Muneo Yamada

Arousal Effect of Physiological Magnetic Stimulation on Elder Person's Spine for Prevention of Drowsiness During Car Driving

A new method for the prevention of drowsiness of eldery people during car driving is presented, in which a distributed-pulse magnetic field generated from a magnetized fayalite crushed stone crammed pipe is applied to their spine position. The effect for arousal is evaluated by measuring the subjects back head magneto-encephalogram fast Fourier transform frequency spectra using a pico-Tesla resolution magnetoimpedance sensor and by using an electro-encephalogram meter before and after magnetic stimulation. The effect for arousal during car driving is evaluated by using a driving simulator to measure the car body deflection from a driving road line and observation of the drivers sleepiness. Mechanisms for the arousal effect are discussed with the magneto-protonics principle on the basis of the arousal physiology and measurement of the magnetization of a physiological saline solution before and after application of the magnetic pipe.

Physiological Magnetic Stimulation for Arousal of Elderly Car Driver Evaluated With Electro-Encephalogram and Spine Magnetic Field

Reliable evaluation for the arousal effect of magnetized olivine-crushed-stone-crammed vinyl pipe set on an elderly car drivers spine has been carried out measuring a four-points electroencephalogram using driving simulators considering a defined arousal index β/(δ+θ) . A sintered-magnetized-spherical-particles-crammed pipe is developed for realization of periodically pulse distributed surface magnetic field train matching with the magneto-protonics principle. Transition of the magnetic field time series generated from the spine with application of the physiological magnetic stimulation have also been measured using the amorphous wire and CMOS IC based pico-Tesla resolution magneto-impedance sensor, in which existence of alternative areas of cooperativeness and anti-cooperativeness for transition of the arousal index each other along the spine length direction is suggested. A special point on the central spine generating a large bio magnetic field of around 10 nT amplitude as well as corresponding pit of the stomach position was found.

Stimulation effects provided to drivers by fragrance presentation considering olfactory adaptation

Methods of presenting fragrances have been proposed as a means of preventing drivers from dozing and helping them remain alert. However, the stimulation effects of fragrances and their durations have yet to be evaluated sufficiently. In addition, it is necessary to consider the decrease in sensitivity that results as the driver adapts to a fragrance. We examined fragrance presentation techniques for drivers and constructed a system that simulates an actual vehicle cabin. We then tested the stimulation effects of a fragrance presentation on drivers and its effective duration. We found that intermittent presentation of the fragrance was effective in keeping a driver alert.

A Method for Assessing the Driving Ability of the Elderly and Thoughts on its systematization

This article presents a method for assessing the driving ability of elderly drivers. The article first reviews common patterns in collisions involving elderly drivers as well as some of the physical failures that lead to these collisions. The authors next discuss current technologies used to asses driving ability in the elderly which use both a written test and a computer test used for assessing reaction time, decision-making speed reaction consistency, and relaxation response. The authors see these methods as assessing reactions only in emergencies, and see a need for assessment of function in regular circumstances. Important parameters such as dynamic visual acuity (DVA), depth perception, and useful field of view are not considered in usual assessments. The article details a driving ability assessment designed by the authors which involves a driving simulator, and measures many of the parameters that the authors identified as important. Included are sample measurements, and the method for measuring driving ability, as well as a simplified measurement system for driving schools.

Arousal effect of ELF small magnetic field stimulation on car driver's spine for prevention of drowsy driving without sleep rebound

Effective and secure arousal method for car drivers preventing drowsy driving has been developed using physiological magnetic stimulation on drivers spine position. The magnetic stimulation method does not accompanied with so-called sleep rebound phenomenon that has been generally indicated for arousal methods using sensory stimulation. Existence of the sleep rebound phenomenon for sensory stimulations was verified estimating measured EEG arousal index transform for driving simulator system.

Magnetic effect on hysteresis loop area reduction of electric conductivity temperature characteristics of water and Ringer's solution

Hysteresis loop area of electric conductivity temperature characteristics for 0-50 degree C region of pure water and Ringers solution (Krebs solution) decreased in an extremely low frequency (ELF) small magnetic field or on a magnetized particles disc. The magnetic effect with ELF small magnetic field were higher in a double frequencies ELF small magnetic field than in a single frequency ELF small magnetic field.

Physiological magnetic stimulation on car driver's spine for arousal without rebound sleep preventing drowsy driving and back-magnetocardiogram

We have found a remarkable arousal effect for car drivers preventing drowsy driving with application of a magnetized particle train (named “physiological magnetic stimulation”; PMS) on their spine position during operation of a driving simulator (DS) and discussed on the physiological mechanism with measurements of the spine bio-magnetic field using a Pico-Tesla resolution magneto-impedance sensor (PT-MI sensor) [1], [2]. We newly concluded from experimental results with 115 subjects that the PMS is not only effective but also safe without “rebound sleep” which is induced to drop into a deeper sleep within several minutes after application of the sensory stimulation such as the alarm sound and the mechanical vibration as illustrated in Table 1. We also found a remarkable change of waveform of the bio-magnetic field time series detected at the left shoulder blade bottom position (Back Magneto-cardiogram) using the PT-MI sensor with application of the PMS on the spine position, with which a regulation of the blood circulation system was suggested in the FFT spectrum analysis.

Detection of Residual Salinity on Road Surface Using Neural Network

This article discusses the use of microwaves to detect saline solutions on road surfaces in winter. The reflection characteristics of water and saline solutions at microwave frequencies depend on the respective dielectric constants. Therefore, the salinity and thickness of films seem to be detectable based on reflection characteristics. We confirm this ability through theoretical calculations and verification experiments. Field tests verify the practicality of this approach. Furthermore, we propose a new estimation method for the relationships salinity level and reflection characteristics using neural networks. It is shown that the proposed method has a good performance.

A Study on Non-Contact Detection of Residual Salinity on Road Surface for Road Maintenance in Winter

This article discusses the use of microwaves to detect saline solutions on road surfaces. The reflection characteristics of water and saline solutions at microwave frequencies depend on the respective dielectric constants. Therefore, the salinity and thickness of films seem to be detectable based on reflection characteristics. We confirm this ability through theoretical calculations and verification experiments. Field tests verify the practicality of this approach