FVA Measurement System and results of typical cases.

<p><b>(A)</b> FVA Measurement System (AS-28, Kowa). <b>(B)</b> Representative printout of a typical case with good FVA. The blue line denotes the Landolt corrected VA. The red line shows the time-wise changes in the VA during testing. The green line denotes the mean logMAR VA during 60 seconds, defined as the FVA. The yellow dots indicate the number of correct responses and the blue arrows indicate spontaneous blinks. FVA (logMAR), -0.08; VMR, 0.99; max/min logMAR VAs, -0.18/0.05, respectively; ART, 1.47 seconds. <b>(C)</b> Representative printout of a typical case with low FVA. FVA (logMAR), 0.19; VMR, 0.83; max/min logMAR VA, 0.05/0.52, respectively; ART, 1.46 seconds.</p

Correlation between the CDFVA and the CAR of the VFIT-EV.

<p>The correlation between the CDFVA and the CAR of the VFIT-EV is significant (r = -0.606, <i>P</i> = 0.000). The triangles indicate the data from the elderly group, and the squares indicate the data from the control group.</p

Strengths use as a secret of happiness: Another dimension of visually impaired individuals' psychological state

<div><p>It is well recognized that visual impairments (VI) worsen individuals’ mental condition. However, little is known about the positive aspects including subjective happiness, positive emotions, and strengths. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the positive aspects of persons with VI including their subjective happiness, positive emotions, and strengths use. Positive aspects of persons with VI were measured using the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience-Balance (SPANE-B), and the Strengths Use Scale (SUS). A cross-sectional analysis was utilized to examine personal information in a Tokyo sample (N = 44). We used a simple regression analysis and found significant relationships between the SHS or SPANE-B and SUS; on the contrary, VI-related variables were not correlated with them. A multiple regression analysis confirmed that SUS was a significant factor associated with both the SHS and SPANE-B. Strengths use might be a possible protective factor from the negative effects of VI.</p></div

The correlation between the Strengths Use Scale (SUS) and Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS).

<p>SHS: Subjective Happiness Scale; SUS: Strengths Use Scale. SUS was strongly correlated to SHS (β = .07, p < .001).</p

Participants’ sociodemographic, clinical, and subjective characteristics (N = 44).

<p>Participants’ sociodemographic, clinical, and subjective characteristics (N = 44).</p

Visually impaired persons’ SUS, SHS, and SPANE results.

<p>Visually impaired persons’ SUS, SHS, and SPANE results.</p

Two dimensions of the psychological states of persons with visual impairments.

<p>There are two dimensions of the internal state of persons with visual impairments. Previous literature focused on the horizontal dimension, which is related to negative experiences (the correlation between visual impairments and mental illness); however, this study revealed that there is another vertical dimension, which is related to positive experiences (the correlation between subjective happiness and strengths use).</p

Simple regression analysis of the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) and Scale of Positive and Negative Experience-Balance (SPANE-B) with variables.

<p>Simple regression analysis of the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) and Scale of Positive and Negative Experience-Balance (SPANE-B) with variables.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Social skills training using multiple humanoid robots for individuals with autism spectrum conditions.DOCX

IntroductionSocial skills training (SST) is used to help individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) better understand the perspectives of others and social interactions, develop empathy skills, and learn how to engage with others socially. However, many individuals with ASC cannot easily sustain high motivation and concentration during such an intervention when it is administered by humans. We developed a social skills training program using multiple humanoid robots (STUH), including an android robot, that aimed to enable individuals with ASC to become familiar with the perspectives of others and improve their sociability and empathy skills. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of STUH for these individuals.MethodsIn STUH, we prepared 50 social exercises that consisted of conversations and behavioral interactions between an android robot and a simple humanoid robot. We prepared another humanoid robot that featured a cartoon-like and mechanical design, which played the role of host. In the first half-session of STUH, participants worked on the exercise from the perspective of an outsider. In the second half-session of STUH, they simulated experience by using robots as their avatars. The intervention associated with STUH was conducted for five days in total. We conducted an analysis of variance (ANOVA) featuring the intervention time point as the independent variable to examine changes in each score on the sociability index items.ResultsIn total, 14 individuals with ASC participated in the study. The results of multiple comparison tests using the Bonferroni method indicated that all sociability index items improved between preintervention and follow-up. Our program enabled the participants to become familiar with the perspectives of others and improve their sociability.DiscussionGiven the promising results of this study, future studies featuring long-term follow-up should be conducted to draw definitive conclusions about the efficacy of our training system.</p

The correlation between the Strengths Use Scale (SUS) and Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE-B).

<p>SPANE-B: Scale of Positive and Negative Experience-Positive—Scale of Positive and Negative Experience-Negative; SUS: Strengths Use Scale. SUS was strongly correlated to SPANE-B (β = .46, p < .001).</p