Development of dialogue system architecture toward co-creating social intelligence when talking with a partner robot.

Social robots have grown increasingly integrated into our daily lives in recent years. Robots can be good social agents who engage with people, such as assistants and counselors, and good partners and companions with whom people can form good relationships. Furthermore, unlike devices such as smart speakers or virtual agents on a screen, robots have physicality, which allows them to observe the actual environment using sensors and respond behaviorally with full-body motions. In order to engage people in dialogue and create good relationships with robots as close partners, real-time interaction is important. In this article, we present a dialogue system platform developed with the aim of providing robots with social skills. We also built a system architecture for the robot to respond with speech and gestures within the dialogue system platform, which attempts to enable natural engagement with the robot and takes advantage of its physicality. In addition, we think the process called "co-creation" is important to build a good human-robot interaction system. Engineers must bridge the gap between users and robots in order for them to interact more effectively and naturally, not only by building systems unilaterally but also from a range of views based on the opinions of real users. We reported two experiments using the developed dialogue interaction system with a robot. One is an experiment with elderly people as the initial phase in this co-creation process. The second experiment was conducted with a wide range of ages, from children to adults. Through these experiments, we can obtain a lot of useful insights for improving the system. We think that repeating this co-creation process is a useful approach toward our goal that humans and robots can communicate in a natural way as good partners such as family and friends.

Two cases of intraoperative hemodynamic instability during combined thoracoscopic-laparoscopic surgery for esophagogastric junction carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative complications during combined thoracoscopic-laparoscopic surgery for esophagogastric junction (EGJ) carcinoma have not been reported as compared to those during surgery for esophageal carcinoma. We present two cases which had surgery-related hemodynamic instability during laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy and intra-mediastinal valvuloplastic esophagogastrostomy (vEG) with thoracoscopic mediastinal lymphadenectomy for EGJ carcinoma. CASE PRESENTATION: In case 1, the patient fell into hypotension with hypoxemia during laparoscopic vEG due to pneumothorax caused by entry of intraabdominal carbon dioxide. In case 2, ventricular arrythmia and ST elevation occurred during laparoscopic vEG. Pericardium retraction to secure surgical field during reconstruction compressed the coronary artery, which caused coronary malperfusion. These two events were induced by the surgical procedure, characterized by the following: (1) connection of the thoracic and abdominal cavities and (2) cardiac displacement during vEG. CONCLUSION: These cases indicated tension pneumothorax and coronary ischemia are possible intraoperative complications specific to combined thoracoscopic-laparoscopic surgery for EGJ carcinoma.

Evaluation of the usefulness of saliva for DNA methylation analysis in cohort studies.

INTRODUCTION: Epigenetic information such as DNA methylation is a useful biomarker that reflects complex gene-environmental interaction. Peripheral tissues such as blood and saliva are commonly collected as the source of genomic DNA in cohort studies. Epigenetic studies mainly use blood, while a few studies have addressed the epigenetic characteristics of saliva. METHODS: The effects of methods for DNA extraction and purification from saliva on DNA methylation were surveyed using Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. Using 386 661 probes, DNA methylation differences between blood and saliva from 22 healthy volunteers, and their functional and structural characteristics were examined. CpG sites with DNA methylation levels showing large interindividual variations in blood were evaluated using saliva DNA methylation profiles. RESULTS: Genomic DNA prepared by simplified protocol from saliva showed a similar quality DNA methylation profile to that derived from the manufacturer provided protocol. Consistent with previous studies, the DNA methylation profiles of blood and saliva showed high correlations. Blood showed 1,514 hypomethylated and 2099 hypermethylated probes, suggesting source-dependent DNA methylation patterns. CpG sites with large methylation difference between the two sources were underrepresented in the promoter regions and enriched within gene bodies. CpG sites with large interindividual methylation variations in blood also showed considerable variations in saliva. CONCLUSION: In addition to high correlation in DNA methylation profiles, CpG sites showing large interindividual DNA methylation differences were similar between blood and saliva, ensuring saliva could be a suitable alternative source for genomic DNA in cohort studies. Consideration of source-dependent DNA methylation differences will, however, be necessary.

Comparison of 25- and 27-Gauge Pars Plana Vitrectomy in Repairing Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

AIM: To compare the anatomic and visual outcomes of 25-gauge (25G), and 27-gauge (27G) transconjunctival sutureless pars plana vitrectomy (TSV) for the management of primary rhegmatogeneous retinal detachment (RRD). DESIGN: A retrospective nonrandomized clinical trial. METHODS: A retrospective comparative analysis of 62 consecutive eyes from 62 patients with 6 months of follow-up was performed. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients underwent 25G TSV, and 30 patients underwent 27G TSV for the treatment of primary RRD. There was no significant difference in baseline demographic and preoperative ocular characteristics between the two groups. The initial and final anatomical success rates were 93.8% and 100% in 25G TSV and 96.7% and 100% in 27G TSV, respectively (p=1 and p=1, resp.). Preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (logMAR) was 0.44 ± 0.69 and 0.38 ± 0.61 for 25G and 27G TSV, respectively (p=0.73). The final follow-up BCVA was 0.07 ± 0.25 and -0.02 ± 0.17 for 25G and 27G TSV, respectively (p=0.16). The final BCVA was significantly better than the preoperative BCVA in both groups (p=0.02 and p=0.002, resp.). Preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) (mmHg) was 13.0 ± 3.5 in 25G TSV and 14.3 ± 2.8 in 27G TSV (p=0.11). IOP did not statistically significantly change in both groups during the follow-up period (p=0.63 and p=0.21, resp.). CONCLUSION: The 27G TSV system is safe and useful for RRD treatment as 25G TSV.

Wound Integrity of 2.0 mm Transconjunctival Single-Plane Sclerocorneal Incision: A Comparison between a Motorized Injector with/without Pause Time and a Manual Injector.

Purpose. To compare the final incision size and wound structure after the intraocular lens implantation from 2.0 mm transconjunctival single-plane sclerocorneal incision (TSSI) between the use of a motorized injector at first speed and the use of a manual injector. Methods. Patients were divided into three groups as follows: Group A, a manual injector, Group B, a motorized injector with 0.5 s pause time, and Group C, a motorized injector without pause time. The change in incision size and anterior segment optical coherence tomography findings of the wound structure were analyzed. Results. 110 eyes were enrolled (Group A: 40, Group B: 30, and Group C: 40). The averaged change in incision size (mm) was 0.08, 0.01, and 0.03 in Groups A, B, and C, respectively (p < 0.001). The incision enlargement in Group A was statistically larger compared with other groups (p < 0.01). Descemet's membrane detachments were seen in 26, 9, and 27 eyes one day after the surgery in Groups A, B, and C, respectively (p = 0.001). The rate of Descemet's membrane detachment in Group B was significantly lower than other groups (p < 0.01). Conclusions. The use of a motorized injector by fastest setting with 0.5 s pause time is the best for less wound damage in 2.0 mm TSSI.

Effect of intravitreal aflibercept injection for age-related macular degeneration with a retinal pigment epithelial tear refractory to intravitreal ranibizumab injection.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of intravitreal aflibercept injection for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with a retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tear after intravitreal ranibizumab injection (IVR) which finally became resistant to additional IVR. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of AMD patients with RPE tears after intravitreal ranibizumab injection who were treated with intravitreal aflibercept injection after acquisition of resistance to additional IVR. RESULTS: One eye from three patients, aged 66, 77, and 78 years, was evaluated. All cases started treatment with IVR for AMD. RPE tear developed 1, 4, and 3 months after the first IVR, respectively. Additional IVR was performed seven, seven, and nine times over 10, 19, and 21 months, respectively, but all cases finally became resistant to IVR. Intravitreal aflibercept injection was performed four times, six times, and once over 8, 9, and 6 months, respectively. At the last visit, all patients had complete resolution of subretinal and intraretinal fluid. CONCLUSION: Continued intravitreal aflibercept injection may be beneficial to manage AMD with RPE tear which has become resistant to additional IVR.