Detection and modification of confusing color combinations for red‐green dichromats to achieve a color universal design

Color‐vision deficiency is a relatively common genetic condition, which often leads to the obstruction of necessary information in colored images. It is important to minimize such inconvenient effects in communication using colored images from a universal design perspective. The universal design principle stipulates that all environments and products should be usable by all people, regardless of age, physical attributes, and ability. This article proposes a method to detect color combinations in a given image that would confuse color dichromats, and suggests a way in which to modify them to make the image easily distinguishable for both normal and dichromatic observers. Confusing color combinations were detected based on a color‐difference calculation using simulations of how the color would appear to dichromats. The confusing colors were then modified based on the minimization of an evaluation function, which was defined as the sum of the degree of confusion and the degree of color change from the original image. Several colored images obtained by the proposed method were compared with the originals by red–green dichromatic observers who judged them to be clearer, thereby confirming that the proposed method was effective for color rendering for universal design. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 33, 203–211, 2008     

Time-series primitive static states for detailing work state and flow of human-operated work machine

This paper proposes a quantification method for a comprehensive work flow in construction work for describing work states in more detail on the basis of analyzing state transitions of primitive static states (PSS), which consist of 16 symbolic work states defined by using on-off state of the lever operations and joint loads for the manipulator and end-effector. On the basis of the state transition rules derived from a transition-condition analysis, practical state transitions (PST), which are common and frequent transitions in arbitrary construction work, are defined. PST can be classified into essential state transition (EST) or nonessential state transitions (NST). EST extracts common phases of work progress and estimates positional relations between a manipulator and an object. NST reveals wasted movements that degrade the efficiency and quality of work. To evaluate comprehensive work flows modeled by combining EST and NST, work-analysis experiments using our instrumented setup were conducted. Results indicate that all the PSS definitely changes on the basis of PST under various work conditions, and work analysis using EST and NST easily reveals work characteristics and untrained tasks related to wasted movements.     

Chemospecific ring-opening polymerization of α-methylenemacrolides

α-Methylenemacrolides having various groups, such as aromatic, ether, and amine, were enzymatically, anionically, and radically polymerized. The polymerization with the lipase catalyst successfully afforded polymers only through the ring-opening process, whereas the vinyl polymerizations selectively proceeded by using anionic and radical initiators. The polyesters obtained by the enzymatic polymerization have a polymerizable methacrylic methylene group in the main-chain, in addition to the aromatic and polar groups, and were further radically polymerized to quantitatively produce a cross-linked polymer gel.     

Field evaluation of chiral isomers of the sex pheromone of the european pine sawfly,Neodiprion sertifer

Among optical isomers of 3,7-dimethylpentadecan-2-ol (diprionol) acetate or propionate tested as synthetic attractants, the 2S, 3S, and 7S isomers were most effective in attracting the males ofNeodiprion sertifer in the field. The 2S, 3S, and 7R isomers showed weak activity, but the other optical isomers were not attractive. Capillary GC analysis showed that the natural pheromone from body extracts of females was identical with the synthetic acetate of diprionol in its GC behavior. However, the natural pheromone was about 100-fold stronger than the most purified synthetic acetate of 2S,3S,7S-diprionol in the field. As a result of various isomer combination studies, it was found that the acetate of 2S,3R,7R-diprionol, when added to 2S,3S,7S-diprionol preparation at a low concentration, increased the catch by the latter. It was therefore concluded that the above combination of the optical isomers could account for the major sex attractancy in this species.     

Synthesis of High-Purity Zirconium Fluoride for Fluoride Glass Fibers by Chemical Vapor Deposition

A technique for synthesizing ultra-high-purity ZrF₄ using chemical vapor deposition in a ZrBr₄–HF system is developed and a purification mechanism is clarified. The Fe concentration in ZrF₄ is evaluated at less than 10 ppb based on analysis of the transmission loss spectrum of a fiber prepared using synthesized ZrF₄. Purification is achieved mainly in a sublimation process of ZrBr₄, and purification efficiency is determined by sublimation temperature and activity of impurities in ZrBr₄. The concentration of transition-metal impurities in ZrF₄, synthesized by chemical vapor deposition in the ZrBr₄–HF system, is expected to be less than 1 ppb.     

Motion optimization using state-dispersion-based phase space partitions

This paper addresses a phase space partitioning problem in motion planning systems. A class of kinematic and dynamic motion planning systems, including rapid semioptimal motion-planning (RASMO), uses partitions for phase spaces in cumulative optimization criteria. In these systems, a partition results in a uniquely planned motion with a quality that is determined by a selected optimization criterion. In this paper, state-dispersion-based phase space partitioning (SDPP) that generates adaptive partitions is proposed. These partitions allow the motion planning systems to plan better motions. Uniform partitions and adaptively fixed partitions of SDPP are compared under several conditions using RASMO and a double inverted pendulum model while setting the optimality criterion of RASMO to time. The results reveal that RASMO with SDPP plans smaller time motions than those obtained with RASMO using uniform partitions.     

An improved prediction result of entropic‐FV model for vapor–liquid equilibria of solvent–polymer systems

In this work, entropic expressions of UNIFAC‐FV and Entropic‐FV models were evaluated by using an extensive database of infinite dilution vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) data of athermal systems containing polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyisobutylene. For the infinite dilution athermal systems, performance of the Entropic‐FV model was better than that of the UNIFAC‐FV model. Then, finite concentration VLE data of non‐athermal systems that consisted of 16 polymers and 36 solvents containing a large variety of solvent–polymer systems ranging from nonpolar to polar substances were considered to optimized 46 pairs of group interaction parameters of the Entropic‐FV model. For systems containing polar solvents of three types of solvents studied, revised group interaction parameters gave significant improvements from 17.9 to 13.0% average absolute deviation (AAD) of solvent activities. For overall results, improvements were achieved from 15.1 to 12.4% AAD. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 1145–1153, 2005     

A superconducting filter to separate an oxygen and argon mixture

Hot isostatic pressing in an oxygen atmosphere, known as O₂-HIP method, has been used successfully to synthesize oxide materials, as well as to produce porous materials. In this paper a porous superconducting oxide is synthesized by this method and its application as a gas filter is described. Porous superconductors can be used to separate a mixture of paramagnetic and diamagnetic gases, such as oxygen and argon. Separation occurs after a magnetic field is applied and is based on the Meissner effect. Experimental results showed that the oxygen content of an oxygen/argon mixture increased after passing through a filter with large pore size (about 10 m).     

High‐pixel‐rate grating‐light‐valve laser projector

Abstract— A high‐pixel‐rate, high‐contrast (30,000:1) wide‐color‐gamut grating‐light‐valve laser projector is reported. A new optical engine enabling high‐frame‐rate (240 Hz) scan projection is employed. Panoramic wide‐angle‐scan projection with a 64:9 aspect ratio was also developed. Speckle noise is eliminated using a simple but highly efficient technique. The optical throughput efficiency of the grating‐light‐valve laser projector is reviewed.