Examination of demand forecasting by time series analysis for auto parts remanufacturing

Production planning and control in remanufacturing are more complex than those in traditional manufacturing. Developing a reliable forecasting process is the first step for optimization of the overall planning process. In remanufacturing, forecasting the timing of demands is one of the critical issues. The current article presents the result of examining the effectiveness of demand forecasting by time series analysis in auto parts remanufacturing. Most previous studies on demand forecasting in remanufacturing assume that the time distribution of new product sales are known and that the time distributions of product end-of-life and demands for remanufactured products are calculated by adding the product lifespan period to the time distribution of product sales. However, this assumption is not always correct. For example, independent remanufacturers (IRs) do not always have precise information on the time distribution of new product sales, and in this case, a different approach is needed. Based on this background, this study examined the effectiveness of forecasting by time series analysis that does not need those information. To verify the forecasting accuracy, actual data of an auto parts IR was used. The study used the time series data of the shipments of an actual IR of auto parts for a total of 400 types of remanufactured alternators and starters over a period of 12 years. The method was employed on the initial 11 years of data to project the demand over the final year, and the forecasting results provided an average error of 27.2% relative to the actual shipments made over the forecasted year. The factors degrading the accuracy and the means of improving the results are discussed. Also, the implications of the results and future steps regarding the present study are argued

Sexual differentiation of neural circuitry in the neuroendocrine hypothalamus

Estrogen or aromatizable androgen exerts potent influences on modulating neural development and neural circuit formation in developing sex steroid-sensitive neuroendocrine hypothalamus. Sex steroids can act as a neurotrophic factor on neural tissues, stimulating axonal and dendritic growth and synapse formation. Sex steroids are involved in regulation of expression of certain structural proteins and their messenger ribonucleic acids in the hypothalamic neurons, which could affect neuropil organization. These organizational actions of sex steroids seem to induce permanent sexual difference in neuronal circuitry driving neuroendocrine and behavioral functions of the hypothalamus.Biomedical Reviews 1997; 7: 5-15

スマートフォンを用いて近距離からディスプレイとポインティング連携するための不可視ARマーカ

学位の種別: 修士University of Tokyo(東京大学

Economic Evaluation of Small-scale Renewable Electricity Generation Project with Community Participation by Regional I-O Analysis in which WTW is incorporated

Small-scale renewable electricity generation projects have the potential to address not just the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change, but also to provide local, sustainable economic and community revitalization. Japanfs experience following the Great East Japan Earthquake has also demonstrated the potential fragility of too-heavy reliance on large-scale power plants. Small-scale projects, such as those using solar, wind, or hydroelectric resources, can thus also boost a regionfs energy self-sufficiency and ability to withstand natural disasters. In addition, small-scale operations mean that areas unsuitable to larger plants or installations can become productive - in the case of hydroelectric plants, as discussed in this paper, smaller streams can be tapped for power, with the additional benefit of not requiring costly dam construction. These benefits indicate the great potential for small-scale electricity generation projects, and this paper explores their economic feasibility in practice, using a hypothetical case study in a small regional Japanese city. The hypothetical plant is intended to provide both environmental and economic benefits to the local community, and the various trade-offs between levels of each are studied. We evaluate the project economically by using the regional I-O (input output) analysis in which the WTW (willingness to work) is incorporated. The WTW results for the project have been estimated by using the conjoint analysis as a function of its various attributes, namely revenue from the projectfs electricity sales, profits earned for the local community, and rewards given to contributors. The results show that if the reward for volunteer activity is set higher, the amount of volunteer labor is increased, and the operating surplus of the project is also increased. As a result, it is possible to reduce the subsidies of regional governments with respect to the project, and it is possible to devote that amount of budget to improvement of other administrative services. Subsequently, when this type of small hydroelectric generation project with citizen participation is introduced, household utility levels increase. Understanding the dynamism between these factors can allow regional governments to adapt the scheme to best fit the needs of individual regions

“Media for Capability” of Children with Disabilities: Development of the Japanese Augmentative Alternative Communication App by Tablet for Persons with Hard of Hearing

Over the past few decades, a considerable number of studies have been conducted on the communication for persons with Hard of hearing and Deaf in Japan. But little attention has been given to the take advantage of Information Technology devices to support the communication for Hard of hearing children. \ \ By the way, the present study analyses in greater detail the survey results summarized in the importance of the “Tablet-Media”. We discuss our communication assist software to express texts and images by Android application for children with Hard of hearing. In this paper, this app is analyzed using the “Capability theory” with emphasis on the power of self-expression and the right to self-determination of persons with disabilities. \ \ The results of our performance tests showed that our system was very helpful in order to provide their “Capability” for Hard of hearing children. We suggest the potential to combine our App is what we should call “Media for Capability” of communication in children with hard of hearing