Enhancing the Driver's Comprehension of ADS's System Limitations: An HMI for Providing Request-to-Intervene Trigger Information

Level 3 automated driving systems (ADS) have attracted significant attention and are being commercialized. A Level 3 ADS prompts the driver to take control by requesting to intervene (RtI) when its operational design domain (ODD) or system limitations are exceeded. However, complex traffic situations may lead drivers to perceive multiple potential triggers of RtI simultaneously, causing hesitation or confusion during take-over. Therefore, drivers must clearly understand the ADS's system limitations to understand the triggers of RtI and ensure safe take-over. In this study, we propose a voice-based HMI for providing RtI trigger cues to help drivers understand ADS's system limitations. The results of a between-group experiment using a driving simulator showed that incorporating effective trigger cues into the RtI enabled drivers to comprehend the ADS's system limitations better and reduce collisions. It also improved the subjective evaluations of drivers, such as the comprehensibility of system limitations, hesitation in response to RtI, and acceptance of ADS behaviors when encountering RtI while using the ADS. Therefore, enhanced comprehension resulting from trigger cues is essential for promoting a safer and better user experience using ADS during RtI

Oshika T. Contrast sensitivity and foveal microstructure following vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci

PURPOSE. To evaluate contrast sensitivity (CS) in patients with epiretinal membrane (ERM) following vitrectomy and to investigate the relationship between CS and foveal microstructures with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS. Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients with ERM were included. We examined CS with a CSV-1000E chart, a logMAR best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and foveal microstructure by using SD-OCT before and at 6 months after surgery. From the CS data, the area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) was calculated. Based on the OCT images, we quantified the mean thickness of the ganglion cell layer (GCL), the inner nuclear layer (INL), and the outer retinal layer (outer nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer [ONLþOPL]). The status of the photoreceptor inner and outer segment junction (IS/OS) and external limiting membrane (ELM) was also evaluated. RESULTS. Vitrectomy significantly improved logMAR BCVA and AULCSF. Even in patients with poor improvement of visual acuity (changes in logMAR BCVA by surgery was 0.2), postoperative AULCSF significantly increased by treatment (P < 0.05). Postoperative AULCSF showed a significant correlation with preoperative (P < 0.05) and postoperative (P < 0.05) ONLþOPL thickness, whereas other parameters were not relevant. Postoperative logMAR BCVA significantly correlated with postoperative status of IS/OS (P < 0.05) and preoperative ONLþOPL thickness (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS. In patients with ERM, CS improved even though their visual acuity did not recover significantly by vitrectomy. CS was associated with the thickness of outer retinal layer

Novel insights into the intraepithelial spread of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: clinicopathological study of 382 cases on extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BackgroundExtrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA) is a rare and aggressive disease and consisted of conventional eCCA and intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB). Intraepithelial spread (IES) of cancer cells beyond the invasive area is often observed in IPNBs; however, the prevalence of IES remains to be examined in conventional eCCAs. Here, we evaluated the clinicopathological features of eCCAs according to tumor location, with a focus on the presence of IES. The IES extension was also compared among biliary tract cancers (BTCs).MethodsWe examined the prevalence and clinicopathological significance of IES in eCCAs (n=382) and the IES extension of BTCs, including gallbladder (n=172), cystic duct (n=20), and ampullary cancers (n=102).ResultsAmong the invasive eCCAs, IPNB had a higher rate of IES (89.2%) than conventional eCCAs (57.0%). Among conventional eCCAs, distal eCCAs (75.4%) had a significantly higher prevalence of IES than perihilar eCCAs (41.3%). The presence of IES was associated with a significantly higher survival rate in patients with distal eCCAs (P=0.030). Extension of the IES into the cystic duct (CyD) in distal eCCAs that cancer cells reached the junction of the CyD was a favorable prognostic factor (P<0.001). The association of survival with IES, either on the extrahepatic bile duct or on the CyD, differed depending on the tumor location and type of eCCA. The extension properties of IES were also dependent on different types of tumors among BTCs; usually, the IES incidence became higher than 50% in the tissues that the tumor developed, whereas IES extension to other tissues decreased the incidence.ConclusionThus, eCCAs have different clinicopathological characteristics depending on the tumor location and type

Rapid detection of hypoxia-inducible factor-1-active tumours: pretargeted imaging with a protein degrading in a mechanism similar to hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha

PURPOSE: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) plays an important role in malignant tumour progression. For the imaging of HIF-1-active tumours, we previously developed a protein, POS, which is effectively delivered to and selectively stabilized in HIF-1-active cells, and a radioiodinated biotin derivative, (3-(123)I-iodobenzoyl)norbiotinamide ((123)I-IBB), which can bind to the streptavidin moiety of POS. In this study, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of the pretargeting method using POS and (123)I-IBB for rapid imaging of HIF-1-active tumours. METHODS: Tumour-implanted mice were pretargeted with POS. After 24 h, (125)I-IBB was administered and subsequently, the biodistribution of radioactivity was investigated at several time points. In vivo planar imaging, comparison between (125)I-IBB accumulation and HIF-1 transcriptional activity, and autoradiography were performed at 6 h after the administration of (125)I-IBB. The same sections that were used in autoradiographic analysis were subjected to HIF-1alpha immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: (125)I-IBB accumulation was observed in tumours of mice pretargeted with POS (1.6%ID/g at 6 h). This result is comparable to the data derived from (125)I-IBB-conjugated POS-treated mice (1.4%ID/g at 24 h). In vivo planar imaging provided clear tumour images. The tumoral accumulation of (125)I-IBB significantly correlated with HIF-1-dependent luciferase bioluminescence (R=0.84, p<0.01). The intratumoral distribution of (125)I-IBB was heterogeneous and was significantly correlated with HIF-1alpha-positive regions (R=0.58, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: POS pretargeting with (123)I-IBB is a useful technique in the rapid imaging and detection of HIF-1-active regions in tumours

Analysis of Stripline Circuit based on Planar Circuit Theory and Method of Moment for Branch-line 3dB Hybrid Circuit

rights: 社団法人電子情報通信学会　2004年電子情報通信学会エレクトロニクスソサイエティ大会　2004年9月21日～24日　徳島大学　常三島キャンパス　徳島

Mucosal gene therapy using a pseudotyped lentivirus vector encoding murine interleukin-10 (mIL-10) suppresses the development and relapse of experimental murine colitis

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic gene transfer is currently being evaluated as a potential therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. This study investigates the safety and therapeutic benefit of a locally administered lentiviral vector encoding murine interleukin-10 in altering the onset and relapse of dextran sodium sulfate induced murine colitis. METHODS: Lentiviral vectors encoding the reporter genes firefly-luciferase and murine interleukin-10 were administered by intrarectal instillation, either once or twice following an ethanol enema to facilitate mucosal uptake, on Days 3 and 20 in Balb/c mice with acute and relapsing colitis induced with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). DSS colitis was characterized using clinical disease activity, macroscopic, and microscopic scores. Bioluminescence optical imaging analysis was employed to examine mucosal lentiviral vector uptake and transgene expression. Levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in homogenates of rectal tissue were measured by ELISA. Biodistribution of the lentiviral vector to other organs was evaluated by real time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Mucosal delivery of lentiviral vector resulted in significant transduction of colorectal mucosa, as shown by bioluminescence imaging analysis. Lentiviral vector-mediated local expression of interleukin-10 resulted in significantly increased levels of this cytokine, as well as reduced levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, and significantly reduced the clinical disease activity, macroscopic, and microscopic scores of DSS colitis. Systemic biodistribution of locally instilled lentiviral vector to other organs was not detected. CONCLUSIONS: Topically-delivered lentiviral vectors encoding interleukin-10 safely penetrated local mucosal tissue and had therapeutic benefit in this DSS model of murine colitis

Changes in aniseikonia and influencing-factors following successful macula-off retinal detachment surgery

This study investigated the changes in the severity of aniseikonia after surgery for macula-off retinal detachment (RD), and the relationship between aniseikonia and retinal microstructures. The study included 26 eyes of 26 patients undergoing RD surgery. Visual acuity was measured preoperatively, and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Degree of aniseikonia and OCT images were obtained at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The aniseikonia values (mean +/- standard deviation) at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively were -5.3 +/- 4.2%, -4.4 +/- 4.4%, and -3.1 +/- 3.2%, respectively. Significant improvement was observed from 3 to 12 months postoperatively (P = 0.001). Twelve months postoperatively, 14 eyes had micropsia, 1 eye had macropsia, and 11 eyes were free of aniseikonia. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that the severity of aniseikonia at 12 months postoperatively was significantly associated with postoperative development of cystoid macular edema (CME) and epiretinal membrane (ERM), as well as area of preoperative RD. In conclusion, although aniseikonia was gradually relieved after RD surgery during a 1-year follow-up period, approximately half of patients had aniseikonia and almost all of them had micropsia. Aniseikonia was associated with presence of postoperative CME, ERM, and area of preoperative RD