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.     

Recycling paint overspray

The use of recovered paint overspray from the auto industry was investigated. Water and solvent had been removed from the recovered paint by a vacuum treatment process. The acid catalyst had been neutralized by excess base prior to processing. The recovered paint, as supplied, contained contaminant particles of self-crosslinked hardener that were removed by filtration. The cleaned paint was then formulated with additional catalyst and additional crosslinker to replace that which was lost in processing, and solvent (55% solids, 3 lb/gal VOC) to reach application viscosity. The paint was applied to metal test panels and baked at 190°C for 15, 20, or 25 min. The results indicate that the gray recycled paint gave reasonable properties for many expected industrial applications. Center for Coatings and Bio-Based Technology, Institute for Environmental and Industrial Science, San Marcos, Texas 78666     

Detection of HPV-16 genome in human oral cancers and potentially malignant lesions from India

Growth factors are known not only to cause a mitogenic response and alter differentiated characteristics of the target cells, but also to play important roles in intercellular signaling. Many growth factors are expressed in the embryonic and regulate embryogenesis. Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by a complex process involving chronic inflammatory reaction, fibroblast proliferation, and abnormal deposition of interstitial collagen as a result of excess healing reaction. In the early phases, TNF-alpha, IL-beta and GM-CSF secreted by alveolar macrophages regulate and enhance pulmonary inflammation. On the contrary, TGF-alpha, KGF and HGF have been reported to enhance repair of alveolar epithelium and vascular endothelium in the injured lung. Furthermore, growth factors produced by alveolar macrophages and epithelium, such as PDGF, TGF-beta and activin A and belongs to the TGF-beta supergene family are known to play cardinal roles in fibroblast proliferation and pulmonary fibrosis. Further works concerning this complex growth factors (cytokines) network are required to provide a basis of the pathophysiology of pulmonary fibrosis.     

SML-Sys: a functional framework with multiple models of computation for modeling heterogeneous system

System-on-Chip and other complex distributed hardware/software systems contain heterogeneous components. High-level modeling of such systems require frameworks that provide designers with the ability to express concepts of models of computation (MoC)s as modeling constructs. Many system-level modeling frameworks and corresponding modeling notations such as Ptolemy II and SystemC-H facilitate multi-MoC modeling but are based on imperative programming languages (C++, Java, etc). In such frameworks, the computation and communication aspects between the components of models get intertwined thereby hindering its amenability to formal analysis. In this work, we illustrate function-based semantic definitions of MoCs, which are formulated in a functional framework called SML-Sys. We illustrate through a number of examples how to create system models using this functional programming paradigm.     

Anomalous crystallinity in a semi-fluorinated perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) polymer containing the hexafluoro-i-propylidene (6F) linkage

The thermal cyclopolymerization of 2,2-bis(4-trifluorovinyloxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane affords the first example of a semi-crystalline perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) polymer and an anomalous feature for a polymer containing the hexafluoroisopropylidene (6F) linkage. Fluoroalkylation of 2,2-bis(hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (6F bisphenol A) with 1,2-dibromotetrafluoroethane, followed by zinc mediated elimination affords the bis(trifluorovinyloxyphenyl) monomer in good yield. High molecular weight polymer (M_w=66,700) with molecular weight distribution approaching 2 was obtained by heating neat monomer at 180 °C for 24 h and 220 °C for 8 h. The stereo-random polymer (ca. 48 to 52 cis- to trans-1,2-disubstituted perfluorocyclobutyl groups) is easily crystallized from the melt despite the presence of the 6F group and a substantial increased fluorocarbon content per repeat unit compared to traditional PFCB polymers. A melting temperature approaching 200 °C was measured by DSC and the crystallinity was characterized by WAXD. Remarkably, the high melting semi-crystalline polymer could be easily dissolved in common solvents in greater than 50 wt% solutions.     

Evaluation of environmental effects on fatigue life of piping

Recent data indicate that the effects of light water reactor environments can significantly reduce the fatigue resistance of materials, and show that design fatigue curves may not be conservative for reactor coolant environments. Using revised fatigue curves developed by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), the work of this paper calculates the expected probabilities of fatigue failures and associated core damage frequencies at a 40-year and 60-year plant life for a sample of components from five PWR and two BWR plants. These calculations were made possible by the development of an enhanced version of the pc-PRAISE probabilistic fracture mechanics code that has the ability to simulate the initiation of fatigue cracks followed by the linking of these cracks. Results of interim calculations subject to review are presented. Components with the highest probabilities of failure can have predicted frequencies of through-wall cracks in the order of about 5×10⁻² per year. The corresponding maximum contributions to core damage frequencies are in the order of 10⁻⁶ per year. Components with the very high failure rates show essentially no increase in calculated core damage frequency from 40 to 60 years.     

Automatic room information retrieval and classification from floor plan using linear regression model

International Journal on Document Analysis and Recognition (IJDAR) - The automatic creation of a repository of the building’s floor plan helps a lot to the architects to reuse them. The basic...     

Saliency-driven rate-distortion optimization for 360-degree image coding

Multimedia Tools and Applications - 360-degree images allow an immersive experience. They offer multiple views of a scene and the viewpoint can be selected by the user. However, the huge amount of...