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Background NLP models like ChatGPT promise to revolutionize text-based content delivery, particularly in medicine. Yet, doubts remain about ChatGPT's ability to reliably support evaluations of cognitive performance, warranting further investigation into its accuracy and comprehensiveness in this area. Method A cohort of 60 cognitively normal individuals and 30 stroke survivors underwent a comprehensive evaluation, covering memory, numerical processing, verbal fluency, and abstract thinking. Healthcare professionals and NLP models GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 conducted evaluations following established standards. Scores were compared, and efforts were made to refine scoring protocols and interaction methods to enhance ChatGPT's potential in these evaluations. Result Within the cohort of healthy participants, the utilization of GPT-3.5 revealed significant disparities in memory evaluation compared to both physician-led assessments and those conducted utilizing GPT-4 ( P

Abstract Background We aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted oral cytology method, similar to cervical cytology. We focused on the detection of cell nuclei because the ratio of cell nuclei to cytoplasm increases with increasing cell malignancy. As an initial step in the development of AI-assisted cytology, we investigated two methods for the automatic detection of cell nuclei in blue-stained cells in cytopreparation images. Methods We evaluated the usefulness of the sliding window method (SWM) and mask region-based convolutional neural network (Mask-RCNN) in identifying the cell nuclei in oral cytopreparation images. Thirty cases of liquid-based oral cytology were analyzed. First, we performed the SWM by dividing each image into 96 × 96 pixels. Overall, 591 images with or without blue-stained cell nuclei were prepared as the training data and 197 as the test data (total: 1,576 images). Next, we performed the Mask-RCNN by preparing 130 images of Class II and III lesions and creating mask images showing cell regions based on these images. Results Using the SWM method, the highest detection rate for blue-stained cells in the evaluation group was 0.9314. For Mask-RCNN, 37 cell nuclei were identified, and 1 cell nucleus was identified as a non-nucleus after 40 epochs (error rate:0.027). Conclusions Mask-RCNN is more accurate than SWM in identifying the cell nuclei. If the blue-stained cell nuclei can be correctly identified automatically, the entire cell morphology can be grasped faster, and the diagnostic performance of cytology can be improved.

In this study, the authors used the Fujifilm Prescale Pressure Measuring System to measure the contact pressure and distribution at the jaws of laparoscopic grasping forceps. This data was then correlated with measured pressures at the forceps handles to understand the relationship between the surgeon’s actuating pressure and that on the organ being manipulated. The purpose of this study is to create a database of tactile information to provide guidelines in defining minimally invasive surgery (MIS). This is expected to be important as today's society continues to progress in the use of automation, IoT, AI and MIS. In order to achieve the above, the authors developed an experimental device consisting of an actuator, a load cell and an MCU to stably actuate and control the handle side of grasping forceps. Target organs were simulated using triangular prisms of various silicone rubber materials. The experimental method involved actuating the handle side with preset pressure values for fixed time periods and using sensitive film to measure the pressure at the forceps tip. The film data was then scanned, processed and analyzed.

A control system for driving an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) performing docking operations in presence of tidal current disturbances is proposed. The nonlinear model of the vehicle has been modelled in a Linear Parameter-Varying (LPV) form. This is suitable for the design of the control system using a model-based approach. The LPV model was used for a Model Predictive Control (MPC) design for computing the set of forces and moments driving the nonlinear vehicle model. The LPV-MPC control action is mapped into the reference signals for the actuators by using a Thrust Allocation (TA) algorithm. This was based on the nonlinear models for the actuators and their position and orientation on the vehicle’s hull. The structural decomposition of MPC and TA reduces the computational burden involved in computing the control law on-line on an embedded control board. Both MPC and TA algorithms use the vehicle’s linear and angular positions, and velocities that are estimated by an LPV based Kalman Filter (KF). The proposed control system has been tested in different docking scenarios using various tidal current disturbances acting on the vehicle as an unmeasured disturbance. The simulation results show the controller is effective in controlling the AUV over the range of control scenarios meeting the constraints and specifications.

In our previous report, an 80% ethanol bitter gourd seed extract (BGSE) was found to suppress proliferation of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cell lines. The present study aimed to identify the bioactive compounds from BGSE specific against ATL. From the result of an HPLC-MS analysis, α-eleostearic acid (α-ESA) was present in BGSE at 0.68% ± 0.0022% (±SD, n = 5). In the cell proliferation test, α-ESA potently suppressed proliferation of two ATL cell lines (ED and Su9T01; IC50 = 8.9 and 29.3 µM, respectively) more than several other octadecanoic acids. However, α-ESA moderately inhibited phytohemagglutinin-activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC; IC50 = 31.0 µM). These results suggest that BGSE-derived α-ESA has potential as a functional food constituent because of its activity against ATL, particularly against ED cells. Moreover, α-ESA might be effective for the prevention of moderate adverse effects of ATL on normal T cells.

With the increase in the number of offshore power generation facilities and aquaculture ponds, demand for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to inspect underwater structures and conduct ecological surveys is increasing. Because ROVs are connected to a ground station on the water by a tether cable to enable the transmission of operating commands and images underwater, where radio communication is difficult, they can only operate within the range of the tether cable. To expand the operational range of ROVs, an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV)-ROV cooperative system, in which a tether cable is connected to an ASV and radio waves are used for remote operation from the autonomous vessel, is attracting attention. In a cooperative system, the tether cable must be managed on the ASV side, and the position and cable length of the ASV must be controlled to prevent the cable from pulling against or tangling with the ROV, which moves around underwater under the command of a human controller. We propose a method of controlling the position and cable length of the ASV using the information on the position of the ROV obtained from an underwater positioning device for an ASV-ROV cooperative system that we are also developing. In addition, we confirmed through simulations that the ASV and cable length follow target values even when the ROV moves along a complicated path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the detection of cell nuclei in oral cytology using artificial intelligence (AI). We focused on the detection of cell nuclei because the ratio of cell nuclei to cytoplasm increases with increasing cell malignancy. As an initial step in the development of Al-assisted cytology, we investigated two methods for the automatic detection of cell nuclei in blue-stained cells in cytopreparation images. We evaluated the usefulness of the sliding window method (SWM) and the mask region-based convolutional neural network (Mask-RCNN) method in identifying cell nuclei in oral cytopreparation images. Thirty cases of liquid-based oral cytology were analyzed. First, we performed the SWM by dividing each image into 96 x 96 pixels. Overall, 591 images with or without blue-stained cell nuclei were prepared as the training data and 197 as the test data (from among 1576 images in total). Next, we performed the Mask-RCNN method by preparing 130 images of Class II and III lesions and creating mask images showing cell regions based on these images. By the SWM method, the highest detection rate for blue-stained cells in the evaluation group was found to be 0.9314. For Mask-RCNN, 37 cell nuclei were identified, and 1 cell nucleus was identified as a non-nucleus after 40 epochs (error rate: 0.027). Mask- RCNN was shown to be more accurate than SWM in identifying the cell nuclei. If the blue- stained cell nuclei can be correctly identified automatically, the entire cell morphology can be grasped faster, and the diagnostic performance of cytology can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mouth props are widely used tools in clinical practice: from general dental practice to oral care in residential elderly care facilities. Mouth props are particularly useful for keeping the mouth open while administering oral care to persons in residential elderly care facilities who are unable to communicate with others. Currently, oral bites and such devices are used mainly as mouth props in such cases. However, patients who have difficulty communicating resist the insertion of the tools using their lips, which they often clench and defiantly refuse to open their mouths. On such occasions, medical personnel and caregivers must wait until the range of mouth opening is sufficient to insert a tool; this is a heavy burden for caregivers responsible for administering dental and oral care during house calls. To resolve these difficulties, we developed a mouth prop, which is easy to use by both medical personnel and caregivers, can be inserted through a smaller range of mouth opening, can open the mouth by the application of force via the tool after insertion, and can prevent injury inside the oral cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cable-driven parallel robot (CDPR) is a mechanism that controls the position and attitude of an object using multiple cables. We propose an underwater cable-driven parallel robot (UCDPR), which is a CDPR composed of multiple surface robots. A UCDPR is a type of mobile cable- driven parallel robot (MCDPR) that is composed of multiple mobile robots and is an underwater application of MCDPR, which has been used only on land and in the air. We describe the details of the operational scenario of the UCDPR, from landing on the water to executing a task. We also simulated numerically the stabilization phase required after landing on water and the trajectory tracking control phase required for underwater exploration and other tasks. In this numerical simulation, we used a high-gain feedback controller as the trajectory tracking controller to add robustness to the control system. As a result, a trajectory tracking control was realized within a tolerance tracking error range of 10-2 m underwater in the presence of a maximum current velocity of 0.8 m/s (= 1.5 knots), which is a control requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation of clean renewable energy is becoming increasingly critical, as pollution and global warming threaten the environment in which we live. While there are many different kinds of natural energy that can be harnessed, marine tidal energy offers reliability and predictability. However, harnessing energy from tidal flows is inherently difficult, due to the harsh environment. Current mechanisms used to harness tidal flows center around propeller-based solutions but are particularly prone to failure due to marine fouling from such as encrustations and seaweed entanglement and the corrosion that naturally occurs in sea water. In order to efficiently harness tidal flow energy in a cost-efficient manner, development of a mechanism that is inherently resistant to these harsh conditions is required. One such mechanism is a simple oscillatory-type mechanism based on robotic fish tail fin technology. This uses the physical phenomenon of vortex-induced oscillation, in which water currents flowing around an object induce transverse motion. We consider two specific types of oscillators, firstly a wing-type oscillator, in which the optimal elastic modulus is being sort. Secondly, the optimal selection of shape from 6 basic shapes for a reciprocating oscillating head-type oscillator. A numerical analysis tool for fluid structure-coupled problems—ANSYS—was used to select the optimum softness of material for the first type of oscillator and the best shape for the second type of oscillator, based on the exhibition of high lift coefficients. For a wing-type oscillator, an optimum elastic modulus for an air-foil was found. For a self-induced vibration-type mechanism, based on analysis of vorticity and velocity distribution, a square-shaped head exhibited a lift coefficient of more than two times that of a cylindrically shaped head. Analysis of the flow field clearly showed that the discontinuous flow caused by a square-headed oscillator results in higher lift coefficients due to intense vortex shedding, and that stable operation can be achieved by selecting the optimum length to width ratio.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) inspection of salivary analyte is performed by pretreatment, RNA extraction setup, RNA extraction, PCR setup, and the PCR process. However, the pretreatment process is conducted manually, and it is a bottleneck to the overall process. The author created automatic preprocessing logistics and prototypes using robotic technology for the pretreatment process. A dissolving agent of saliva is poured into the salivary container, the transfer syringe is automated, and a transfer robot injects an inactivating solubilizer using a robotic hand. Ninety-six inactivated vessel units are processed for the next RNA extraction process. The automatic preprocessing equipment is successfully developed and used in the inspection at a hospital. Pretreatment efficiency is up to eight times greater compared to that with the conventional manual process. The 96 units/h inspection is made possible by a single of equipment. The developed automatic preprocessing method assures high efficiency, standardization, and safety for coronavirus inspection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoscopic submucosa dissection (ESD) procedures, used to remove cancerous tissue from thin-walled organs such as the duodenum, often result in compromising the organ's functionality, resulting in problematic leakage. While a device has been developed to enable the adherence of a cell sheet to provide additional protection (thickness) to the lining, the device is not suited to laparoscopic application. We have developed and tested a new device and procedure that can be used laparoscopically to adhere cell sheets to organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are currently developing a mobile scaffolding device that can dodge the piers of bridges without dismantling the scaffold when moving between spans to improve efficiency and safety in bridge inspections. The mobile scaffolding device treated in this paper is split in the center of the device when it crosses the piers. In this process, the mobile scaffold is cantilevered and poses a danger to the workers on board. Therefore, we implemented horizontal holding control by wire reeling to keep the mobile scaffold horizontal. However, in this control method, the direction of motion of the mobile scaffold is only partially constrained by the wire. Thus, the device is greatly excited when an external force is applied. It is difficult to damp these oscillations in wire-reeling control. We designed a semi-active dynamic absorber for vibration control by applying the skyhook theory, a basic theory of the active suspension. When a random input that simulates the wind force was given to the mobile scaffolding device with the dynamic absorber, the vibration of the device was reduced by half compared with that of the mobile scaffolding device without the dynamic absorber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a method for detecting slug flow generated in horizontal pipes as a basic study for detecting slug flow generated in production facilities in oil and gas mining areas offshore. Generally, in process control, the damping function (low-pass filter) provided in a pressure sensor is used. However, in the proposed detection method, by not using such a damping function, the raw data measured by the existing sensor are sampled at a higher speed, and the obtained high-precision data are utilized. The effectiveness of the proposed detection method is confirmed by experiments and simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing presence of coastal debris is problematic in many parts of the world. Coastal cleanups are very time-consuming and expensive. Part of this cost involves the monitoring of debris washed ashore. An effective way to enable careful analysis of the amounts of types of debris is the use of drone-based photography. However, many coastlines are not easily accessible. Therefore, to monitor extensive coastlines for coastal debris, an autonomous surface vessel (ASV) is being developed for use as a drone base station. The concept is for the user to remotely guide the ASV out of any given harbor, and once in the open sea, the vessel proceeds autonomously on preprogrammed GPS routes to specified locations. At the specified locations, when the conditions for drone operation are appropriate, the drone is released and takes photographs of coastal areas before returning to the ASV for recharging. This technology is expected to have wide potential for both open sea and coastal monitoring and potential application in assisting search and rescue operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a method of position control for an underwater vehicle using a monocular camera. The proposed method does not require an expensive inertial measurement unit (IMU) and uses template matching to track the underwater target and calculate the amount of vehicle movement. The vehicle is then controlled on the basis of the amount of movement. In this paper, we compare the typical similarity calculation methods of template matching, sum of squared differences (SSD), normalized cross-correlation (NCC), and zero-mean normalized cross-correlation (ZNCC), and investigate which has the greatest accuracy underwater. We also compare proportional (P) control and proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control as vehicle control methods. The results showed that ZNCC was the most accurate in detecting the target and that PID control was about 30% more accurate than P control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transferring between a ship and an offshore platform is potentially dangerous owing to excessive motion caused by rough conditions. In this paper, we focus on a small vessel with consideration of three degrees of freedom of motion: heaving, rolling, and surging. To stabilize these motions using a relatively small device, we propose an underactuated mechanism including two linear actuators and a two-degree-of-freedom gangway connected to the transfer platform. First, we clarify the degrees of freedom and range of the mechanism. Next, we derive a model and design a controller to stabilize the system. Finally, the effectiveness of the mechanism and its controller are tested by numerical simulation as well as by an actual experiment on a small-scale model of the mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet a surgeon's need to compare the physical properties of conventional surgical spring forceps (tweezers), a hydraulic-driven system (HDS) based on syringes and syringe pumps is used for driving a left-right symmetrical lever linkage system of a testing device. Furthermore, by using an Arduino microcontroller and four load cells, a simple real-time feedback control system was built to digitally control the operating tweezers in the bar parts and monitor the forces on the jaw side of a surgical tweezers. Then, the same models of surgical tweezers from two different manufacturers were tested with the following test items: (1) the transmission relationship between the input side (bar area) and the output side (jaw side), (2) the contact pressure between the input side and the output side (tested using a Fujifilm Prescale System), (3) the horizontal friction on the jaw side, (4) the horizontal friction in the pinch bar area, and (5) the vertical friction in the pinch bar area. Finally, by analyzing the test results, the performances of the two surgical tweezers were compared and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose the concept of underwater docking of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for power supply and data transfer to conduct the continuous operation of the AUV without launch and recovery operations. Our basic concept of docking involves the use of a 3D imaging sonar as the autonomous homing sensor for AUV and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) as the docking station, which has maneuverability to compensate for the homing error of the AUV. On the basis of this concept, we use a 3D imaging sonar as a homing sensor during docking. The 3D imaging sonar has a potential for advanced AUV operation and will be the versatile "eye" of the AUV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is commonly used and is essential for diagnosing thyroid diseases. Despite its widespread use, it presents a significant barrier for doctors who lack experience with this procedure, owing to the inherent difficulty involved in identifying and avoiding venous arteries such as the internal jugular vein, common carotid artery, and trachea. At this stage, a universal neck simulator supporting FNAC practice has yet to be developed. This project is based on an earlier simulator developed by the authors. However, a number of significant improvements have been made to bring this closer to what could be potentially a practical simulator for thyroid FNAC practice. Improvements have been made in terms of the accuracy of the organs and the addition of muscle tissue, but the most significant issue is the use of a material that does not require special storage, namely, silicone mixed with a number of compounds as required to sonographically and haptically simulate the neck and thyroid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have developed a device with the aim of understanding the relationship between the force exerted by a surgeon on the handles/grips of laparoscopic forceps and the force transmitted to the forceps jaw side. To measure this relationship, force is applied to the handles/grips of a set of laparoscopic forceps using an electrically powered actuator and a pressure sensor load cell is used to measure the force applied. On the jaw side, a forcesensitive resistor (FSR) generates pressure information. A microprocessor uses the load cell data, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller stably maintains the actuation pressure to match that requested by the user's settings. A user interface has been developed for this device to allow both engineers and surgeons to use it. To date, two types of forceps have been analyzed, both Olympus HiQ+ series graspers, and the mechanical force transmission mechanisms involved have been described. The pressure distribution exerted on the jaw side has also been obtained using a Fujifilm Prescale® system (FPS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food consumption is increasing as the world population increases. While the eating of fish is spreading worldwide, the depletion of fishery resources has become a problem owing to overfishing, and the importance of aquaculture is increasing in order to continue to supply fish as food. In marine aquaculture, fish are grown in aquaculture cages in the sea. Thus, if a harmful algal bloom (HAB) reaches the cages, it will cause serious damage. Countermeasures against HAB are one of the important problems for aquaculture fishermen. In Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan, countermeasures against HAB include patrolling and sampling water by ships. These samples are then submitted to HAB experts for analysis. Following this analysis, notification is provided to aquaculture fishermen. When HAB is detected early, aquaculture fishermen can minimize the damage of HAB by stopping feeding and moving the aquaculture cages. In this study, we developed a system of early detection and notification of HAB to aquaculture fishermen. This is carried out by patrolling and sampling water using drones, detection of HAB by microscope and PC operation, and automatic notification by email and web application. As a result of this developed system, the identification accuracy of harmful plankton is more than 90%, and the time taken to find HABs can be shortened from the 6 h of the conventional approach to 15 min using this newly developed system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In recent years, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has increasingly become the preferred technique for thoracic surgery. However, the inherent characteristics of the lungs as large, soft, slippery, and delicate creates difficulties for pulmonary surgery. In this article, we outline the development and assessment of a balloon-based organ retractor for VATS via collaboration between medical and engineering personnel.Methods: A dry lab trial and accompanying questionnaire assessment were performed by a group of thoracic surgeons. Objective pressure measurements were obtained, and animal experiment on pigs was performed.Results: In the dry lab trial, use of the developed organ retractor required significantly less time and resulted in fewer difficulties than using a Cherry Dissector. The measured pressure per mm2 of the developed retractor was clearly lower than that for the Cherry Dissector. The questionnaire completed by the surgeons following the dry lab and animal experiments showed that most of the surgeons (7 surgeons out of 9) were satisfied with the quality of the balloon-based retractor based on a score of 3.13 ± 0.28 (mean ± standard deviation) out of 4.0. During the animal experiment, the balloon-based retractor provided stable and clear viewing with minimal need for adjustment.Conclusion: This balloon-based retractor could contribute to increased safety and less-invasive VATS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors have developed a practical wrist rehabilitation robot for hemiplegic patients. It consists of a desk equipped with mechanical rotating handle grips, sensors, a computer, and a display. Myoelectric sensors, which are bioelectric signal detectors, are used to monitor the extensor carpi radialis longus/brevis muscle and flexor carpi radialis muscle activity during training. Training effectiveness is ensured by monitoring the extension and flexion of the appropriate muscles. A feature of the system is that it operates as a dual-wrist system, developed to mirror the training between wrists, making autonomous training of either wrist possible. A user-friendly touch screen interface is provided; the screen displays progress data and images to encourage the patients towards completion of the necessary rehabilitation tasks critical to facilitate recovery. The developed robotic system is relatively compact and portable. The effectiveness of this system has been confirmed through clinical trials, and motivational effectiveness has been confirmed through electroencephalography (EEG)-based evaluation and direct survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors have developed an articulated medical instrument which assists with the movement of and maintenance of the position of such as a lung during surgery to assist providing improved viewability and providing the necessary space required to work efficiently and effectively. Conventionally holding such as, a lung in a given position is achieved by arranging gauze in an appropriate configuration with the aid of a simple shaft like surgical instrument, however for various reasons the gauze requires constant replacement and rearrangement resulting in significant surgical inefficiency. By using an articulated mechanism that mimics the functionality of fingers, we have developed a surgical device that inherently provides greater mechanical stability and does not require the use of gauze, thus enabling more efficient surgery. The prototyping process was assisted with the use of 3D-CAD to simulate static and dynamic conditions and a 3D-printer to confirm the concept and then a working prototype was created. In order to validate the dynamic functionality of this surgical instrument, it was tested on a porcine lung which closely approximates human lungs by a clinical doctor of thoracic surgery. The result was that the developed prototype articulated mechanism was able to stably move and hold the lung in position during surgery thus confirming the dynamic efficacy of the mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which author discusses articles on topics including focuses on several trends in robotics and applications in the 2020 with new applications of robotics to land use, underwater use and AI and IoT system presented.

The authors have developed a practical wrist rehabilitation robot for hemiplegic patients. It consists of a mechanical rotation unit, sensor, grip, and computer system. A myoelectric sensor is used to monitor the extensor carpi radialis longus/brevis muscle and flexor carpi radialis muscle activity during training. The training robot can provoke training through myoelectric sensors, a biological signal detector and processor in advance, so that patients can undergo effective training of extention and flexion in an excited condition. In addition, both-wrist system has been developed for mirror effect training, which is the most effective function of the system, so that autonomous training using both wrists is possible. Furthermore, a user-friendly screen interface with easily recognizable touch panels has been developed to give effective training for patients. The developed robot is small size and easy to carry. The developed aspiring interface system is effective to motivate the training of patients. The effectiveness of the robot system has been verified in hospital trails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of F Polymer, which is a unique acrylate copolymer with short fluoroalkyl chains, in fluorine lyophobic resists on lyophobic and development properties were characterized by contact angle measurements, quartz crystal micro balance (QCM) studies, and gradient shaving preparation TOF-SIMS (GSP TOF-SIMS) methods. The lyophobic resist had a good balance between lyophobic and development properties. Some segregation of F Polymer in the resist film occurred during spin coating and a segregation layer was formed with 50 nm thickness near the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]