From Human to Robot Interactions: A Circular Approach towards Trustworthy Social Robots

Human trust research uncovered important catalysts for trust building between interaction partners such as appearance or cognitive factors. The introduction of robots into social interactions calls for a reevaluation of these findings and also brings new challenges and opportunities. In this paper, we suggest approaching trust research in a circular way by drawing from human trust findings, validating them and conceptualizing them for robots, and finally using the precise manipulability of robots to explore previously less-explored areas of trust formation to generate new hypotheses for trust building between agents.Comment: In SCRITA 2023 Workshop Proceedings (arXiv:2311.05401) held in conjunction with 32nd IEEE International Conference on Robot & Human Interactive Communication, 28/08 - 31/08 2023, Busan (Korea

Robots facilitate human language production

Despite recent developments in integrating autonomous and human-like robots into many aspects of everyday life, social interactions with robots are still a challenge. Here, we focus on a central tool for social interaction: verbal communication. We assess the extent to which humans co-represent (simulate and predict) a robot’s verbal actions. During a joint picture naming task, participants took turns in naming objects together with a social robot (Pepper, Softbank Robotics). Previous findings using this task with human partners revealed internal simulations on behalf of the partner down to the level of selecting words from the mental lexicon, reflected in partner-elicited inhibitory effects on subsequent naming. Here, with the robot, the partner-elicited inhibitory effects were not observed. Instead, naming was facilitated, as revealed by faster naming of word categories co-named with the robot. This facilitation suggests that robots, unlike humans, are not simulated down to the level of lexical selection. Instead, a robot’s speaking appears to be simulated at the initial level of language production where the meaning of the verbal message is generated, resulting in facilitated language production due to conceptual priming. We conclude that robots facilitate core conceptualization processes when humans transform thoughts to language during speaking.Peer Reviewe

Bringing Together Robotics, Neuroscience, and Psychology: Lessons Learned From an Interdisciplinary Project

The diversified methodology and expertise of interdisciplinary research teams provide the opportunity to overcome the limited perspectives of individual disciplines. This is particularly true at the interface of Robotics, Neuroscience, and Psychology as the three fields have quite different perspectives and approaches to offer. Nonetheless, aligning backgrounds and interdisciplinary expectations can present challenges due to varied research cultures and practices. Overcoming these challenges stands at the beginning of each productive collaboration and thus is a mandatory step in cognitive neurorobotics. In this article, we share eight lessons that we learned from our ongoing interdisciplinary project on human-robot and robot-robot interaction in social settings. These lessons provide practical advice for scientists initiating interdisciplinary research endeavors. Our advice can help to avoid early problems and deal with differences between research fields, prepare for and anticipate challenges, align project expectations, and speed up research progress, thus promoting effective interdisciplinary research across Robotics, Neuroscience, and Psychology.Peer Reviewe

Crucial Role of Nucleic Acid Sensing via Endosomal Toll-Like Receptors for the Defense of Streptococcus pyogenes in vitro and in vivo

Streptococcus pyogenes is a major human pathogen causing a variety of diseases ranging from common pharyngitis to life-threatening soft tissue infections and sepsis. Microbial nucleic acids, especially bacterial RNA, have recently been recognized as a major group of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) involved in the detection of Streptococcus pyogenes via endosomal Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in vitro. However, the individual contribution and cooperation between TLRs as well as cell-type and strain specific differences in dependency on nucleic acid detection during S. pyogenes infection in vitro have not been clarified in detail. Moreover, the role of particularly bacterial RNA for the defense of S. pyogenes infection in vivo remains poorly defined. In this study, we report that in all investigated innate immune cells involved in the resolution of bacterial infections, including murine macrophages, dendritic cells and neutrophils, recognition of S. pyogenes strain ATCC12344 is almost completely dependent on nucleic acid sensing via endosomal TLRs at lower MOIs, whereas at higher MOIs, detection via TLR2 plays an additional, yet redundant role. We further demonstrate that different S. pyogenes strains display a considerable inter-strain variability with respect to their nucleic acid dependent recognition. Moreover, TLR13-dependent recognition of S. pyogenes RNA is largely non-redundant in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), but less relevant in neutrophils and bone marrow-derived myeloid dendritic cells (BMDCs) for the induction of an innate immune response in vitro. In vivo, we show that a loss of nucleic acid sensing blunts early recognition of S. pyogenes, leading to a reduced local containment of the bacterial infection with subsequent pronounced systemic inflammation at later time points. Thus, our results argue for a crucial role of nucleic acid sensing via endosomal TLRs in defense of S. pyogenes infection both in vitro and in vivo

Efficient Multiterminal Spectrum Splitting via a Nanowire Array Solar Cell

Nanowire-based solar cells opened a new avenue for increasing conversion efficiency and rationalizing material use by growing different III-V materials on silicon substrates. Here, we propose a multiterminal nanowire solar cell design with a theoretical conversion efficiency of 48.3% utilizing an efficient lateral spectrum splitting between three different III-V material nanowire arrays grown on a flat silicon substrate. This allows choosing an ideal material combination to achieve the proper spectrum splitting as well as fabrication feasibility. The high efficiency is possible due to an enhanced absorption cross-section of standing nanowires and optimization of the geometric parameters. Furthermore, we propose a multiterminal contacting scheme that can be fabricated with a technology close to standard CMOS. As an alternative we also consider a single power source with a module level voltage matching. These new concepts open avenues for next-generation solar cells for terrestrial and space applications

Metabolic markers of short and long-term exogenous DL-beta-hydroxybutyrate supplementation in episodic migraine patients: an exploratory analysis of a randomized-controlled-trial

Background: Emerging findings propose that the pathophysiology of migraine may be associated with dysfunctional metabolic mechanisms. Recent findings suggest that migraine attacks are a response to the cerebral energy deficit, and ingestion of ketone bodies stabilizes the generation of a migraine attack. Based on these findings, ketone body supplementation is postulated as a prophylactic treatment approach to restore cerebral metabolism deficiency. Metabolic markers are unexplored after exogenous ketone body supplementation in episodic migraineurs. Therefore, the present single-arm uncontrolled explorative analysis evaluated blood ketone body and glucose concentration after short and long-term 6 g exogenous DL-Mg-Ca-beta-hydroxybutyrate (DL-βHB) supplementation.Methods: The presented data are part of the MigraKet randomized-control cross-over clinical trial of 41 episodic migraineurs (Number NCT03132233). Patients were given a single dose of 6 g DL-βHB. Ketone body and glucose blood concentration were assessed before intake, 20, and 40 min after DL-βHB intake. Ketone body, glucose concentration and glycated hemoglobin values were evaluated after 12 weeks of 18 g DL-βHB ingestion (total dose), taken three times daily (6g/dose; 3x/day). Linear models explored the association between the ketone body and glucose levels.Results: Ketone body concentration increased within-group to a mean of 0.46 (0.30) mmol/L after 40 min post- DL-βHB supplementation [estimate = 0.24 mmol/L, CI = (0.20.0.27), p < 0.01]. This within-group increase of ketone body concentration did not change after repeated daily intake of DL-βHB supplementation over 12 weeks [estimate = 0.00 mmol/L, CI = (−0.03.0.04), p = 0.794]. DL-βHB intake significantly reduced blood glucose concentration within-group from a mean baseline of 4.91 (0.42) mmol/L to 4.75 (0.47) mmol/L 40 min post-DL-βHB supplementation [estimate = −0.16 mmol/L, CI = (−0.15, 0.03), p < 0.01]. Repeated DL-βHB supplementation for 12 weeks showed no change within-group in acute ketone bodies concentration [estimate = 0.00 mmol/L, CI = (−0.03.0.04), p = 0.794] and in the HbA1c value [estimate = 0.02, CI = (−0.07.0.11), p = 0.69].Conclusion: A single dose of 6 g DL-βHB significantly elevated blood ketone bodies and decreased blood glucose concentration within-group in episodic migraineurs. Long-term DL-βHB supplementation for 12 weeks showed no effect within-group on acute ketone body concentration and had not impact on HbA1c. The elevation of the ketone body concentration was moderate, indicating that nutritional ketosis was not reached. Therefore, a dose higher than 6 g of DL-βHB is required to reach the nutritional level of ketosis. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03132233

Recurrent and multiple bladder tumors show conserved expression profiles

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Urothelial carcinomas originate from the epithelial cells of the inner lining of the bladder and may appear as single or as multiple synchronous tumors. Patients with urothelial carcinomas frequently show recurrences after treatment making follow-up necessary. The leading hypothesis explaining the origin of meta- and synchronous tumors assumes a monoclonal origin. However, the genetic relationship among consecutive tumors has been shown to be complex in as much as the genetic evolution does not adhere to the chronological appearance of the metachronous tumors. Consequently, genetically less evolved tumors may appear chronologically later than genetically related but more evolved tumors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty-nine meta- or synchronous urothelial tumors from 22 patients were analyzed using expression profiling, conventional CGH, LOH, and mutation analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show by CGH that partial chromosomal losses in the initial tumors may not be present in the recurring tumors, by LOH that different haplotypes may be lost and that detected regions of LOH may be smaller in recurring tumors, and that mutations present in the initial tumor may not be present in the recurring ones. In contrast we show that despite apparent genomic differences, the recurrent and multiple bladder tumors from the same patients display remarkably similar expression profiles.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings show that even though the vast majority of the analyzed meta- and synchronous tumors from the same patients are not likely to have originated directly from the preceding tumor they still show remarkably similar expressions profiles. The presented data suggests that an expression profile is established early in tumor development and that this profile is stable and maintained in recurring tumors.</p

Predicted Coverage and Immuno-Safety of a Recombinant C-Repeat Region Based Streptococcus pyogenes Vaccine Candidate

The C-terminal region of the M-protein of Streptococcus pyogenes is a major target for vaccine development. The major feature is the C-repeat region, consisting of 35-42 amino acid repeat units that display high but not perfect identity. SV1 is a S. pyogenes vaccine candidate that incorporates five 14mer amino acid sequences (called J14i variants) from differing C-repeat units in a single recombinant construct. Here we show that the J14i variants chosen for inclusion in SV1 are the most common variants in a dataset of 176 unique M-proteins. Murine antibodies raised against SV1 were shown to bind to each of the J14i variants present in SV1, as well as variants not present in the vaccine. Antibodies raised to the individual J14i variants were also shown to bind to multiple but different combinations of J14i variants, supporting the underlying rationale for the design of SV1. A Lewis Rat Model of valvulitis was then used to assess the capacity of SV1 to induce deleterious immune response associated with rheumatic heart disease. In this model, both SV1 and the M5 positive control protein were immunogenic. Neither of these antibodies were cross-reactive with cardiac myosin or collagen. Splenic T cells from SV1/CFA and SV1/alum immunized rats did not proliferate in response to cardiac myosin or collagen. Subsequent histological examination of heart tissue showed that 4 of 5 mice from the M5/CFA group had valvulitis and inflammatory cell infiltration into valvular tissue, whereas mice immunised with SV1/CFA, SV1/alum showed no sign of valvulitis. These results suggest that SV1 is a safe vaccine candidate that will elicit antibodies that recognise the vast majority of circulating GAS M-types

Systematic RNA-interference in primary human monocyte-derived macrophages: A high-throughput platform to study foam cell formation

Macrophage-derived foam cells are key regulators of atherogenesis. They accumulate in atherosclerotic plaques and support inflammatory processes by producing cytokines and chemokines. Identifying factors that regulate macrophage lipid uptake may reveal therapeutic targets for coronary artery disease (CAD). Here, we establish a high-throughput screening workflow to systematically identify genes that impact the uptake of DiI-labeled low-density lipoprotein (LDL) into monocyte-derived primary human macrophages. For this, monocytes isolated from peripheral blood were seeded onto 384-well plates, solid-phase transfected with siRNAs, differentiated in vitro into macrophages, and LDL-uptake per cell was measured by automated microscopy and quantitative image analysis. We applied this workflow to study how silencing of 89 genes impacts LDL-uptake into cells from 16 patients with CAD and 16 age-matched controls. Silencing of four novel genes (APOC1, CMTM6, FABP4, WBP5) reduced macrophage LDL-uptake. Additionally, knockdown of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 reduced LDL-uptake, most likely through a G-protein coupled mechanism that involves the CXCR4 ligand macrophage-induced factor (MIF), but is independent of CXCL12. We introduce a high-throughput strategy to systematically study gene function directly in primary CAD-patient cells. Our results propose a function for the MIF/CXCR4 signaling pathway, as well as several novel candidate genes impacting lipid uptake into human macrophages