Drive Video Analysis for the Detection of Traffic Near-Miss Incidents

Because of their recent introduction, self-driving cars and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) equipped vehicles have had little opportunity to learn, the dangerous traffic (including near-miss incident) scenarios that provide normal drivers with strong motivation to drive safely. Accordingly, as a means of providing learning depth, this paper presents a novel traffic database that contains information on a large number of traffic near-miss incidents that were obtained by mounting driving recorders in more than 100 taxis over the course of a decade. The study makes the following two main contributions: (i) In order to assist automated systems in detecting near-miss incidents based on database instances, we created a large-scale traffic near-miss incident database (NIDB) that consists of video clip of dangerous events captured by monocular driving recorders. (ii) To illustrate the applicability of NIDB traffic near-miss incidents, we provide two primary database-related improvements: parameter fine-tuning using various near-miss scenes from NIDB, and foreground/background separation into motion representation. Then, using our new database in conjunction with a monocular driving recorder, we developed a near-miss recognition method that provides automated systems with a performance level that is comparable to a human-level understanding of near-miss incidents (64.5% vs. 68.4% at near-miss recognition, 61.3% vs. 78.7% at near-miss detection).Comment: Accepted to ICRA 201

Constructing Model of Bicycle Behavior on Non-signalized lntersection Using Nonlinear Autoregressive Exogenous Model

This study focuses on bicycle travel flow to prevent traffic accidents at non-signalized intersections. A bicycle's behavior can be characterized by various parameters, such as travel speed position, trajectory, acceleralion, and deceleration. The prevention of vehicle collisions with bicycles traveling at 10-15 km/h was regulated in the Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) for passenger cars in regulation No. 152 of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations in the United Nations. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the characteristics of bicycles in a reall trafflc environment to prevent traffic accidents involving cyclists. Meijer et. al. (2017) investigated bicycle behavior and charactericics using measurement devices installed on biccycles [1 ]. Ma et al. (2016) conducted a model of acceleration behavior on eleven cyclists using GPS data [2]. And it was pointed out that there was a need for modeling research for more cyclists.Hirose et al. (2021) examined bicycles' both travel speed and trajectory as bicycle travel flows based on data obtained from fixed-point observations at a non-signalized intersection in Tokyo, Japan [3]. This used fixed-point observalions to obtain raw data of bicycle travel flows in real traffic environment and reported various traffel speed, trajectory, and acceleration/deceleration patterns for bicycles entering intersections. The purpose of this study was to construct a model of bicycle travel flows based on fixed-point observations. It could simulate actual bicycle behaviors based on data that was obtained from measuring bicycle travel flows for 2828 cases from fixed-point observations. Furthermore, the data was divided into five patterns of bicycles entering intersections, and the accuracy of the model was evaluated for each pattern

Long-term observation of fibrillation cycle length in patients under angiotensin II receptor blocker therapy for chronic atrial fibrillation

AbstractIntroductionThe long-term effect of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) on atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear. In this study, we evaluated the change in the fibrillation cycle length (FCL) in patients under long-term ARB therapy for chronic AF.Methods and resultsThe study population consisted of 25 chronic AF patients who were prescribed the same medication for more than 6 years and in whom specific ECG recording for FCL evaluation could be performed before and after the 6-year observation period. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those with and without ARB (ARB group and non-ARB group and n=15 and 10, respectively). FCL was calculated by the spectral analysis of the fibrillation waves in the surface ECG. There was no significant difference in the clinical characteristics between the 2 groups. In the ARB group, the mean FCL was prolonged from 154±20ms to 187±37ms (p=0.005), whereas it remained unchanged in the non-ARB group (150±12ms vs. 149±10ms). In the comparison between patients with and those without FCL prolongation (>30ms; n=6 and 19, respectively), a significant difference was observed only in those prescribed ARBs.ConclusionIn cases of chronic AF, FCL might be prolonged under long-term ARB treatment

Case report: Cerebellar swelling and hydrocephalus in familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is a severe inborn error of immunity caused by a genetic defect that impairs the function of cytotoxic T and NK cells. There are only a few reported cases of FHL with diffuse swelling of the cerebellum and obstructive hydrocephalus. We report a case of FHL3 with neurological symptoms associated with cerebellar swelling and obstructive hydrocephalus. A male patient was hospitalized several times due to fever and decreased feeding, hepatosplenomegaly, and cytopenia since the first month of life. At 7 months of age, disturbance of consciousness was seen. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed signal intensity in the bilateral cerebellar hemispheres, diffusely increased periventricular white matter, and ventriculomegaly. Although he was treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy, he was unresponsive to the treatment. He was then transferred to a local hospital after tracheotomy but died. Targeted clinical sequencing revealed a homozygous splice-site mutation in UNC13D. Pediatric hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) includes some cases of central nervous symptom (CNS)-isolated HLH or CNS HLH preceding systemic lesions, which often do not initially meet the diagnostic criteria for FHL. Patients with FHL initiated by cerebellar symptoms may present with an atypical clinical course for HLH, leading to delayed diagnosis and poor outcomes. Despite the usefulness of a combination of a high percentage of lymphocytes in the peripheral leukocytes, a low lactate dehydrogenase level, and a high sIL-2R/ferritin ratio for identifying FHL, the diagnosis may be missed due to the absence of these results. Presymptomatic diagnosis of FHL by screening of newborns and subsequent early treatment of patients with a predicted poor prognosis may contribute to better outcomes

Single ingestion of soy β-conglycinin induces increased postprandial circulating FGF21 levels exerting beneficial health effects

Soy protein β-conglycinin has serum lipid-lowering and anti-obesity effects. We showed that single ingestion of β-conglycinin after fasting alters gene expression in mouse liver. A sharp increase in fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) gene expression, which is depressed by normal feeding, resulted in increased postprandial circulating FGF21 levels along with a significant decrease in adipose tissue weights. Most increases in gene expressions, including FGF21, were targets for the activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), but not for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α. Overexpression of a dominant-negative form of ATF4 significantly reduced β-conglycinin-induced increases in hepatic FGF21 gene expression. In FGF21-deficient mice, β-conglycinin effects were partially abolished. Methionine supplementation to the diet or primary hepatocyte culture medium demonstrated its importance for activating liver or hepatocyte ATF4-FGF21 signaling. Thus, dietary β-conglycinin intake can impact hepatic and systemic metabolism by increasing the postprandial circulating FGF21 levels.UTokyo Research掲載「大豆のタンパク質1回摂取で代謝を改善する因子が急増」 URI: http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/utokyo-research/research-news/single-ingestion-of-soy-protein-improves-metabolism.htmlUTokyo Research "Single ingestion of soy protein improves metabolism" URI: http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/utokyo-research/research-news/single-ingestion-of-soy-protein-improves-metabolism.htm

Wasabi increases insulin sensitivity ant attenuates glomerular hyperfiltration and proteinuria in insulin-resistant diabetes of fructose-fed Wistar rats

過剰なフルクトース負荷は2型糖尿病を発症させることが報告されている。本研究では、わさびの水抽出エキスがフルクトース負荷ラットでみられるインスリン抵抗性を軽減するか否かについて検討した。Wistarラットを、1)15%フルクトース溶液群、 2)15%のフルクトース溶液及び10%わさぴ水抽出物群、または 3)水投与群の3群に分け、6週間経過観察した。実験最終に24時間尿を採取し、麻酔下に血液及び臓器を摘出し以後の実験に用いた。3群間で体重及ぴ収縮期血圧に変化はみられなかったが、フルクトース負荷群では大動脈壁の重量が増加し、これはわさび投与群で有意に軽減した。フルクトース負荷では、血糖及び血漿インスリン濃度が有意に増加し、インスリン抵抗性の指標であるHOMA-R値は水投与群に比して有意に高値であった。血糖及びインスリン濃度の上昇はわさび群では有意に軽減し、水投与群との間に差がみられなかった。フルクトース負荷によるインスリン感受性の低下は、糸球体濾過量の増加を伴っており、尿量、尿中ナトリウム排泄量及び尿中タンパク排泄量が有意に高値を示した。わさび抽出物の投与により、尿量、尿中ナトリウム排泄量及びタンパク排泄量は低下し、水投与群との間で差はみられなかった。高速液体クロマトグラフィー分析により、わさび抽出物には強力な酸素ラジカル・スカベン ジャーである6 メチルスルフィニル ヘキシル イソチオ シアン酸 (6MSITC) が含有されることが示されたが、わさび抽出物中の6MSITC量はインスリン感受性の改善に必要とされる量より低いことが明らかとなったことから、わさび抽出物中のインスリン抵抗性の改善には、6MSITC以外の物質の関与も示唆された。Fructose loading results in the development of type-2 diabetes. In the present study we examined whether Wasabi extract attenuates insulin resistance in fructose-loaded Wistar rats.The rats were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: 1) rats given 15% fructose solution, 2) rats given 15% fructose and 10% Wasabi extracts, and 3) rats given water. They were maintained for 6 weeks. There were no differences in body weight or systolic blood pressure among the three experimental groups. Weights of aortic walls increased with fructose loading and this was abolished with Wasabi extracts treatments. Fructose loading significantly increased plasma insulin concentrations in association with increased plasma glucose levels, thereby increasing levels of HOMA-R, an indicator of insulin resistance. These alterations were reversed with Wasabi extract to normal levels as in control rats. Decreased insulin sensitivity was associated with glomerular hyperfiltration and increases in urine volume, and urinary sodium and protein excretion. These altered urinary parameters in fructose loading were significantly attenuated with treatment with Wasabi extracts. Wasabi extracts contain a potent oxygen radical scavenger, 6-methylsulfinyl hexyl isothiocyanate (6-MSITC) as assessed by C₁₈ reversed phase HPLC; however, the amount of 6-MSITC present was much lower than the amount required to restore insulin sensitivity. These results suggest that Wasabi extracts attenuate insulin resistance induced by fructose loading, and this is associated with decreased glomerular hyperfiltration and urinary protein excretion. These benefits may be attributed to substances other than 6-MSITC in Wasabi extracts

Effect of Seat Condition on Abdominal Injuries to Vehicle Occupants in Frontal Impact Accidents

Vehicle occupants were killed in 33% of all traffic accidents in Japan in 2017. Of the vehicles in vehicle-to-vehicle accidents, 54% were impacted from the front. In frontal impact accidents, when the lap belt moves away from the iliac crests of the pelvis of a vehicle occupant, the belt moves directly into the abdomen. Here, we investigated causes of abdominal injuries to vehicle occupants, because the abdomen is associated with the highest rates of severe injury and fatality. The purpose of this study was to clarify the correlation between downward movement of the seat and of the lap belt away from the iliac crests of a human occupant of a car, in the event of a frontal impact. We investigated this phenomenon by conducting simulations using an anthropomorphic 50th percentile male (AM50) human model wearing a three-point seatbelt. We set two deformable seat conditions: Vertical movement and lean forward movement. Our results revealed that the lap belt came off from both of the iliac crests during lean forward movement but only from one of the iliac crests during vertical movement. We concluded that abdominal injuries can be caused by downward movement together with forward rotation in the seat during vehicle-to-vehicle frontal impacts

Characteristics of Dangerous Scenarios between Vehicles Turning Right and Pedestrians under Left-Hand Traffic

Pedestrian deaths account for the highest percentage of fatality caused by traffic accidents in Japan. Increasing pedestrian safety is a key objective for reducing such deaths. For pedestrian fatality caused by vehicles at low speed, turning the vehicle toward the right was the most common behavior under left-hand traffic. Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems for pedestrian safety have great potential to mitigate pedestrian injuries and fatalities in traffic accidents. However, pedestrian-AEB systems, especially for vehicles turning right, are still under development. This study identified the characteristics of dangerous traffic scenarios between vehicles turning right and pedestrians, focusing on two directions of pedestrian crossing: from the left to the right side (Left-Pedestrian) and from the right to the left side (Right-Pedestrian). The ego vehicle recorded near-miss incidents using a drive recorder. The results revealed that the Left-Pedestrian and Right-Pedestrian scenarios had different features for both the width of roads going to and through the intersection and the average of the travel speeds of the ego vehicles. They had similar characteristics in terms of the presence of other vehicle categories, but differences in the relationship of numbers and/or travel directions of other vehicles. The findings of this study will contribute to the development and evaluation of safety systems for preventing collisions between right-turning vehicles and pedestrians at intersections

Gazing Characteristics of a Driver during Vehicle Backing

We investigated a driver’s gazing time during backing vehicle maneuvers in a 90-degree reverse parking system for the phase from start to the 5-m point (start phase) and the phase from backing from the 5-m point to stop (stop phase). The objective of this study was to elucidate the driver’s gaze while approaching the parking area and in the parking area during backing. We used a sport utility vehicle with the driver’s seat at the right-hand side. We modified the vehicle with four technological conditions: no-tech vehicle, sonar vehicle, backup-camera vehicle, and backup camera with sonar vehicle. The monitor, rearview mirror, left-side mirror, and right-side mirror were designated as the area of interest (AOI) in the gaze. For the start phase, there were no significant differences in the total gazing time of all the AOIs in the four technologies. For the stop phase, however, the total gazing time of all the AOIs for the vehicle with a backup camera was significantly longer than that of the vehicle without a backup camera owing to the increase in the gazing time of the monitor. The results obtained from these experiments will form a basis for the future development of vehicle camera systems