Imitation and Mirror Systems in Robots through Deep Modality Blending Networks

Learning to interact with the environment not only empowers the agent with manipulation capability but also generates information to facilitate building of action understanding and imitation capabilities. This seems to be a strategy adopted by biological systems, in particular primates, as evidenced by the existence of mirror neurons that seem to be involved in multi-modal action understanding. How to benefit from the interaction experience of the robots to enable understanding actions and goals of other agents is still a challenging question. In this study, we propose a novel method, deep modality blending networks (DMBN), that creates a common latent space from multi-modal experience of a robot by blending multi-modal signals with a stochastic weighting mechanism. We show for the first time that deep learning, when combined with a novel modality blending scheme, can facilitate action recognition and produce structures to sustain anatomical and effect-based imitation capabilities. Our proposed system, can be conditioned on any desired sensory/motor value at any time-step, and can generate a complete multi-modal trajectory consistent with the desired conditioning in parallel avoiding accumulation of prediction errors. We further showed that given desired images from different perspectives, i.e. images generated by the observation of other robots placed on different sides of the table, our system could generate image and joint angle sequences that correspond to either anatomical or effect based imitation behavior. Overall, the proposed DMBN architecture not only serves as a computational model for sustaining mirror neuron-like capabilities, but also stands as a powerful machine learning architecture for high-dimensional multi-modal temporal data with robust retrieval capabilities operating with partial information in one or multiple modalities

Relations between bedtime parenting behaviors and temperament across 14 cultures

ObjectivesThe present study examined parental sleep-supporting practices during toddlerhood in relation to temperament across 14 cultures. We hypothesized that passive sleep-supporting techniques (e.g., talking, cuddling), but not active techniques (e.g., walking, doing an activity together), would be associated with less challenging temperament profiles: higher Surgency (SUR) and Effortful Control (EC) and lower Negative Emotionality (NE), with fine-grained dimensions exhibiting relationships consistent with their overarching factors (e.g., parallel passive sleep-supporting approach effects for dimensions of NE). MethodsCaregivers (N = 841) across 14 cultures (M = 61 families per site) reported toddler (between 17 and 40 months of age; 52% male) temperament and sleep-supporting activities. Utilizing linear multilevel regression models and group-mean centering procedures, we assessed the role of between- and within-cultural variance in sleep-supporting practices in relation to temperament. ResultsBoth within-and between-culture differences in passive sleep-supporting techniques were associated with temperament attributes, (e.g., lower NE at the between-culture level; higher within-culture EC). For active techniques only within-culture effects were significant (e.g., demonstrating a positive association with NE). Adding sleep-supporting behaviors to the regression models accounted for significantly more between-culture temperament variance than child age and gender alone. ConclusionHypotheses were largely supported. Findings suggest parental sleep practices could be potential targets for interventions to mitigate risk posed by challenging temperament profiles (e.g., reducing active techniques that are associated with greater distress proneness and NE).Peer reviewe

Links between television exposure and toddler dysregulation : Does culture matter?

Television exposure in early childhood has increased, with concerns raised regarding adverse effects on social-emotional development, and emerging self-regulation in particular. The present study addressed television exposure (i.e., amount of time watching TV) and its associations with toddler behavioral/emotional dysregulation, examining potential differences across 14 cultures. The sample consisted of an average of 60 toddlers from each of the 14 countries from the Joint Effort Toddler Temperament Consortium (JETTC; Gartstein & Putnam, 2018). Analyses were conducted relying on the multi-level modeling framework (MLM), accounting for between- and within-culture variability, and examining the extent to which TV exposure contributions were universal vs. variable across sites. Effects of time watching TV were evaluated in relation to temperament reactivity and regulation, as well as measures of emotional reactivity, attention difficulties, and aggression. Results indicated that more time spent watching TV was associated with higher ratings on Negative Emotionality, emotional reactivity, aggression, and attention problems, as well as lower levels of soothability. However, links between TV exposure and both attention problems and soothability varied significantly between cultures. Taken together, results demonstrate that increased time spent watching television was generally associated with dysregulation, although effects were not consistently uniform, but rather varied as a function of culturally-dependent contextual factors.acceptedVersionPeer reviewe

Poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-co-1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole/ carbon nanotube, single-walled)/n-GaAs diode formed by surface polymerization

Poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-co-1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole/carbon nanotube, single-walled)/n-GaAs ([P(EGDMA-VTAZ)-CNSW]/n-GaAs) diode was fabricated by using surface polymerization method. Electrical properties were carried out at several temperatures. Dark current mechanisms were investigated by using current-voltage (I-V) measurements. It was shown that the fabricated structure exhibited rectification behaviour that makes it a good candidate for electronic device applications

A Longitudinal Interview Study on Work Planning During COVID-19 Lockdown

As a result of transitioning to remote work during the COVID-19 lockdown, many knowledge workers had to quickly invent new ways of managing work while working entirely from home. The research community currently lacks insights about how such a stressful and disruptive event might impact how people plan their work. To start filling this gap, the current study explored how knowledge workers adjust their planning routines, strategies and tools during this unprecedented global crisis. It consists of longitudinal weekly interviews with 15 participants during the UK's COVID-19 lockdown. Early stage analysis of 68 interviews is presented. Findings suggest that workers experienced planning challenges that prevented them from keeping their existing planning routines. We describe those planning challenges together with the new planning routines, strategies and tools that participants developed during this period. These insights are discussed in terms of future research directions that can benefit both workers and organisations to support the transition to productive remote work

The Electrical Properties of Au/P3HT/n-GaAs Schottky Barrier Diode

In this study, we investigated the electrical properties of the Au/P3HT/n-GaAs Schottky diode at room temperature by using current-voltage method. The values of ideality factor and barrier height of the diode were found to be 2.45 and 0.85 eV, respectively. n ideality factor greater than unity indicates that the diode exhibits non-ideal current-voltage behavior. This behavior results from the effect of series resistance and the presence of an interfacial layer. These values were also determined from the Cheung functions and the Norde method due to the non-ideal behavior of the diode and it was seen that there was an agreement with series resistance. Also the interface states energy distribution of the diode was determined from the forward bias I-V measurements by taking into account the bias dependence of the effective barrier height. The obtained electrical parameters of the Au/P3HT/n-GaAs Schottky diode are higher than that of the conventional Au/n-GaAs Schottky diodes

Assessment of the Biocompatibility of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate, Bioaggregate, and Biodentine in the Subcutaneous Tissue of Rats

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the tissue inflammation caused by three endodontic repair materials.Materials and Methods: The materials included micro mega‑mineral trioxide aggregate (MM‑MTA), bioaggregate (BA), and biodentine (BD), which were implanted into the subcutaneous tissue of rats. The tissue samples for histological examination were prepared. The infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages into the tissue was examined to assess the inflammatory response.Results: Lymphocyte infiltration: A significant increase was detected in the MM‑MTA and BA groups on the 7th and 14th days as compared with the control (7th day P = 0.0001, 14th day P = 0.0176). There was no difference between the groups on the 45th day (P = 0.1730). Lymphocyte infiltration had decreased over time in all groups. Macrophage infiltration: There was a significant increase by the 7th day in the test groups as compared to the control group (P = 0.007). However, there was no difference between the experimental groups on the 14th (P = 0.2708) and 45th (P = 0.1291) days.Conclusion: While MM‑MTA and BA showed a similar biocompatibility, BD was more biocompatible than MM‑MTA and BA in the 1st week of the experiment. However, there was no difference between the materials at the end of the 45th day. MM‑MTA, BA, and BD can be considered suitable endodontic repair materials.Keywords: Bioaggregate, Biocompatible Materials, Biodentine, Endodontic