Scalable and robust multi-people head tracking by combining distributed multiple sensors

In this paper, we present a robust 3D human-head tracking method. 3D head positions are essential for robots interacting with people. Natural interaction behaviors such as making eye contacts require head positions. Past researches with laser range finder (LRF) have been successful in tracking 2D human position with high accuracy in real time. However, LRF trackers cannot track multiple 3D head positions. On the other hand, trackers with multi-viewpoint images can obtain 3D head position. However, vision-based trackers generally lack robustness and scalability, especially in open environments where lightening conditions vary by time. To achieve 3D robust real-time tracking, here we propose a new method that combines LRF tracker and multi-camera tracker. We combine the results from trackers using the LRF results as maintenance information toward multi-camera tracker. Through an experiment in a real environment, we show that our method outperforms toward existing methods, both in its robustness and scalability.     

Practical CNT‐FED structure for high‐luminance character displays

Abstract— A high‐luminance CNT‐FED character display using a simple line rib structure was constructed. The display panel had 48 × 480 dots and the subpixel pitch was 1 mm. The greatest benefit of a display using CNT technology is high luminance performance with low‐power consumption. The luminance of the green‐color dot wasca. 10,000 cd/m² under 1/1 6 duty‐cycle driving at a 6‐kV anode voltage. The high luminance of the display panel can provide good visibility when installed even in outdoor locations, and the power consumption was ca. 4 W at the character displaying module. This, a CNT‐FED for character displays also has potential multifunctionality, which could be battery driven. It should be useful for public displays even under emergency no‐power conditions. In this work, a practical structure and process technologies for making ribs with reasonable cost were developed. The newly introduced 2‐mm‐tall line ribs as spacers were formed by using innovative production processes; i.e., the rib paste was pushed out of a multi‐slit nozzle, and the rib shape was formed by UV‐light irradiation. The developed panel structure and manufacturing processes also had the advantages of size flexibility and high production yield.     

Effects of chlorine on organophosphorus pesticides adsorbed on activated carbon: desorption and oxon formation

We investigated effects of chlorination on four organophosphorus pesticides (diazinon, isoxathion, malathion, and tolclofos-methyl) adsorbed on powdered activated carbon (PAC). Following adsorption of each pesticide on 10mg/L of PAC in water, chlorine was added. After 30min of chlorination, the corresponding oxons were detected in the water, but the parent compounds were not detected. Molar ratios of the oxon concentration in solution after 30min of chlorine addition to the initial pesticide concentration before the adsorption process were 4.1% and 7.9% for diazinon, 3.9% and 5.8% for isoxathion, 1.2% and 1.7% for malathion, and 1.4% and 1.4% for tolchlofos-methyl, in the case of 2 and 5mg/L of chlorine addition. The results suggested that the oxons were desorbed from the PAC by chlorination. The concentrations of the desorbed oxons gradually decreased with time, apparently owing to their readsorption by the PAC. Results from additional experiments suggest the following sequence of events: (i) adsorbed pesticides are oxidized by chlorine on the surface of the PAC and transformed into corresponding oxons; (ii) the oxons are released from the PAC; (iii) the released oxons are gradually readsorbed by the PAC, decreasing their concentrations in the water phase.     

Reduction of Superoxide Dismutase 1 Delays Regeneration of Cardiotoxin-Injured Skeletal Muscle in KK/Ta-Ins2Akita Mice with Progressive Diabetic Nephropathy

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a major antioxidant enzyme for superoxide removal, and cytoplasmic SOD (SOD1) is expressed as a predominant isoform in all cells. We previously reported that renal SOD1 deficiency accelerates the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN) via increasing renal oxidative stress. To evaluate whether the degree of SOD1 expression determines regeneration capacity and sarcopenic phenotypes of skeletal muscles under incipient and advanced DN conditions, we investigated the alterations of SOD1 expression, oxidative stress marker, inflammation, fibrosis, and regeneration capacity in cardiotoxin (CTX)-injured tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of two Akita diabetic mouse models with different susceptibility to DN, DN-resistant C57BL/6-Ins2^Akita and DN-prone KK/Ta-Ins2^Akita mice. Here, we report that KK/Ta-Ins2^Akita mice, but not C57BL/6-Ins2^Akita mice, exhibit delayed muscle regeneration after CTX injection, as demonstrated by the finding indicating significantly smaller average cross-sectional areas of regenerating TA muscle myofibers relative to KK/Ta-wild-type mice. Furthermore, we observed markedly reduced SOD1 expression in CTX-injected TA muscles of KK/Ta-Ins2^Akita mice, but not C57BL/6-Ins2^Akita mice, along with increased inflammatory cell infiltration, prominent fibrosis and superoxide overproduction. Our study provides the first evidence that SOD1 reduction and the following superoxide overproduction delay skeletal muscle regeneration through induction of overt inflammation and fibrosis in a mouse model of progressive DN.     

Lewis acid-assisted anionic polymerization of methyl cyclobutene-1-carboxylate

A cyclobutene monomer, methyl cyclobutene-1-carboxylate (MHCB), has been polymerized by anionic addition polymerization. Although MHCB may be regarded as a member of α,β-disubstituted acrylate derivatives which are reluctant to undergo anionic addition polymerization, anionic polymerization of MHCB with tert-butyllithium (t-BuLi) in combination with bis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxy)ethylaluminum [EtAl(ODBP)₂] in toluene at −78 °C gives a polymer consisting of 1,2-linked cyclobutane ring in the main chain with narrow molecular weight distribution. Copolymerization of MHCB and methyl methacrylate with t-BuLi/EtAl(ODBP)₂ proceeds in a monomer-selective and living manner to form a block-like copolymer. Poly(MHCB) undergoes unique thermal reaction through ring opening of the cyclobutane units to form CC bonds between successive monomer units.     

Development of flexible joints for a humanoid robot that walks on an oscillating plane

In this study, we develop flexible joints for a humanoid robot that walks on an oscillating plane and discuss their effectiveness in compensating disturbances. Conventional robots have a rigid frame and are composed of rigid joints driven by geared motors. Therefore, disturbances, which may be caused by external forces from other robots, obstacles, vibration and oscillation of the surface upon which the robot is walking, and so on, are transmitted directly to the robot body, causing the robot to fall. To address this problem, we focus on a flexible mechanism. We develop flexible joints and incorporate them in the waist of a humanoid robot; the experimental task of the robot is to walk on a horizontally oscillating plane until it reaches the desired position. The robot with the proposed flexible joints, reached the goal position despite the fact that the controller was the same as that used for a conventional robot walking on a static plane. From these results, we conclude that our proposed mechanism is effective for humanoid robots that walk on an oscillating plane.     

Adaptive DC interconnection provisioning in distributed all-optical micro-datacenters using holistically SDN orchestration for dynamic access

The metro-embedded datacenter (ME-DC) architecture which is based on micro-DCs (mDC) is introduced and implemented to deliver more flexible services with less access latency. Hierarchical SDN control is employed to adaptively interconnect the distributed mDCs and the metro network slices into re-configurable virtual DC (VDC). Such an approach improves the overall resource mobility, especially for traveling users that need to dynamically access the service. In this paper, the VDC re-configuration and pre-configuration mechanisms for dynamic user access are proposed and demonstrated for the first time. In specific, by re-configuring the VDC with the most accessible resources with user location tracking, fast and flexible service is provided with consistent service access. Furthermore, by pre-configuring the VDC with user prediction, mDC and metro network resources are reserved in advance for users in order to provide seamless service. Demonstration based on the implemented ME-DC prototype shows that VDC is adaptively constructed for dynamic user access with fast and flexible service provisioning.     

Solidification mechanism of the sediment formed by particle settling – Analysis of the formation of the solidified layer

In various industrial processes, it is important to prevent the solidification in order to maintain the slurry properties. In order to predict the formation of the sediment and solidified layer, the gravitational sedimentation behavior of the slurries obtained by changing the slurry pH and the time change in the formation of sediment were observed. As a result, we can predict the solidification time and precisely predict the formation of the solidified layer and determine suitable conditions for the storage of slurries.