In the study, we build a system called Adaptive Visual Attentive Tracker (AVAT) for the purpose of developing a non-verbal communication channel between the system and an operator who presents intended movements. In the system, we constructed an HMM (Hidden Markov Models)-based TD (Temporal Difference) learning algorithm to track and zoom in on an operator's behavioral sequence which represents his/her intention. AVAT extracts human intended movements from ordinary walking behavior based on the following two algorithms: the first is to model the movements of human body parts using HMMs algorithm, and the second is to learn the model of the tracker's action using a model-based TD learning algorithm. In the paper, we describe the integrated algorithm of the above two methods: whose linkage is established by assigning the state transition probability in HMM as a reward in TD learning. Experimental results of extracting an operator's hand sign action sequence during her natural walking motion are shown which demonstrates the function of AVAT as it is developed within the framework of perceptual organization. Identification of the sign gesture context through wavelet analysis autonomously provides a reward value for optimizing AVAT's action patterns.

The electrical characteristics of biologically active points (BAPs) compared with those of the surrounding human skins are investigated. We confirm that BAPs have lower resistance and higher capacitance than the surrounding skins have. We find that BAPs have higher characteristic frequency than surrounding skins and sometimes the impedance spectra of BAPs have two semicircles on the complex impedance plane. Therefore, we propose the skin impedance model that is proper to the BAPs. This model describes our experimental results sufficiently.

A large part of our daily lives is spent surrounded by buildings and other structures. In this paper, we used an infinitelength, multilayered cylindrical model to rigorously analyze the microwave specific absorption rate (SAR) of a human standing near a 90corner wall. At frequencies above 1 GHz, the interactions between the microwaves, the human body (including layer resonance), and the corner cause complex changes in the average SAR. We have shown numerically that the SAR with a corner present is up to four times larger than when there is no corner, and that the average SAR of TE waves at frequencies below 1 GHz is up to 10 times greater than when there is no corner.

This paper presents the concepts and methodology of knowledge-based information modeling based on Cognitive Science for realizing the autonomous humanoid service robotic arm and hand system HARIS. The HARIS robotic system consists of model-based 3D vision, intelligent scheduler, computerized arm/hand controller, humanoid HARIS arm/hand unit and human interface, and aims to serve the aged and disabled on desk-top object manipulations. The world model, i.e., a shared knowledge base, is introduced to work as a communication channel among the software modules. The task scheduling as well as the 3D-vision is based on Cognitive Science, i.e., a human's way of vision and scheduling is considered in designing the knowledge-based software system. The key idea is to use "words" in describing a scene, scheduling tasks, controlling an arm and hand, and interacting with a human. The world model plays a key role in fusing a variety of distributed functions. The generalized frame-based knowledge engineering environment ZERO++ has been effectively used as a software platform in implementing the system. The experimental system is working within a limited situation successfully. Through the introduction of Cognitive Science-based information modeling we have learned useful hints for realizing human-robot symbiosis, that is our long term goal of the project.

In Vivo Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DT-MRI) can now be used to elucidate and investigate major nerve pathways in the brain. Nerve pathways are constructed by a) calculating a continuous diffusion tensor field from the discrete, noisy, measured DT-MRI data and then b) solving an equation describing the evolution of a fiber tract, in which the local direction vector of the trajectory is identified with the direction of maximum apparent diffusivity. This approach has been validated previously using synthesized, noisy DT-MRI data. Presently, it is possible to reconstruct large white matter structures in the brain, such as the corpus callosum and the pyramidal tracts. Several problems, however, still affect the method's reliability. Its accuracy degrades where the fiber-tract directional distribution is non-uniform, and background noise in diffusion weighted MRIs can cause computed trajectories to jump to different tracts. Nonetheless, this method can provide quantitative information with which to visualize and study connectivity and continuity of neural pathways in the central and peripheral nervous systems in vivo, and holds promise for elucidating architectural features in other fibrous tissues and ordered media.

This paper reports on clich and related mechanisms appearing in a process of human design of software. During studies on human design knowledge, the authors found frequent instance of same pattern of detailing, named clich. In our study, clich is an intermediate level of design knowledge, during a hierarchical detailing step, residing in between simple reuse and creation by micro design rules, which have already been reported. These three kinds of design knowledge are of various types and have different complexities. Discussions on them, focusing on clich type, with procedures of formation of a simple clich skeleton and generation of a clich are given. The studies show a working model of Zipf's principle, and are some trials to reveal a more detail of human designs.

Techniques for human-motion recovery are applicable to a variety of areas, such as sports, dancing, virtual reality, and video-game production. The people who work in this area focus their attention on recovering information on the motion of individuals rather than groups of people. It is important to demonstrate the possibility of recovering descriptions of the 3-D motion in team sports, since such information is able to provide us with a variety of information on the relations among players. This paper presents a new experimental result on 3-D motion recovery from a team sport. The result was obtained by a non-rigid shape recovery technique based on images from uncalibrated cameras. The technique was applied to recovering the 3-D motion of the players in a mini-basketball game which was played in a gymnasium. Some attention is focused on the analysis of the players' motion. Satisfactory results were obtained.

We have developed a novel human facial tracking system that operates in real time at a video frame rate without needing any special hardware. The approach is based on the use of Lie algebra, and uses three-dimensional feature points on the targeted human face. It is assumed that the roughly estimated facial model (relative coordinates of the three-dimensional feature points) is known. First, the initial feature positions of the face are determined using a model fitting technique. Then, the tracking is operated by the following sequence: (1) capture the new video frame and render feature points to the image plane; (2) search for new positions of the feature points on the image plane; (3) get the Euclidean matrix from the moving vector and the three-dimensional information for the points; and (4) rotate and translate the feature points by using the Euclidean matrix, and render the new points on the image plane. The key algorithm of this tracker is to estimate the Euclidean matrix by using a least square technique based on Lie algebra. The resulting tracker performed very well on the task of tracking a human face.

The paper proposes a vision-based system for adaptively inferring the interactional intention of a person coming close to a robot, which plays an important role in the succeeding stage of human/robot cooperative handling of works/tools in production lines. Here, interactional intention is ranged in the meaning of the intention to interact/operate with the robot, which is proposed to be estimated by the human head moving path during an incipient period of time. To implement this intention inference capability, first, human entrance is detected and is modeled by an ellipse to supply information about the head position. Second, B-spline technique is used to approximate the trajectory with reduced control points in order that the system acquires information about the human motion direction and the curvature of the motion trajectory. Finally, Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are applied as the adaptive inference engines at the stage of inferring the human interactional intention. The HMM algorithm with a stochastic pattern matching capability is extended to supply whether or not a person has an intention toward the robot at the incipient time. The reestimation process here models the motion behavior of an human worker when he has or doesn't have the intention to operate the robot. Experimental results demonstrate the adaptability of the inference system using the extended HMM algorithm for filtering out motion deviation over the trajectory.

In this paper, a novel adaptive digital watermarking approach based upon human visual system model and fuzzy clustering technique is proposed. The human visual system model is utilized to guarantee that the watermarked image is imperceptible. The fuzzy clustering approach has been employed to obtain the different strength of watermark by the local characters of image. In our experiments, this scheme allows us to provide a more robust and transparent watermark.

A low loss magnetic plate positioned near an antenna is proposed to increase radiation efficiency of cellular phones. This magnetic plate is used to control the nearby magnetic field around the cellular phone's antenna, and this field controlling is shown to be effective for the improvement of radiation efficiency and far-field pattern. As for the material design of the plate, a magnetic plate having high µr and low µr" (complex relative permeability: µr = µr - j µr") is found to be effective for achieving high performance. In our sample fabrication, a low loss magnetic sample with µr = 5.7 - j 0.7 at 900 MHz is realized. It is demonstrated that this low loss sample contributes to increased efficiency and improved far-field characteristics.

Modern cryptology was born in the late seventies and developed in the eighties. A decade since 1991 is the period of continuation of the development and new expansion of cryptology. In this paper we survey the development of cryptologic researches in this decade with emphasis on the results in Japan. We also present some future important works and propose the foundation of a public institution for evaluation of information security techniques.

In this study, the shielding effect of high-loss dielectric and magnetic materials themselves and also an oval human model placed behind these material, were investigated by the FDTD method, for near- and far-field exposure, using the half-wave length dipole antenna. According to the results, a high-loss magnetic material showed a large shielding effect (average 20 dB) compared to the high-loss dielectric material, for near- and far-field shields. Also, the reduction of the shielding effect was small (2 dB) for the high-loss magnetic material, while it was large for the high loss dielectric material, on decreasing the distance between the antenna and shield. Moreover, the variation of the shielding effect on a human model placed behind the shield was small (0.2-1.5 dB) for the high-loss magnetic material, but large for the high-loss dielectric material. This is similar to the results of the shield materials themselves, for the close antenna-shield and human-shield distances, respectively.

A low bit-rate encoding method which yields a good performance in edge reconstruction while achieving a high compression is proposed through MTF function and the spatial anisotropy of human vision. Human visual weighting factors applied to sub-blocks within each subband in wavelet domain are produced by the spatial anisotropic-filter, then a good perceptual performance can be obtained.

This article shows a Boolean Multivalued logical model of varying confirmation by observation of events in human inference and, as an introductory example, applies the model to solve Hempel's paradox of the ravens.

This paper discusses the characteristics of human design knowledge. By studying a number of actual human made designs of excellent designers, the most frequent basic mental operations of a typical human designer have been found. They are: a design rule for hierarchical detailing reported previously, a micro design rule for generating a hierarchical expansion, dictionary operations to build a micro design rule and dictionaries. This study assumes a multiplicity of knowledge based on Zipf's theory, "the principle of least effort. " Zipf's principle may be proved and it becomes possible to understand the fundamental nature of human design.

The interaction between the human eye and electromagnetic (EM) waves in the ISM (industrial, scientific, and medical) frequency bands is investigated with the use of the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. In order to assess possible health hazards, the specific absorption rates (SARs) are calculated and compared with the recommended safety standards. In particular, we calculate temperature rises in the human eye to assess the possibility of microwave-induced cataract formation. The results show that the maximum values of averaged SARs are less than the standard levels. In addition, we observed what is called the 'hot spot' in the region of eye humor at 2.4 GHz but not at 900 MHz and 5.8 GHz. Furthermore, the maximum temperature rise due to the incident EM power density of 5.0 mW/cm2, which is the MPE (maximum permissible exposure) limit for controlled environments, has been found to be at most 0.26 at 5.8 GHz, which is small compared with the threshold temperature rise 3.0 for cataract formation.

In a Cache Coherent Non-Uniform Memory Access (CC-NUMA) system, memory transactions can be classified into two types: inter-node transactions and intra-node transactions. Because the latency of inter-node transactions is usually hundreds times larger than that of intra-node transactions, it is important to reduce the latency of inter-node transactions. Even though the remote cache in the CC-NUMA systems improves the latency of inter-node transactions through caching the remote memory lines, the remote and processor caches of snoop-based CC-NUMA systems have to retain the multi-level cache inclusion property for the simplification of snooping. The inclusion property degrades the cache performance by following factors. First, all the remote memory lines in a processor cache should be preserved in the remote cache of the same node. Second, a line replacement at the remote cache replaces the same address line in the processor caches, which does not comply with the replacement policy of the processor caches. In this paper, we propose Access-list which renders the inclusion property unnecessary, and evaluate the performance of the proposed system by program-driven simulation. From the simulation results, it is shown that the miss rates of caches are reduced and the efficiency of the snoop filtering is similar to the system with the inclusion property. It turns out that the performance of the proposed system is improved up to 1.28 times.

Prefetching is a promising approach to tackle the memory latency problem. Two basic variants of hardware data prefetching methods are sequential prefetching and stride prefetching. The latter based on stride calculation of future references has the potential to out-perform the former which is based on the data locality. In this paper, a typical stride prefetching and its improved version, adaptive stride prefetching, are compared in quantitative way using simulation for some parallel benchmark programs in the context of uniform memory access and non-uniform memory access architectures. The simulation results show that adaptability of stride is essential since the proposed adaptive scheme can reduce pending stall time which is large in the typical scheme.

Texture has been investigated as a cue for reconstructing 3-D structure. There are various textures in a natural scene. In this paper, the regularity of alignment of texture elements was manipulated to investigate its effect on human perception. The results show that the regularity affects human perception when only the texel density gradient is given as cue or the density cue is inconsistent with the compression cue. We introduce a model based on a MAP estimation to account for the result from a viewpoint of an integration of 3-D cues. The model simultaneously estimates texture properties and 3-D surface orientation by using prior knowledge about texture and 3-D surface. The performance of the model accounts for the experimental result well.