Tokyo Institute of Technology

About: Tokyo Institute of Technology is a education organization based out in Tokyo, Tôkyô, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Thin film. The organization has 46775 authors who have published 101656 publications receiving 2357893 citations. The organization is also known as: Tokyo Tech & Tokodai.

Parameter learning of logic programs for symbolic-statistical modeling

Abstract: We propose a logical/mathematical framework for statistical parameter learning of parameterized logic programs, i.e. definite clause programs containing probabilistic facts with a parameterized distribution. It extends the traditional least Herbrand model semantics in logic programming to distribution semantics, possible world semantics with a probability distribution which is unconditionally applicable to arbitrary logic programs including ones for HMMs, PCFGs and Bayesian networks. We also propose a new EM algorithm, the graphical EM algorithm, that runs for a class of parameterized logic programs representing sequential decision processes where each decision is exclusive and independent. It runs on a new data structure called support graphs describing the logical relationship between observations and their explanations, and learns parameters by computing inside and outside probability generalized for logic programs. The complexity analysis shows that when combined with OLDT search for all explanations for observations, the graphical EM algorithm, despite its generality, has the same time complexity as existing EM algorithms, i.e. the Baum-Welch algorithm for HMMs, the Inside-Outside algorithm for PCFGs, and the one for singly connected Bayesian networks that have been developed independently in each research field. Learning experiments with PCFGs using two corpora of moderate size indicate that the graphical EM algorithm can significantly outperform the Inside-Outside algorithm.

Structural color films with lotus effects, superhydrophilicity, and tunable stop-bands

Abstract: The structural blue color of a Morpho butterfly originates from the diffraction of light and interference effects due to the presence of the microstructures on the wing of the butterfly. Structural color on the surface of a damselfish reversibly changes between green and blue. Inspired by these creatures, we have been trying to prepare high-quality and functional structural color films. We describe our efforts in this Account. A useful technique to prepare such structural color films in colloidal solution is a “lifting” method, which allows us to quickly fabricate brilliant colloidal crystal films. The thicknesses of the films can be controlled by precisely adjusting the particle concentration and the lifting speed. Moreover, in order to prepare a complicated structure, we have used template methods. Indeed, we have successfully prepared the inverse structure of the wing of a Morpho butterfly with this technique. Initially, however, our structural color films had a whitish appearance due to the scattering...

Endoscopic observation of tissue by narrowband illumination

Abstract: We propose a new illumination method for a medical endoscope: narrow band imaging (NBI), in which the spectral bandwidth of the filtered light is narrowed. To confirm how the spectral specifications of the filtered light influence a reproduced image, an experiment was conducted observing the endoscopic images of the back mucosa of a human tongue. In addition, the effect of NBI on endoscopic images was investigated through preliminary clinical tests in colonoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. It has been shown that NBI can enhance the capillary pattern and the crypt pattern on the mucosa. These patterns are useful features for diagnosing an early cancer.

New volume of Earth, Planets and Space with an open access-style publishing model under SpringerOpen

Abstract: Editorial This is a new volume of Earth, Planets and Space (EPS) with an open access-style publishing model under SpringerOpen. EPS had a conventional style publication with Terrapub (Tokyo Japan) from 1998 until 2013 as a continuation of the two journals, the Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity (1949 to 1997) and the Journal of Physics of the Earth (1952 to 1997). We hope that our new open access model as of 2014 will have a greater impact. The scope of EPS is broad, covering earth and planetary sciences, and in particular geomagnetism, aeronomy, space science, seismology, volcanology, geodesy, and planetary science. EPS also covers articles in new and interdisciplinary subjects, including technical topics. We have established four categories for articles: full papers, letters, frontier letters, and technical reports. The full papers are research articles with no page limit. The letters are short papers of eight pages or less in the final PDF version. The frontier letters are letter articles, which are invited by the Editor in Chief, while the technical reports are for the presentations of software tools, experimental or computational methods, or hardware designs.