Lane-change detection using a computational driver model

OBJECTIVE: This paper introduces a robust, real-time system for detecting driver lane changes. Background: As intelligent transportation systems evolve to assist drivers in their intended behaviors, the systems have demonstrated a need for methods of inferring driver intentions and detecting intended maneuvers. METHOD: Using a "model tracing" methodology, our system simulates a set of possible driver intentions and their resulting behaviors using a simplification of a previously validated computational model of driver behavior. The system compares the model's simulated behavior with a driver's actual observed behavior and thus continually infers the driver's unobservable intentions from her or his observable actions. RESULTS: For data collected in a driving simulator, the system detects 82% of lane changes within 0.5 s of maneuver onset (assuming a 5% false alarm rate), 93% within 1 s, and 95% before the vehicle moves one fourth of the lane width laterally. For data collected from an instrumented vehicle, the system detects 61% within 0.5 s, 77% within 1 s, and 84% before the vehicle moves one-fourth of the lane width laterally. CONCLUSION: The model-tracing system is the first system to demonstrate high sample-by-sample accuracy at low false alarm rates as well as high accuracy over the course of a lane change with respect to time and lateral movement. APPLICATION: By providing robust real-time detection of driver lane changes, the system shows good promise for incorporation into the next generation of intelligent transportation systems.     

Control of phosphatidylserine biosynthesis through phosphatidylserine-mediated inhibition of phosphatidylserine synthase I in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) synthesis in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells occurs through the exchange of L-serine with the base moiety of phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine. The synthesis is depressed on the addition of PtdSer to the culture medium. A CHO cell mutant named mutant 29, whose PtdSer biosynthesis is highly resistant to this depression by exogenous PtdSer, has been isolated from CHO-K1 cells. In the present study, the PtdSer-resistant PtdSer biosynthesis in the mutant was traced to a point mutation in the PtdSer synthase I gene, pssA, resulting in the replacement of Arg-95 of the synthase by lysine. Introduction of the mutant pssA cDNA, but not the wild-type pssA cDNA, into CHO-K1 cells induced the PtdSer-resistant PtdSer biosynthesis. In a cell-free system, the serine base-exchange activity of the wild-type pssA-transfected cells was inhibited by PtdSer, but that of the mutant pssA-transfected cells was resistant to the inhibition. Like the mutant 29 cells, the mutant pssA-transfected cells grown without exogenous PtdSer exhibited an approximately 2-fold increase in the cellular PtdSer level compared with that in CHO-K1 cells, although the wild-type pssA-transfected cells did not exhibit such a significant increase. These results indicated that the inhibition of PtdSer synthase I by PtdSer is essential for the maintenance of a normal PtdSer level in CHO-K1 cells and that Arg-95 of the synthase is a crucial residue for the inhibition.     

A 0.18-μm 256-Mb DDR-SDRAM with low-cost post-mold tuning methodfor DLL replica

A 200-MHz double-data-rate synchronous-DRAM (DDR-SDRAM) was developed. The chip contains a delay-locked loop (DLL) which performs over a wide range of operating conditions. Post-mold-tuning allows precise replica programming. A 200-MHz intra-chip data bus is suitable for DDR operation     

Recent progress in emulsion technology to study fragmentation reactions of high energetic ion beams

The R&D project to study nuclear fragmentation using emulsion in attempt to improve the accuracy of dose calculation in carbon ion radiotherapy has been carried out at NIRS-HIMAC since 2003. Based on the developed techniques, we are accumulating experimental data of fragmentation reactions for various beams and target combinations. In this program we are also developing the practical application of hybrid apparatus of emulsion and CR-39 and performing basic study of gold deposition development in order to improve measurement of ionization.     

Application of a semi-automatic ROI setting system for brain PET images to animal PET studies

ProASSIST, a semi-automatic ROI (region of interest) setting system for human brain PET images, has been modified for use with the canine brain, and the performance of the obtained system was evaluated by comparing the operational simplicity for ROI setting and the consistency of ROI values obtained with those by a conventional manual procedure. Namely, we created segment maps for the canine brain by making reference to the coronal section atlas of the canine brain by Lim et al., and incorporated them into the ProASSIST system. For the performance test, CBF (cerebral blood flow) and CMRglc (cerebral metabolic rate in glucose) images in dogs with or without focal cerebral ischemia were used. In ProASSIST, brain contours were defined semiautomatically. In the ROI analysis of the test image, manual modification of the contour was necessary in half cases examined (8/16). However, the operation was rather simple so that the operation time per one brain section was significantly shorter than that in the manual operation. The ROI values determined by the system were comparable with those by the manual procedure, confirming the applicability of the system to these animal studies. The use of the system like the present one would also merit the more objective data acquisition for the quantitative ROI analysis, because no manual procedure except for some specifications of the anatomical features is required for ROI setting.     

SOI-DRAM circuit technologies for low power high speed multigigascale memories

This paper describes a silicon on insulator (SOI) DRAM which has a body bias controlling technique for high-speed circuit operation and a new type of redundancy for low standby power operation, aimed at high yield. The body bias controlling technique contributes to super-body synchronous sensing and body-bias controlled logic. The super-body synchronous sensing achieves 3.0 ns faster sensing than body synchronous sensing and the body-bias controlled logic realizes 8.0 ns faster peripheral logic operation compared with a conventional logic scheme, at 1.5 V in a 4 Gb-level SOI DRAM. The body-bias controlled logic also realizes a body-bias change current reduction of 1/20, compared with a bulk well-structure. A new type of redundancy that overcomes the standby current failure resulting from a wordline-bitline short is also discussed in respect of yield and area penalty     

Complexes of Starch and its Related Materials with Organic Compounds. Part VIII. Measurement of the Heats of Complex Formation of Cyclodextrins in Aqueous Solutions by Microcalorimeter

Calorimetric studies have been made on the complex formation of cyclodextrins with triiodide ion or p-nitrophenolate anion in aqueous solutions by using microcalorimeter. The heats of complex formation of α-, β-, and γ-dextrin, respectively with both the guest compounds were obtained and marked differences in magnitude of the reaction heats were observed for the three dextrins. The association process of the dextrins with the guest compounds in aqueous solutions was briefly discussed with respect to the points of stoichiometry and thermodynamics.     

Synthesis of Heptakis (2-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin

The title compound was prepared by a reaction sequence comprising methylation of heptakis (6-bromo-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin by the Kuhn procedure, regeneration of the primary hydroxyl groups from the resulting heptakis(2-O-methyl-6-bromo-6-deoxy)-β-dextrin via the 6-O-benzoate ester by benzoate exchange and subsequent deesterification. It was proved that the methyl groups in the tetradeca-O-methyl ether of β-dextrin are located 0–2 and 0–6 of the D-glucose residues.     

Chemical Modification of Maltotriose

Hot acetylation of maltotriose with acetic anhydride and sodium acetate led to the formation of an anomerically unsubstituted maltotriose decaacetate (2.8% yield) in amorphous form in addition to the principal product, β-maltotriose hendecaacetate (80% yield). The structure of the decaacetate was elucidated by chemical reactions and n.m.r. spectroscopy. α-Maltotriose hendecaacetate and deca-O-acetyl-α-maltotriosyl chloride were prepared to facilitate the structural assignment. From measurement of the optical rotation, it was assumed that the decaacetate is a mixture of both anomers in a constant proportion. The decaacetate was also obtained either by treatment of the β-hendecaacetate with hydrogen bromide in acetic acid followed by warm aqueous sodium acetate or by the reaction of the β-hendecaacetate with piperidine in tetrahydrofuran.