flat surface elements with constant charge density on each element. Furthermore, the β method completely suppresses the divergence of relative errors even when the ratio of the permittivity of two media reaches 1010. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 136(1): 1–8, 2001
Fault analysis of the interconnecting system between a commercial‐scale subsonic diagonal‐type MHD generator and an ac power system
Authors: Iwashita Takeshi , Matsuo Tetsuji , Inui Yoshitaka , Ishikawa Motoo , Umoto Juro
Published: August 2002

Fault analyses are performed for the interconnecting system between a commercial‐scale subsonic diagonal‐type MHD generator and an ac power system through a line‐commutated inverter. The behavior of the interconnecting system is first examined for the case of single misfiring of one thyristor in the inverter. In this case, the load current increases because the inverter system is short‐circuited. Following the theory of inverter commutation, the load current decreases to the rated value and the MHD generator is restored to the rated condition. Next, the cases of a single‐line ground fault and of a three‐phase short circuit fault are investigated. The line voltage decreases and thus the load currents increase after the fault. This increase of load currents destroys the design‐point flow of the MHD generator. Phase‐control angle control of the inverters is required in order to restore the rated operation of the MHD generator. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 136(1): 29–36, 2001
Sway measurement of overhead power lines by ITV‐based camera
Authors: Ishino Ryuichi , Ishikawa Tomomi
Published: August 2002

We have developed a new method that can measure movement of overhead power lines in the wind. This method uses images from an ITV camera system. The sway of the power line is videotaped and analyzed. Its measured frequency response to wind is compared to a theoretical model. It is found that the new method yields results that are in good agreement with those obtained from the theoretical model for frequency response less than 0.5 Hz. With the result of frequency response, we can calculate the sway mode of the power line in the wind. Our method also offers displacement of the sway of the cable. We compared our method to the laser measurement, and found a difference of about 10 cm at 255 m from the camera. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 137(4): 18–24, 2001
Application and monitoring of SF6 gas‐insulated NGR (neutral grounding resistor) using ceramic resistors
Authors: Shirakawa Shingo , Terakado Shuichi , Miyake Junichirou , Tanaka Shigeru , Takasugi Katami , Yamashita Takahiro
Published: August 2002

About 15 years have passed since ceramic‐resistor NGRs (Neutral Grounding Resistors) were developed as new materials for power equipment. This paper describes the cumulative numbers of applications of ceramic‐resistor‐type SF6 gas‐insulated NGRs and the typical construction of the 22‐, 66‐, and 110‐kV NGRs, and also describes monitoring methods for measuring the residual leakage current of the 110‐kV NGR that depend on the neutral unbalance voltage of power transformers, and the use of thermal detection devices for the ceramic resistors of the 66‐kV NGRs. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 137(4): 32–37, 2001
Identification of power system dynamics due to combined use of mathematical model and neural network
Authors: Takahashi Norio , Takeno Hiromasa , Ohsawa Yasuharu
Published: August 2002

In order to obtain a reliable model of power systems, identification of power system dynamics by employing a neural network is studied. A new method of combined use of a mathematical model and a neural network is proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by applying to two kinds of one‐machine infinite‐bus system—an experimental system and a numerical simulation model system. In the conventional method, the neural network learns the generator terminal voltage of the system directly. On one hand, in the new method, the neural network is trained to learn errors between the generator terminal voltage of the system and that produced by the mathematical model. The results of the test show that good performance is obtained for the proposed method. Construction of a more reliable model is demonstrated by combined use of the mathematical model and the neural network. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 138(1): 42–48, 2002
Low‐noise blue light generation of intracavity frequency‐doubled LD‐pumped Cr:LiSAF laser by single‐mode method
Authors: Makio Satoshi , Matsumoto Hironari , Miyamoto Akio , Sato Masayoshi , Sasaki Takatomo
Published: August 2002

We have demonstrated the production of low‐noise blue SHG (Second Harmonic Generation) light by single‐mode oscillation in an intracavity frequency‐doubled laser diode (LD)‐pumped Cr‐doped LiSrAlF6 (Cr:LiSAF) solid‐state laser. The SHG crystal was LiB3O5 (LBO). A birefringent filter and an etalon plate were used for the single‐mode Cr:LiSAF laser oscillation wave. A maximum blue SHG output power of 32 mW was obtained by using a 1‐mm‐thick birefringent filter and an etalon plate 200 μm thick with 20% reflectivity. The oscillation wavelength varied by 0.24 pm/hPa in response to changes in atmospheric pressure. A long‐term stability of 300 hours was obtained with the cavity enclosed in a barostat. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 138(1): 49–55, 2002
Determination of equivalent circuit constants of synchronous machines from the extended Dalton‐Cameron method
Authors: Ara Takahiro , Hiraga Akira , Yamamoto Shu
Published: August 2002

This paper presents a method of determining the equivalent circuit constants which accord with the physical construction of synchronous machines, using the dc decay testing method with the rotor in arbitrary position (proposed by the authors and called the extended Dalton–Cameron method).

The conventional Dalton–Cameron method calculates the direct‐ and quadrature‐axis subtransient reactance from a standstill response test in any arbitrary rotor position using a single‐phase power supply. The extended Dalton–Cameron method determines the direct‐ and quadrature‐axis operational impedances for each slip from a standstill response test using a small‐capacity dc power supply.

The direct‐ and quadrature‐axis operational impedance loci thus obtained synchronous machine constants (subtransient, transient, and synchronous reactances) are used to estimate the direct‐ and quadrature‐axis equivalent circuit constants which accord with the physical construction of synchronous machines.

As an example, equivalent circuit constants are determined for a 10‐kW laminated salient‐pole‐type synchronous machine with damper winding. The validity of the equivalent circuit constants is confirmed by comparing the calculated resistance and leakage reactance of the field winding determined from the operational impedance when the terminals are short‐circuited, to those when the terminals are connected to an external resistance. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 138(1): 56–67, 2002
Interior structure of quality control center on the low‐voltage side for customized power quality service in FRIENDS
Authors: Hara Ryoichi , Kita Hiroyuki , Tanaka Eiichi , Hasegawa Jun
Published: August 2002

The authors have proposed the Flexible Reliable and Intelligent Electric eNergy Delivery System (FRIENDS) as a future electric power distribution system. In order to realize FRIENDS it is indispensable to design the concrete interior structure of the key facility, the Quality Control Center. This paper proposes an interior structure and control schemes for the Quality Control Center from the viewpoint of customized power quality service, which is one of the most important objectives of FRIENDS. The validity of the proposed structure and control schemes is confirmed through transient analysis using PSCAD/EMTDC. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 139(3): 45–52, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.1159
Learning of symbiotic phenomena between agents by using neural networks
Authors: Hirasawa Kotaro , Yoshida Hidemasa , Hu Jinglu
Published: August 2002

Recently, numerous attempts have been made by researchers to understand the essence of complex phenomena (complex systems). In this paper, we consider biological systems in nature as being among the most complex systems. The purpose of this paper is to propose a method of realizing symbiotic phenomena such as mutual benefit, competition, and exploitation more generally than the Lotka–Volterra equation by using neural networks. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 140(1): 77–88, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.1172 Copyright © 2002 Scripta Technica
Strategic environmental awakening: European progress in regional environmental integration
Authors: Clement Keith
Published: August 2002

In the EU Structural Funds, integrating environment and regional economic development is a challenge that is progressively being met. From a beginning characterized by conflict between these two themes, considerable progress has been made in successive rounds of programmes, accompanied by a gradual raising of awareness and the development of new mechanisms for integration. This progress has been supported by environmental guidance from the European Commission, with handbooks designed to raise new ideas and suggest innovative ways of approaching the task. Current programmes incorporate extensive environmental profiles to support programme development, and new methods of combining both horizontal and vertical integration show considerable promise for the realization of environmental objectives in programme implementation. To facilitate further integration, priorities for research include the role for environmental strategies, the production of an index of environmental integration, the identification of measurable environmental indicators and confirmation that sustainable development is acting as a catalyst for environmental gain. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
The need for adaptability in EU environmental policy design and implementation
Authors: Glachant Matthieu
Published: August 2002

Is the application of the EU environmentally policy satisfying in the field? In particular, are the environmental objectives set in the directives met? This paper explores the issue of the effectiveness of the European environmental policy. It is based on the results of a recent study, which has consisted in evaluating the implementation of three pieces of EU environmental legislation in France, Germany, Netherlands and United Kingdom. The legislation studied was Directive 89/429 regulating atmospheric emissions from domestic waste incinerators, Directive 88/609 dealing with SO2 and NOx emissions from large combustion plants (LCPs) and Council Regulation 1836/93 concerning the voluntary participation of industrial companies in an EU Eco‐Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).

The result of the study suggests that simply posing the problem in terms of ‘implementation deficit’ is not sufficient. In fact, over‐compliance with directive goals is even observed in certain cases. By contrast, the evaluation suggests the prevalence of interactions between the considered implementation process and other parallel policy processes at the implementation stage. The study shows that this interplay between policies has a huge impact on implementation environmental results, which can be either positive or negative. Based on this statement, an important question for EU policy is how implementation can efficiently cope with such interactions, which means finding ways to maximize potential synergies, or alternatively to reduce inconsistencies, with the other policy components. Given that policy interactions are difficult to predict at the policy formulation stage of the policy, adjustments necessarily occur at the implementation stage. In this context, implementing EU environmental policy requires policy systems able to adjust at low costs. In this paper, this property is called adaptability and is given a precise content. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and ERP Environment
Environmental liability and accident prevention: preliminary experiences in Germany
Authors: Schwarze Reimund
Published: August 2002

Strict environmental liability, in conjunction with improved environmental liability insurance, proves to be an effective instrument to tackle environmental risks of industrial installations. This paper examines the experience with the Environmental Liability Act and Environmental Liability Insurance in Germany. It rebuts the widespread criticism of the preventive effect of the Act and considers the actual changes in the number of environmental accidents in Germany. The picture that emerges from this study is that the Act seems to have a measurable preventive effect from 1993 onwards, the year in which the new environmental liability policy was introduced. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and retinoids in breast cancer chemoprevention
Authors: Zujewski JoAnne
Published: August 2002

Tamoxifen has been shown to decrease the risk of invasive breast cancer by 49% and noninvasive breast cancer by 50%. Tamoxifen is also associated with a threefold increased risk of endometrial cancer. Raloxifene, a second‐generation selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), has not been associated with endometrial cancer risk, and is currently under study in a large, multi‐institutional, randomized Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) for breast cancer prevention in postmenopausal women. A pilot trial of raloxifene in premenopausal women to assess the safety, tolerability, effects on bone mineral density, mammographic density, and other biological endpoints is ongoing. The retinoids have been shown to decrease mammary tumors in rodent carcinogenesis models. The Italian trial of fenretinide (4‐HPR) in women with stage I breast cancer randomized women to fenretinide or no intervention. This study did not show an overall effect of decreasing the risk of contralateral breast cancer. However, a protective effect was suggested in premenopausal women. It has been suggested that this effect may be related to insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1), which has been shown to be modulated by fenretinide in premenopausal but not postmenopausal women. Pilot studies of SERMs alone and in combination with retinoids or other agents provide a model for testing the safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and biomarker modulation in high‐risk women. These studies can provide information as to both the pathophysiology of carcinogenesis and the mechanism of action of chemopreventive agents, and help select agents and doses for testing in large randomized studies. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 39:264–270, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role of glutathione S‐transferase mu (GSTM1) in styrene‐7,8‐oxide toxicity and mutagenicity
Authors: Shield Alison J. , Sanderson Barbara J.S.
Published: August 2002

In the human glutathione S‐transferase (GST) mu gene family, homozygous deletion of GSTM1 is the null phenotype (frequency of ∼50% in Caucasians). In the current study, GSTM1 status was determined in human cell lines using reverse transcriptase, polymerase chain reaction, and immunochemistry. Cell lines were challenged with a range of doses of styrene‐7,8‐oxide (SO) and then toxicity and genotoxicity were monitored. Toxicity was determined by growth in flasks and genotoxicity by cloning in microplates in the presence/absence of 6‐thioguanine, to detect mutations at the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) locus. A SO concentration‐dependent decrease in survival was observed for all cell lines, with GSTM1‐deficient lines being more sensitive. The IC50s of deficient and proficient cell lines were 0.45 and 0.55 mM SO, respectively. The difference between survival of GSTM1‐deficient and ‐proficient cell lines approached statistical significance. The background mutation frequency of GSTM1‐deficient cell lines was 2 × 10−5, and that of GSTM1‐proficient cell lines was 3 × 10−6. GSTM1‐deficient cell lines were significantly more sensitive than GSTM1‐proficient cell lines to mutation induction for concentrations up to 2.5 mM SO (P < 0.001, regression analysis). These results suggest that cell lines containing metabolically competent GSTM1 are able to efficiently use GSTM1 to conjugate SO and reduce its hazard. This supports the epidemiological evidence that GSTM1 influences sensitivity to chemical carcinogenesis and subsequent risk of cancer induction. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 37:285–289, 2001 © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A rapid assay for mitochondrial DNA damage and respiratory chain inhibition in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Barclay Barry J. , DeHaan Carrie L. , Hennig Ursula G.G. , Iavorovska Oksana , von Borstel Reid W. , von Borstel R.C.
Published: August 2002

There is a need for a rapid assay to identify agents that damage mitochondria because the mitochondrion may be an important target for numerous environmental mitotoxins. Certainly at least one chemotherapeutic regimen (CHOP therapy) that includes doxorubicin can induce cardiomyopathy through mitochondrial genotoxicity in cardiac muscle cells. Yeast cells (1.5 × 106‐107) in water are spread on a YEPD plate, and, when the suspension of cells has dried, a small well (12 mm diameter) is cut into the agar; 200–400 μl of a solution of the presumptive mitochondrial genotoxin is placed in the well, and the plates are incubated for 2 days. The genotoxin forms a concentration gradient through the agar and affects the growing cells. An overlay containing tetrazolium chloride is added, and the plates are incubated for 6–24 hr. Respiring cells turn red, and nonrespiring cells, with damaged DNA or inhibited respiratory chains, that are adjacent to the well, are white. A white ring, or a more lightly colored red ring, around the well indicates the presence of cells with lowered respiratory activity which may be fully reversible when the mitochondrial genotoxin is removed. In preliminary experiments, doxorubicin (= adriamycin) shows strong activity with this assay; cyclophosphamide is negative, and 4‐hydroxycyclophosphamide, a metabolite of cyclophosphamide, is weakly positive. Ethidium bromide, methotrexate, 5‐fluorouracil, and 5‐fluorocytosine also are mitochondrial genotoxins. Antifungal agents similar to 5‐fluorocytosine and anthelmintic compounds such as pyrvinium iodide can be powerful mitochondrial genotoxins. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 38:153–158, 2001 © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Active interaction control of civil structures. Part 2: MDOF systems
Authors: Zhang Yunfeng , Iwan W. D.
Published: August 2002

In this paper, the performance of active interaction control (AIC) algorithms is assessed within the context of two realistic building models. The AIC control approach is proposed as a semi‐active means of mitigating the structural response during large earthquakes. To implement the AIC control algorithms into MDOF systems, the modal control (MC) approach that directs the control effort to certain dominant response modes is formulated and utilized herein. Two structures, a 3‐storey building and a 9‐storey steel‐framed benchmark building controlled by the AIC algorithms are analysed for two historical earthquake records. The results of numerical simulation verify the efficacy of the AIC control algorithms in controlling vibration of building structures during large earthquakes. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.