A Non-Humanoid Robot in the “Uncanny Valley”: Experimental Analysis of the Reaction to Behavioral Contingency in 2–3 Year Old Children

Infants' sensitivity to social or behavioral contingency has been examined in the field of developmental psychology and behavioral sciences, mainly using a double video paradigm or a still face paradigm. These studies have shown that infants distinguish other individuals' contingent behaviors from non-contingent ones. The present experiment systematically examined if this ability extends to the detection of non-humanoids' contingent actions in a communicative context. We examined two- to three-year-olds' understanding of contingent actions produced by a non-humanoid robot. The robot either responded contingently to the actions of the participants (contingent condition) or programmatically reproduced the same sequence of actions to another participant (non-contingent condition). The results revealed that the participants exhibited different patterns of response depending on whether or not the robot responded contingently. It was also found that the participants did not respond positively to the contingent actions of the robot in the earlier periods of the experimental sessions. This might reflect the conflict between the non-humanlike appearance of the robot and its humanlike contingent actions, which presumably led the children to experience the uncanny valley effect

Antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of photoexcited Au clusters via blue high-power or white low-power light emitting diode irradiation

The development of photosensitizers and light sources has enabled the use of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in various dental therapies. In the present study, we compared the antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of Au clusters photoexcited by blue and white LED irradiation. We fabricated novel photosensitizers, captopril-protected gold (Capt-Au) clusters and lysozyme-stabilized gold (Lyz-Au) clusters, for aPDT. Au clusters were then photoexcited by two kinds of light sources, blue high-power and white low-power light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Since white LED contains a wide spectrum of light (400–750 nm), white LED would be relevant for aPDT even if using a low-power source. The turbidity and viability of Streptococcus mutans were assessed following application of Capt-Au clusters (500 μg/mL) or Lyz-Au clusters (1,000 μg/mL) photoexcited by a blue high-power LED (1,000 mW/cm2) or white low-power LED (80 mW/cm2). In addition, the cytotoxicity of Au clusters and LED irradiation was evaluated in NIH3T3 and MC3T3-E1 cells. Au clusters photoexcited by the white low-power LED equally decreased the turbidity and viability of S. mutans compared with blue high-power LED. However, Au clusters photoexcited by white LED irradiation caused decreased cytotoxicity in mammalian cells compared with those photoexcited by blue LED irradiation. In conclusion, white LEDs possess biosafe properties for aPDT using Au clusters

Examination of Optimum Construction Area for Appropriate Thickness in Polyurethane Waterproofing Construction

Polyurethane waterproofing membranes are constructed at building sites by applying liquid material to substrate. The membrane thickness is related to the durability of the waterproof material, so quality control during construction is important. However, the membrane thickness is likely to be unstable because it is affected by various factors, such as the environment, substrate conditions, method of waterproofing material application, and construction skills. Therefore, a reduction in thickness variation is extremely important to secure the quality of the waterproofing membrane. To examine which construction conditions can ensure a uniform and appropriate thickness, we examined the combination of allocation method of the suitable construction area and application tools as an example of process control during construction. The construction area width and length were important, and a comparatively uniform and appropriate thickness could be ensured, when construction was carried out over an area with a 1.4-m width and length of 5.15 m by using the trowel and squeegee

Germline Transgenic Methods for Tracking Cells and Testing Gene Function During Regeneration in the Axolotl

The salamander is the only tetrapod that regenerates complex body structures throughout life. Deciphering the underlying molecular processes of regeneration is fundamental for regenerative medicine and developmental biology, but the model organism had limited tools for molecular analysis. We describe a comprehensive set of germline transgenic strains in the laboratory-bred salamander Ambystoma mexicanum(axolotl) that open up the cellular and molecular genetic dissection of regeneration. We demonstrate tissue-dependent control of gene expression in nerve, Schwann cells, oligodendrocytes, muscle, epidermis, and cartilage. Furthermore, we demonstrate the use of tamoxifen-induced Cre/loxP-mediated recombination to indelibly mark different cell types. Finally, we inducibly overexpress the cell-cycle inhibitor p16INK4a, which negatively regulates spinal cord regeneration. These tissue-specific germline axolotl lines and tightly inducible Cre drivers and LoxP reporter lines render this classical regeneration model molecularly accessible

Treatment of infected root canals with 4-META/MMA-TBB resin

This review paper describes the various applications of 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride/methyl methacrylate-tri-n-butyl borane (4-META/MMA-TBB) and reviews research studies on the treatment of infected root canals using 4-META/MMA-TBB resin. 4-META/MMA-TBB resin exhibits good biocompatibility, polymerisation, and adhesiveness to dentine. As a result, it has improved the previously low success rates of root-end sealing, root canal filling, and perforation sealing in difficult cases. Root-end sealing of resected surfaces using 4-META/MMA-TBB during apicoectomy and intentional replantation prevents leakage from root canal and root resorption. 4-META/MMA-TBB can offer sealing for root canals with opened root apex in which pressure could not be applied during root canal filling. In this paper we will discuss clinical cases related to the application of this resin and the benefits of 4-META/MMA-TBB resin

Cattle Is Possible Host Animal of The Land Leech (Advanced Studies on Sustainable Animal Production: Interrelationships among Human, Animal and Environment, 8th International Symposium of Integrated Field Science)

Poster Sessio

Development of an Apparatus for Measuring the Load Acting on Joint Sealant when Movement Occurs

The sealant that fills the joints of an exterior walls of building is subjected to weather loads, such as sunlight, ambient temperature, and rain, as well as a movement of the joints. As a result, the sealant gradually deteriorates under the combined deterioration factors of weathering and movement. Meanwhile, the results of a 15-year outdoor dynamic exposure test conducted in Japan using the methodology of ISO 11617 showed that the progress of damage varies greatly depending on the type of sealant and the stress relaxation rate. However, the mechanism of damage progression is unclear. In the present study, we focused on the load when the sealant moves and developed a load-measuring apparatus as the first step in clarifying the relationship between the progress of damage and the load. The load was measured at −20, 23, and 40 °C for test specimens with different stress relaxation rates, and it was confirmed that the developed load-measuring apparatus was able to measure the load correctly. Furthermore, it was shown that it is difficult for the stress of the sealant with a high stress relaxation rate to relax over time at low temperature but easy at high temperature, and the load increases when switching from the compressed state to the extended state