Tokyo College of Environment

• During blackouts, EVs can be used to power houses or provide transportation. • This study presents a choice experiment for using EVs for two purposes in Japan. • The choice probability depended on the blackout conditions (e.g., season and weather). • The probability also varied depending on the household characteristics. • The study presents practical and policy implications to increase EV benefits. Electric vehicles (EVs) can power houses during large-scale blackouts caused by natural hazards. However, during natural hazard-related disasters, EVs are essential for transportation to obtain supplies and for other purposes. This study focuses on the conflict between powering houses with EVs and using them for transportation during natural hazard-triggered blackouts. We assessed the conditions under which the choice between using EVs for powering houses or traveling varied. In particular, we conducted a choice experiment with EV-owning households in Japan, using a questionnaire based on the stated preference approach. The respondents were presented with a hypothetical scenario immediately after a blackout caused by an earthquake. They were asked whether, in the case of a blackout, they would prefer to use their EVs for traveling or powering their houses while considering the season, time of the day, weather, and EV battery level. We considered two travel destinations: 1) shopping centers (to obtain supplies) and 2) public charging stations (to recharge EVs). Based on responses of 300 individuals (150 individuals for each destination), we used discrete choice models to identify the blackout conditions and household characteristics that could influence the choice. Overall, individuals preferred using EVs for powering houses rather than for traveling to each destination; however, this tendency varied by conditions and characteristics (e.g., stronger on rainy days, but weaker in spring or fall, or among households with people requiring care). Based on the results, we suggested measures to enable the use of power at home while achieving the purpose of traveling.

水平力に対する杭基礎の設計においては，群杭効果による影響を考慮して水平地盤反力係数を評価する。群杭効果の影響は群杭効率と呼ばれる低減係数で表されるが，基本的に群杭効率の検討は杭頭が地表から突出していない条件で行われている。一方で，線路上空建築物やパイルベント構造等の1柱1杭形式の杭基礎は，地中梁やフーチングがないため，杭と地上部の柱をあわせて突出杭の挙動を示すと考えられる。そこで，本研究では突出の有無が群杭効果に与える影響を調べることを目的に，遠心載荷実験および3次元弾塑性有限要素法解析を行った。その結果，突出によって群杭効果が小さくなることを示し，杭の変形モードと地盤の応力分布の観点からそのメカニズムを明らかにした。

High-speed data transmission is enabled by millimeter wave communication. While the short wavelength may cause reliability issues, which is critical in some scenarios such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication. In this work, an adaptive data transmission management method is proposed by incorporating sensing results. With the moving information of the vehicles, the transmission strategy is adaptively adjusted to improve communication efficiency. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated in simulation experiment by extending the network simulator framework NS3. The results demonstrate that it is promising to utilize the sensing results for intelligent network management.

In recent years, rural return has emerged as a significant trend in China, largely driven by central and local government policies promoting rural revitalization and urban-to-rural migration. This study aims to explore the impact of rural return on the evolution of rural spaces at the village level in China, with a particular focus on how urban-to-rural migration reshapes village spatial structures. This study examines the spatial implications of this phenomenon through case studies of three traditional villages in Zhejiang Province, utilizing qualitative fieldwork, spatial mapping, and in-depth interviews. By analyzing migration patterns, residential choices, and subsequent spatial transformations, this research elucidates how urban-to-rural migrants reshape spatial structures at the village level and integrate into local communities. The research findings reveal that the proportion of the migrant population is less than 30%, yet this relatively small proportion has brought significant changes to the village, manifested in the substantial increase in third spaces within the village. The study also identifies ten distinct migration types within the sample, with short-term residency comprising the majority, and migrants’ relocation needs play a crucial role in determining spatial adaptations. The predominant strategy for village integration involves the functional transformation of traditional dwellings into mixed-use commercial and residential spaces, as well as the renovation of existing structures to accommodate new social and economic activities. Additionally, the study underscores the active participation of migrants in public life and communal spaces as a key driver of spatial regeneration. This research contributes to the understanding of rural transformation in contemporary China by demonstrating that urban-to-rural migration not only reshapes village spatial configurations but also catalyzes social and functional revitalization. These insights provide a nuanced perspective on the evolving dynamics of rural settlements and inform future rural development strategies.

The accurate evaluation of large-scale wireless communication systems necessitates efficient channel emulation and modeling techniques.While deterministic methods, such as ray-tracing (RT) simulation, offer high accuracy, their computational complexity poses challenges in dynamic environments involving a moving receiver (Rx).To address this, a grid-based channel emulation technique is employed, where the simulation site is divided into grids, and deterministic channel parameters are precomputed at each node.The channel impulse response (CIR) is then synthesized through interpolation of these parameters.However, as path parameters are estimated independently at each node, an effective path association algorithm is required.This work proposes a clustering-based approach that utilizes angulardomain parameters to associate paths.Then, path clustering is performed prior to interpolation to satisfy the hardware constraints of the emulator.The algorithm is validated using an RT-simulated dataset representing a smart office environment at a carrier frequency ( f C ) of 28.35 GHz.

PurposeThe effects of general anesthesia on neurodevelopment in children remain controversial. We explored the relationship between general anesthesia and neurodevelopment in children participating in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS).MethodsThis study enrolled children born between 37 and 41 weeks of pregnancy via single-vaginal delivery to pregnant women registered in the JECS between January 2011 and March 2014. Data were collected from mother-completed questionnaires and medical transcripts. Neurodevelopment in five domains was assessed every 6 months between 12 and 48 months of age, using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires. The associations between general anesthesia exposure during early childhood and neurodevelopment in children were evaluated at each time point. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated after covariate adjustment using logistic regression models.ResultsChildren who received general anesthesia before age 1 year had higher risks of neurodevelopmental delay in all five domains throughout the observational period. The largest risk was for gross motor delay at 18 months (adjusted odds ratio: 3.51; 95% confidence interval: 2.75–4.49). The effects on the incidence of neurodevelopmental delays after age 3 were not observed except for problem solving at 48 months. The risk of neurodevelopmental delay in children who first received general anesthesia after age 1 was considerably small.ConclusionsThis study suggests that general anesthesia administration before age 1 is associated with neurodevelopmental delay during 1–4 years of age. The risk of general anesthesia after age 1 may be small.

The first and most critical phase in growing crops is seed germination. Failure and slower germination process may have an impact on productivity. As a result, numerous strategies are needed to hasten germination and improving the quality of the seedlings. One possible strategy is the use of nanoparticles. This present study used colloidal silica nanoparticles (8 - 10 nm) with concentrations of 0 (control), 100, and 1000 mg/L. Seeds from six different species were used (Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens, Cucumis sativus, Solanum melongena, Solanum lycopersicum, and Daucus carota). Seeds were germinated in dark condition for eight consecutive days. The result showed that the use of silica nanoparticles may shorten the germination time while increasing the germination index and coefficient of velocity of germination in C. annuum, C. frutescens, C. sativus, and S. lycopersicum. However, the observed effect was not very strong compared to the control. This could be due to the seeds utilized were not in dormant stage and had rather high viability. On the other hand, we found that silica nanoparticles could alter the structure of the seed coat, allowing for easier water imbibition for germination.

The present article explores 98 years of creativity research [1922–2020] covering more than 38,000 academic articles on the topic. By applying computational methods rooted in network analysis and text mining, we uncover a history of creativity research spread through 12 major topics of inquiry, including, among others, the psychology of creativity, organisational creativity, creative industries, and idea generation. We also unpack recent trends within the growing body of literature, with a particular focus on business and management. These trends, 36 in total, cover a variety of topics, from the discussions of cultural psychology and distributed creativity to the role that virtual worlds play in the generation of creative outputs. Digitalisation, interdisciplinarity, and multiculturalism emerge as transversal topics across the recent developments. Finally, we discuss how computational methods can help develop comprehensive snapshots of large research fields such as that of creativity and draw subsequent policy implications.