An integrated driver warning system for driver and pedestrian safety

A semi-integrated system for driver assistance and pedestrian safety is presented. This system is composed of a single camera which focuses on the driver for picking up visual cues and a stereo rig that focus on the road ahead for the detection of road obstructions and pedestrians. While the car is in motion, the driver's viewing direction is obtained and analyzed along with information of road condition and any moving vehicle ahead in order to determine if the current driving condition is safe. In addition, when the vehicle is moving slowly, the system can also detect the existence of a pedestrian ahead and warns the driver if the pedestrian moves in front of the car. This system contains algorithm-based safety analysis as well as fuzzy rules-based analysis for interaction between variables. Our experimental results show that the condition for driver safety can be accurately classified in 94.5% of the tested driving conditions, and the pedestrians can be identified in 93.18% of the tested cases. These were compared to the results of similar systems and shown to be superior.     

California Ground Squirrel (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spermophilus beecheyi</Emphasis>) Defenses against Rattlesnake Venom Digestive and Hemostatic Toxins

Previous studies have shown that some mammals are able to neutralize venom from snake predators. California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) show variation among populations in their ability to bind venom and minimize damage from northern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus), but the venom toxins targeted by resistance have not been investigated. Four California ground squirrel populations, selected for differences in local density or type of rattlesnake predators, were assayed for their ability to neutralize digestive and hemostatic effects of venom from three rattlesnake species. In Douglas ground squirrels (S. b. douglasii), we found that animals from a location where snakes are common showed greater inhibition of venom metalloprotease and hemolytic activity than animals from a location where snakes are rare. Effects on general proteolysis were not different. Douglas ground squirrels also reduced the metalloprotease activity of venom from sympatric northern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus oreganus) more than the activity of venom from allopatric western diamondback rattlesnakes (C. atrox), but enhanced fibrinolysis of sympatric venom almost 1.8 times above baseline levels. Two Beechey ground squirrel (S. b. beecheyi) populations had similar inhibition of venoms from northern and southern Pacific rattlesnakes (C. o. helleri), despite differences between the populations in the locally prevalent predator. However, the venom toxins inhibited by Beechey squirrels did vary among venom from Pacific rattlesnake subspecies, and between these venoms and venom from allopatric western diamondback rattlesnakes. Blood plasma from Beechey squirrels showed highest inhibition of metalloprotease activity of northern Pacific rattlesnake venom, general proteolytic activity and hemolysis of southern Pacific rattlesnake venom, and hemolysis by allopatric western diamondback venom. These results reveal previously cryptic variation in venom activity against resistant prey that suggests reciprocal adaptation at the molecular level.     

Detection of lead ion binding on bifunctional chelating/ion‐exchange resins by cross‐polarization/magic‐angle spinning solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance

Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (S‐NMR) can reveal much useful information, including conformations, stereoregularity, defect structures, and comonomer sequence. S‐NMR is especially useful for revealing microstructural differences that can alter local polymer chains. A series of bifunctional chelating/ion‐exchange resins, containing differing ratios of iminodiacetic acid to acetic acid, were synthesized. Cross‐polarization magic‐angle spinning (CP/MAS) ¹³C‐NMR was employed to measure conformation changes both before and after the bonding of ligands and lead ion adsorbed on bifunctional chelated/ion‐exchange resins in this investigation. From the ¹³C‐NMR spectra, as the lead ion was adsorbed by the iminodiacetic acid chelating group, the motion of molecular chain would be inhibited and the resonance peaks of the carboxylate anion at 170 ppm would shift downfield. Compared to the FTIR results, the downfield shift of the resonance peaks indicated that the bonding of carboxylate anion and lead ion adsorbed displayed an ionic trend. Furthermore, the bonding of the carboxylic group and lead ion adsorbed changed from ionic to covalent as the chelating group in bifunctional/ion‐exchange resins decreased. The linear relationship between the areas of those resonance peaks and the amount of lead ion adsorbed was obtained from the spectra fitting. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 919–928, 2002     

Molten Salt Synthesis of a Complex Perovskite, Pb(Fe0.5Nb0.5)O3

Pure, single-phase stoichiometric Pb(Fe_0.5Nb_0.5)O₃ (PFN) powders were successfully formed by molten salt synthesis using mixtures of NaCl and KCl salts. Lower temperatures and shorter times (1/2 h at 800°C) were needed for singlephase PFN formation from molten salts relative to those required for solid-phase methods (4 h at 1000°C). A systematic study indicating the effects of process parameters, such as temperature, time, and amount of flux with respect to starting oxides, on the PFN formation mechanism and its resulting powder characteristics is reported. The particle size increased with increasing synthesis temperature; the rate of increase was greatest above 900°C, which is close to the melting point of PbO. PFN powders formed by molten salt synthesis are spheroidal, free from aggregates, and sintered to good densities at temperatures as low as 1000°C.     

Isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of syndiotactic polystyrene/clay nanocomposites

Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and X‐ray diffraction methods were used to investigate the isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization behavior and crystalline structure of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS)/clay nanocomposites. The sPS/clay nanocomposites were prepared by mixing the sPS polymer solution with the organically modified montmorillonite. DSC isothermal results revealed that introducing 5 wt% of clay into the sPS structure causes strongly heterogeneous nucleation, inducing a change of the crystal growth process from mixed three‐dimensional and two‐dimensional crystal growth to two‐dimensional spherulitic growth. The activation energy of sPS drastically decreases with the presence of 0.5 wt% clay and then increases with increasing clay content. The result indicates that the addition of clay into sPS induces the heterogeneous nucleation (a lower ΔE) at lower clay content and then reduces the transportation ability of polymer chains during crystallization processes at higher clay content (a higher ΔE). We studied the non‐isothermal melt‐crystallization kinetics and melting behavior of sPS/clay nanocomposites at various cooling rates. The correlation among crystallization kinetics, melting behavior and crystalline structure of sPS/clay nanocomposites is discussed. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:2288–2297, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Mechanical properties of ethylene–vinyl acetate/polystyrene blends studied by in situ polymerization

This study examined ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA)‐toughened polystyrene (PS). EVA is well‐known to be incompatible with PS; thus, the PS graft to the EVA backbone (EVA‐g‐PS) was used as a compatibilizer and provided good adhesion at the interface of PS and EVA. In addition, the mechanical properties and impact resistance of the PS matrix were obviously improved by EVA‐g‐PS and by EVA itself. Meanwhile, differential scanning calorimetry results showed that the grafted PS chain influenced the crystallization of EVA; for example, the melting temperature, the crystallization temperature, and the percentage crystallinity related to EVA were reduced. Moreover, the addition of 10% EVA increased the impact strength by a factor of five but reduced the modulus by the same factor. Additionally, a lower number‐average molecular weight EVA delayed phase inversion and resulted in poor mechanical properties. A fracture surface photograph revealed that the major mechanism of EVA‐toughened PS was craze and local matrix deformation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 699–705, 2003     

Polymorphic behavior of nylon 6/saponite and nylon 6/montmorillonite nanocomposites

X‐ray diffraction methods and DSC thermal analysis have been used to investigate the structural change of nylon 6/clay nanocomposites. Nylon 6/clay has prepared by the intercalation of ε‐caprolactam and then exfoliaton of the layered saponite or montmorillonite by subsequent polymerization. Both X‐ray diffraction data and DSC results indicate the presence of polymorphism in nylon 6 and in nylon 6/clay nanocomposites. This polymorphic behavior is dependent on the cooling rate of nylon 6/clay nanocomposites from melt and the content of saponite or montmorillonite in nylon 6/clay nanocomposites. The quenching from the melt induces the crystallization into the γ crystalline form. The addition of clay increases the crystallization rate of the α crystalline form at lower saponite content and promotes the heterophase nucleation of γ crystalline form at higher saponite or montmorillonite content. The effect of thermal treatment on the crystalline structure of nylon 6/clay nanocomposites in the range between Tg and Tm is also discussed.     

Agronomic evaluation of modified phosphate rock products

Phosphorus (P) is critically needed to improve the soil fertility for crop production in large areas of developing countries. The high cost of conventional, water-soluble P fertilizers constrains their use by resource-poor farmers. Finely ground phosphate rock (PR) has been tested and used as a direct application fertilizer on tropical acid soils as a low-cost alternative where indigenous deposits of PR are located. However, direct application of PR with low reactivity or with inappropriate soil/crop combinations does not always give satisfactory results. Partial acidulation of PR (PAPR) or compaction with triple superphosphate (PR + TSP) or single superphosphate (PR + SSP) represent technologies that can be used to produce highly effective P fertilizers from those indigenous deposits. Numerous field trials conducted by IFDC in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America have demonstrated that PAPR at 40-50% acidulation with H₂SO₄ or at 20% with H₃PO₄ approaches the effectiveness of SSP or TSP in certain tropical soils and crops. This paper discusses how the agronomic effectiveness of PAPR is affected by mineralogical composition and reactivity of PR used and by soil properties and soil reactions. The paper also indicates that if a PR has high Fe₂O₃ + Al₂O₃ content, it may not be suitable for PAPR processing because of the reversion of water-soluble P to water-insoluble P during the PAPR manufacturing process. Under these conditions, compaction of PR with water-soluble P fertilizers (e.g. SSP, TSP) at P ratio of approximately 50:50 can be agronomically and economically attractive for utilizing the indigenous PRs in developing countries.     

Degradability and antigen-release characteristics of polyester microspheres prepared from polymer blends

Biodegradable microspheres were prepared to function as a depot system for the controlled release of a model protein antigen bovine serum albumin (BSA). As an approach to achieve its controlled release, microspheres were fabricated blending a high-molecular-weight poly-d,l-lactide-co-glycolide (M_w = 61,000) with a low-molecular-weight poly-d,l-lactic acid (M_w = 2000, PLA2000). The effects of PLA2000 on microsphere degradability and release characteristics of BSA from microspheres were investigated. On the basis of the pH change in microsphere suspensions and water uptake of microspheres, the kinetics of microsphere degradation was derived to describe the rate of formation of hydrogen ions due to hydrolysis of ester linkages of polymers. It substantiated that PLA2000-containing microspheres were subject to controlled degradation that was necessary to achieve continuous release profiles of the antigen. Immunization of rabbits by subcutaneous injection of BSA-containing microspheres enhanced the antigenicity of BSA, and significantly increased the duration of humoral immune responses. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.