Peak Shift Effect Research Articles

Optimal Design and Analysis of Sector-Coupled Energy System in Northeast Japan

As for research on sector-coupled energy systems, few studies comprehensively deal with energy carriers and energy demand sectors. Moreover, few studies have analyzed energy conversion functions such as Power-to-Gas, Power-to-Heat, and Vehicle-to-Grid on the energy system performance. This study clarifies the required renewable resources and costs in the sector-coupled energy system and cost-optimal installed capacity and operation. We formulated an optimization model considering sector coupling and conducted a case study applying the model in the Tohoku region. As a result, due to sector coupling, the total primary energy supply (TPES) is expected to decrease, and system costs are expected to increase from 1.8 to 2.4 times the current level. System costs were minimized when maximizing the use of V2G by electric vehicles and district heating systems (DHS). From the hourly analysis, it becomes clear that the peak cut effect by Power-to-Heat and the peak shift effect by Vehicle-to-Grid result in leveling the output of electrolyzer and fuel synthesizer, which improves the capacity factor reducing capacity addition. Since a large amount of renewable energy is required to realize the designed energy system, it is necessary to reduce the energy demand mainly in the industrial sector. Besides, in order to reduce costs, it is required to utilize electric vehicles by V2G and provide policy support for district heating systems in Japan.

Stochasticity, Nonlinear Value Functions, and Update Rules in Learning Aesthetic Biases.

A theoretical framework for the reinforcement learning of aesthetic biases was recently proposed based on brain circuitries revealed by neuroimaging. A model grounded on that framework accounted for interesting features of human aesthetic biases. These features included individuality, cultural predispositions, stochastic dynamics of learning and aesthetic biases, and the peak-shift effect. However, despite the success in explaining these features, a potential weakness was the linearity of the value function used to predict reward. This linearity meant that the learning process employed a value function that assumed a linear relationship between reward and sensory stimuli. Linearity is common in reinforcement learning in neuroscience. However, linearity can be problematic because neural mechanisms and the dependence of reward on sensory stimuli were typically nonlinear. Here, we analyze the learning performance with models including optimal nonlinear value functions. We also compare updating the free parameters of the value functions with the delta rule, which neuroscience models use frequently, vs. updating with a new Phi rule that considers the structure of the nonlinearities. Our computer simulations showed that optimal nonlinear value functions resulted in improvements of learning errors when the reward models were nonlinear. Similarly, the new Phi rule led to improvements in these errors. These improvements were accompanied by the straightening of the trajectories of the vector of free parameters in its phase space. This straightening meant that the process became more efficient in learning the prediction of reward. Surprisingly, however, this improved efficiency had a complex relationship with the rate of learning. Finally, the stochasticity arising from the probabilistic sampling of sensory stimuli, rewards, and motivations helped the learning process narrow the range of free parameters to nearly optimal outcomes. Therefore, we suggest that value functions and update rules optimized for social and ecological constraints are ideal for learning aesthetic biases.

Ferroelectric characteristics of Fe/Nb co-doped BaTiO3

[Formula: see text] ceramics ([Formula: see text] mol.%, [Formula: see text]:[Formula: see text] = 1:3, 2:3, 3:2, 3:1) were successfully prepared using the traditional solid-phase sintering method. The effects of the proportion doping (Fe/Nb) components on various properties of BaTiO3ceramics were studied. The X-ray diffraction showed that all solid solutions have the single cubic phase at room temperature, and that dielectric permittivity exhibits a maximum, Curie’s temperature at the peak. The ceramics have obvious peak shift effect: Curie’s temperature shifts to low temperature as Fe/Nb ratio increases. The high Fe/Nb ratio BaTiO3ceramic showed also an enhancement of the broadening effect for dielectric constant curve with respect to temperature, and dielectric permittivity peak reflected phase transition from rhombohedral to tetragonal polar-nano regions. Dielectric and ferroelectric properties of Fe/Nb co-doped BaTiO3ceramics have obvious enhanced ferroelectric properties and have slender hysteresis loop beneficial for energy storage materials.

Design and Value Evaluation of Demand Response Based on Model Predictive Control

Demand response is one of the key technologies in energy management systems, and is defined as the changes in electricity usage of end-use consumers that occur as a result of changing the electricity price, the incentive, etc. In this paper, a design method for demand response is proposed based on model predictive control. Model predictive control is a control method using prediction by a mathematical model, which is used for controlling systems with constraints. Because constraints are considered in the design of demand response, it is appropriate to utilize model predictive control. First, the model-predictive-based demand response problem is formulated. By solving this problem, demand response is performed based on the actual power consumption. Next, constraints on the peak shift effect are imposed, and an event-triggered mechanism is introduced. Third, the effects of demand response are theoretically analyzed. Finally, the economic value of the proposed approach is evaluated by numerical simulations. The proposed approach provides us a fundamental result for the design of demand response and aggregators such as retailers.

A research on the use of metaphor design in promoting brand identity

Every new brand which competes and increases its market share needs some tools and methods to be applied to its products. The objective of this re-search is to investigate the use of metaphor as a tool for peak shift effect and its impact on memory, which can be effective in promoting brand identity from a customer perspective. In this respect, this research uses a combina-tion of memory test and comparison of two objects method. Therefore, the research method was according to environment specifications. The results indicated that the products having metaphor in comparison to products with no metaphor has an effective role in peak shift and image persistence and its name in user’s mind. In conclusion, the brand identity can be promoted in a variety of ways, among which the design of metaphor, which is related to product design and graphic design, is one of these ways

Executive functions deficits impair extinction of generalization of fear of movement-related pain.

Generalization of fear of movement-related pain across novel but similar movements can lead to fear responses to movements that are actually not associated with pain. The peak-shift effect describes a phenomenon whereby particular novel movements elicit even greater fear responses than the original pain-provoking movement (CS+), because they represent a more extreme version of the CS+. There is great variance in the propensity to generalize as well as the speed of extinction learning when these novel movements are not followed by pain. It can be argued that this variance may be associated with executive function capacity, as individuals may be unable to intentionally inhibit fear responses. This study examined whether executive function capacity contributes to generalization and extinction of generalization as well as peak-shift of conditioned fear of movement-related pain and expectancy. Healthy participants performed a proprioceptive fear conditioning task. Executive function tests assessing updating, switching, and inhibition were used to predict changes in (extinction of) fear of movement-related pain and pain expectancy generalization. Low inhibitory capacity was associated with slower extinction of generalized fear of movement-related pain and pain expectancy. Evidence was found in favor of an area-shift, rather than a peak-shift effect, which implies that the peak conditioned fear response extended to, but did not shift to a novel stimulus. Participants with low inhibitory capacity may have difficulties withholding fear responses, leading to a slower decrease of generalized fear over time. The findings may be relevant to inform treatments. Low inhibitory capacity is not associated with slower generalization, but extinction of fear generalization. Fear elicited by a novel safe movement, situated outside the CS+/- continuum on the CS+ side, can be as strong as to the original stimulus predicting the pain-onset.

Attractiveness of the female body: Preference for the average or the supernormal?

The main purpose of the present study was to contrast the two hypotheses of female body attractiveness. The first is the ?preference-for-the average? hypothesis: the most attractive female body is the one that represents the average body proportions for a given population. The second is the ?preference-for-the supernormal? hypothesis: according to the so-called ?peak shift effect?, the most attractive female body is more feminine than the average. We investigated the preference for three female body characteristics: waist to hip ratio (WHR), buttocks and breasts. There were 456 participants of both genders. Using a program for computer animation (DAZ 3D) three sets of stimuli were generated (WHR, buttocks and breasts). Each set included six stimuli ranked from the lowest to the highest femininity level. Participants were asked to choose the stimulus within each set which they found most attractive (task 1) and average (task 2). One group of participants judged the body parts that were presented in the global context (whole body), while the other group judged the stimuli in the local context (isolated body parts only). Analyses have shown that the most attractive WHR, buttocks and breasts are more feminine (meaning smaller for WHR and larger for breasts and buttocks) than average ones, for both genders and in both presentation contexts. The effect of gender was obtained only for the most attractive breasts: males prefer larger breasts than females. Finally, most attractive and average WHR and breasts were less feminine in the local than in the global context. These results support the preference-for the supernormal hypothesis: all analyses have shown that both male and female participants preferred female body parts which are more feminine than those judged average.

Increasing Predictive Estimations Without Further Learning

The peak of learned responding normally occurs at the learning stimulus itself, but can shift to a different stimulus after discriminative learning. This provides important information about the nature of the generalization mechanism, and reveals alternative pathways through which learned responses can increase. Over two experiments, we established the peak-shift effect in a human predictive learning paradigm. Participants were asked to predict the occurrence of a neutral outcome (drawing of a lightning bolt) based on preceding geometrical figures (rings of different sizes). During learning, the middle-sized ring was sometimes followed by the outcome, whereas a larger ring was never followed by the outcome. At test, we presented larger and smaller rings (Experiment 1), or only a slightly smaller ring (Experiment 2). We consistently observed highest prediction of the outcome to the slightly smaller ring. Predictive estimations in humans can reach their height to stimuli that have never actually participated in the learning experiences. We argue that the results are most in line with an associative learning account, rather than an adaptation-level or a rule-learning account.

Individual differences during acquisition predict shifts in generalization

Learning to distinguish subtle differences in objects or events can impact how one generalizes. In some cases, training can cause novel events to appear more familiar or attractive than those actually experienced during training: the peak shift effect. This study examined whether individual differences in learning led to systematic patterns of generalization. Participants were trained to identify simulated birdsongs, and then tested on their ability to identify a target song presented among several similar songs that differed in pitch. Initial analysis showed that those attaining moderate proficiency at discriminating songs during training were more likely to shift than those performing poorly or proficiently. However, a neural network trained to output individuals’ gradient dynamics using only performance during training as input found an additional set of training variables that predicted shift. Specifically, one subset of shifters had highly conservative response biases accompanied by very little change to perceptual sensitivity in training. These findings suggest that discrimination learning may only lead to generalization shifts in some individuals, and that all individuals who shift may not do so for the same reason.

Natural and Augmented Breasts: Is What Is Not Natural Most Attractive?

Natural and augmented breasts differ in size and shape. Natural breasts are characterized by concave-to-straight upper-pole contours while augmented breasts are fuller and therefore may have convex upper-pole contours, irrespective of their size. The hypothesis that augmented breasts in a range of cup sizes are rated significantly more attractive than naturalistic breasts was investigated and confirmed using computer generated images of breasts in lateral-view by all males and female scross-culturally in English and Farsi speaking samples. Correlations were then used to show that, for all participants, breast area and breast displacement (concavity or convexity) are positively correlated with attractiveness ratings for natural but not augmented breasts. These results are counter-intuitive since humans could not have evolved in environments that included augmented breasts. The findings are introduced using the ethological concept of supernormal stimuli and the behaviorist/neuroaesthetic principle, the peak shift effect, applied to secondary sexual characteristics (i.e., waist-hip ratios and breasts) and it is concluded that augmentedbreasts, though deceptive signals of fertility, are supernormal stimuli.

Observation of Spin-Glass Behavior in La0.85Sr0.15CoO3 Single Crystals

The magnetic behavior of La0.85Sr0.15CoO3 single crystals and polycrystals has been subjected to a controversial debate for the last several years; while some groups show evidence for phase separation, others show spin-glass (SG) behavior. Here, we present a comprehensive investigation of the structural, ac susceptibility, and dc magnetization properties of La0.85Sr0.15CoO3 single crystals grown by float zone method. The structural analysis of XRD data by Rietveld refinement reveals the single crystallographic phase. The ac susceptibility results exhibit a frequency dependent peak shift (∼2 K) and time-dependent memory effect below the freezing temperature. The characteristic time scale τo calculated from this peak shift is found to be of ∼10−13 s which matches very well with typical values observed for a SG system. Further, the peak shift of the zero-field-cooling curves to lower temperature at higher dc fields is well described by the well-known de Almeida Thouless line, a characteristic of SG behavior. Thus, all our experimental findings confirm the existence of SG behavior in La0.85Sr0.15CoO3 single crystals.

Electric-field effect of near-band-edge photoluminescence in bulk ZnO

We have studied the effect of electric fields on the near-band-edge (NBE) emissions in bulk zinc oxide (ZnO) by using photoluminescence and photocurrent (PC) spectroscopy simultaneously. The intensity-quenching and peak-shift effects of the free exciton spectra were observed with increasing electric field. From the PC result, we find out that the free excitons are disturbed by the PC carriers of the photo-created electrons and holes. This disturbance reduces the recombination ratio and the lifetime of free excitons. Therefore, the intensity-quenching effect was attributed to the decrease in the recombination of free excitons. Thus, the shift of the free exciton peaks was related to Stark effect induced by electric field. As a result, we have found that these phenomena are caused to the exciton–electron scattering due to a strong interaction between the excitons in the conduction band and the photo-generated electron carriers with increasing the applied electric field.

Temporal generalization and peak shift in humans

Three experiments investigated temporal generalization in humans. In Experiment 1, a peak shift effect was produced when participants were given intradimensional discrimination training. In Experiment 2, after training with a standard S+ and generalization testing with an asymmetrical series of durations, generalization gradients moved toward the prevailing adaptation level. In Experiment 3, generalization gradients showed acentral tendency shift and moved away from the S+ and toward the mean of the test series (of 11 stimulus durations) after participants received training with S+ and S- durations that in one condition were the 2nd and 4th and in another condition were the 4th and 2nd stimuli in the series, respectively. The results were inconsistent with an absolute account of peak shift but were consistent with an adaptation level account of peak shift.

The role of temporal generalization in a temporal discrimination task

Two experiments trained rats to discriminate two or three stimulus durations using a temporal discrimination task. A standard peak shift effect was observed when training was administered with short versus long signals in Experiment 1. Both discrimination accuracy scores and the generalization gradients revealed that shorter intervals were discriminated more accurately, which may be due to the scalar property of timing. In Experiment 2, three signals (short, medium, and long) were associated with three different responses, or two of the intervals were associated with one response (short and long or short and medium) and the other interval with a different response. Here, the short/medium versus long discrimination was learned most readily of the three tasks. The results of both experiments indicated a strong contribution of learning of individual durations combined with scalar generalization gradients, but Experiment 2 indicated that categorical encoding of durations may have also been operating.

UV–visible reflectance spectra of nanocrystalline silver compacted under different pressures

Nanocrystalline silver samples compacted under different pressures have been studied by X-ray diffraction and ultraviolet–visible reflectance spectroscopy. It is shown that the reflectance spectra exhibit an intense band at 315 nm, three weak bands at about 240, 380 and 490 nm, and a long tail at the long-wavelength side. Their origins are given. With increasing the compacting pressure, an opposite peak-shift effect of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was observed. It is concluded that the collaborating effects of particle aggregate and the unit-cell contraction both induced by the compacting pressure can explain these variations.

UV–visible reflectance spectra of nanocrystalline silver compacted under different pressures

Nanocrystalline silver samples compacted under different pressures have been studied by X-ray diffraction and ultraviolet–visible reflectance spectroscopy. It is shown that the reflectance spectra exhibit an intense band at 315 nm, three weak bands at about 240, 380 and 490 nm, and a long tail at the long-wavelength side. Their origins are given. With increasing the compacting pressure, an opposite peak-shift effect of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was observed. It is concluded that the collaborating effects of particle aggregate and the unit-cell contraction both induced by the compacting pressure can explain these variations.

Absence of local-potential fluctuation effects in Si-doped In xGa 1−xN epilayers studied by optical characterizations

We have studied the characteristics of In x Ga 1− x N epilayers grown on sapphire substrates by using photoluminescence (PL), optical absorption (OA), photocurrent (PC) and persistent photoconductivity (PPC) measurements. For the undoped In x Ga 1− x N epilayers containing high In composition, we observed the Stokes shift, S-shaped temperature-dependent PL emission, and PPC effect. These results show a strong dependence on In contents in the properties of In x Ga 1− x N epilayers. The decay kinetics of the PPC effect has been investigated, from that, the depth of the localization caused by alloy potential fluctuations (APFs) in In x Ga 1− x N epilayers is determined. However, for Si-doped In x Ga 1− x N epilayers, the Stokes shift, S-shaped temperature-dependent PL peak shift and PPC effect have not been observed.

Gamma-irradiation-induced Ag/SiO 2 composite films and their optical absorption properties

Small Ag particles or clusters dispersed mesoporous SiO 2 composite films were prepared by a new method: First the matrix SiO 2 films were prepared by sol–gel process combined with the dip-coating technique, then they were soaked in AgNO 3 solutions followed by irradiation of γ-ray at room temperature and in ambient pressure. The structures of these films were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), and optical absorption spectroscopy. It has been shown that the Ag particles grown within the porous SiO 2 films are very small, and they are isolated and dispersed from each other with very narrow size distributions. With increasing the soaking concentration and an additional annealing, an opposite peakshift effect of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was observed in the optical absorption measurements.

Optical absorption properties of Ag/SiO2 composite films induced by gammairradiation

Mesoporous SiO2 composite films with small Ag particles or clusters dispersed inthem were prepared by a new method: first the matrix SiO2 films were preparedby the sol–gel process combined with the dip-coating technique; then they weresoaked in AgNO3 solutions; this was followed by irradiation with γ-raysat room temperature and ambient pressure. The structure of these films wasexamined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and theiroptical absorption spectra were examined. It has been shown that theAg particles grown within the porous SiO2 films are very small and arehighly dispersed. On increasing the soaking concentration and subjectingthe samples to an additional annealing, a different peak-shift effect forthe surface plasmon resonance was observed in the optical absorptionmeasurement. Possible mechanisms of this behaviour are discussed in this paper.

Changeable position of SPR peak of Ag nanoparticles embedded in mesoporous SiO2 glass by annealing treatment

Small Ag particles or clusters doped mesoporous SiO2 composite glass were prepared by the sol–gel process combined γ-irradiation at room temperature and in ambient pressure. High-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) has revealed the existence of Ag nanoparticles and their growing through annealing treatments. With the particle size changing, an interesting reversible peak shift effect of the surface plasma resonance (SPR) was observed in the optical absorption measurement, which is explained as a comprehensive competitive result of both intrinsic property (size effect) and extrinsic influence from the matrix or the surrounding medium (interface interaction and its induced spill-out effect).