Socially impaired robots: Human social disorders and robots’ socio-emotional intelligence

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014. Social robots need intelligence in order to safely coexist and interact with humans. Robots without functional abilities in understanding others and unable to empathise might be a societal risk and they may lead to a society of socially impaired robots. In this work we provide a survey of three relevant human social disorders, namely autism, psychopathy and schizophrenia, as a means to gain a better understanding of social robots’ future capability requirements.We provide evidence supporting the idea that social robots will require a combination of emotional intelligence and social intelligence, namely socio-emotional intelligence. We argue that a robot with a simple socio-emotional process requires a simulation-driven model of intelligence. Finally, we provide some critical guidelines for designing future socio-emotional robots

Fire Modulates Climate Change Response of Simulated Aspen Distribution Across Topoclimatic Gradients in a Semi-Arid Montane Landscape

Content Changing aspen distribution in response to climate change and fire is a major focus of biodiversity conservation, yet little is known about the potential response of aspen to these two driving forces along topoclimatic gradients. Objective This study is set to evaluate how aspen distribution might shift in response to different climate-fire scenarios in a semi-arid montane landscape, and quantify the influence of fire regime along topoclimatic gradients. Methods We used a novel integration of a forest landscape succession and disturbance model (LAN DIS-II) with a fine-scale climatic water deficit approach to simulate dynamics of aspen and associated conifer and shrub species over the next 150 years under various climate-fire scenarios. Results Simulations suggest that many aspen stands could persist without fire for centuries under current climate conditions. However, a simulated 2–5ºC increase in temperature caused a substantial reduction of aspen coverage at lower elevations and a modest increase at upper elevations, leading to an overall reduction of aspen range at the landscape level. Increasing fire activity may favor aspen increase at its upper elevation limits adjacent to coniferous forest, but may also favor reduction of aspen at lower elevation limits adjacent to xeric shrubland. Conclusions Our study highlights the importance of incorporating fine-scale terrain effects on climatic water deficit and ecohydrology when modeling species distribution response to climate change. This modeling study suggests that climate mitigation and adaptation strategies that use fire would benefit from consideration of spatial context at landscape scales

Phase I trial of retinol in cancer patients.

Vitamin A (all-trans-retinol) and its analogues are undergoing evaluation as antineoplastic and chemoprevention agents. Because its toxicity and activity are poorly defined, we have completed a phase I trial of retinol. Retinol was administered to 13 cancer patients in daily doses ranging from 100,000 units/m2 to 350,000 units/m2. Neuropsychiatric changes were the earliest dose-limiting symptomatic toxicities, noted in 3 of 5 patients receiving more than 240,000 U/m2 for 3-4 months. Two patients receiving more than 270,000 U/m2 developed hepatomegaly after 3 and 4 months. Liver biopsies were consistent with vitamin A toxicity. Three patients receiving 200,000 U/m2 developed an increase in serum triglycerides concentration. Mild skin and mucous membrane dryness occurred in most patients receiving more than 150,000 U/m2. A mixed response was seen in one patient with melanoma. Because of neuropsychiatric and hepatic toxicity a retinol dose of 200,000 U/m2/day is recommended for future phase II trials

Phase I trial of retinol in cancer patients.

Vitamin A (all-trans-retinol) and its analogues are undergoing evaluation as antineoplastic and chemoprevention agents. Because its toxicity and activity are poorly defined, we have completed a phase I trial of retinol. Retinol was administered to 13 cancer patients in daily doses ranging from 100,000 units/m2 to 350,000 units/m2. Neuropsychiatric changes were the earliest dose-limiting symptomatic toxicities, noted in 3 of 5 patients receiving more than 240,000 U/m2 for 3-4 months. Two patients receiving more than 270,000 U/m2 developed hepatomegaly after 3 and 4 months. Liver biopsies were consistent with vitamin A toxicity. Three patients receiving 200,000 U/m2 developed an increase in serum triglycerides concentration. Mild skin and mucous membrane dryness occurred in most patients receiving more than 150,000 U/m2. A mixed response was seen in one patient with melanoma. Because of neuropsychiatric and hepatic toxicity a retinol dose of 200,000 U/m2/day is recommended for future phase II trials