The Usage and Evaluation of Anthropomorphic Form in Robot Design

There are numerous examples illustrating the application of human shape in everyday products. Usage of anthropomorphic form has long been a basic design strategy, particularly in the design of intelligent service robots. As such, it is desirable to use anthropomorphic form not only in aesthetic design but also in interaction design. Proceeding from how anthropomorphism in various domains has taken effect on human perception, we assumed that anthropomorphic form used in appearance and interaction design of robots enriches the explanation of its function and creates familiarity with robots. From many cases we have found, misused anthropomorphic form lead to user disappointment or negative impressions on the robot. In order to effectively use anthropomorphic form, it is necessary to measure the similarity of an artifact to the human form (humanness), and then evaluate whether the usage of anthropomorphic form fits the artifact. The goal of this study is to propose a general evaluation framework of anthropomorphic form for robot design. We suggest three major steps for framing the evaluation: 'measuring anthropomorphic form in appearance', 'measuring anthropomorphic form in Human-Robot Interaction', and 'evaluation of accordance of two former measurements'. This evaluation process will endow a robot an amount of humanness in their appearance equivalent to an amount of humanness in interaction ability, and then ultimately facilitate user satisfaction. Keywords: Anthropomorphic Form; Anthropomorphism; Human-Robot Interaction; Humanness; Robot Design</p

Synthesis and reactions of thiophene, 2,5-dihydrothiophene, benzo[b]thiophene and selenophene transition metal complexes: models for catalytic hydrodesulfurization

S-coordinated thiophene (Th) complexes Cp[superscript]\u27(CO)[subscript]2Re(Th), Cp[superscript]\u27 = Cp or Cp* and Th = T, 2-MeT, 3-MeT, 2,5-Me[subscript]2T, Me[subscript]4T and dibenzothiophene (DBT), have been synthesized. The compounds Cp[superscript]\u27(CO)[subscript]2Re(Th) (Th = T, 2-MeT and 3-MeT) react with Fe[subscript]2(CO)[subscript]9 to give thiophene-bridged dinuclear complexes Cp[superscript]\u27(CO)[subscript]2Re([mu]2-[eta][superscript]4(S)-Th)Fe(CO)[subscript]3. These are the first S-coordinated thiophene complexes that undergo further reactions. The first X-ray structures of a simple nonchelated S-bound thiophene complex Cp*(CO)[subscript]2Re(T) and a thiophene-bridged compound Cp*(CO)[subscript]2Re([mu]2-[eta][superscript]4(S)-T)Fe(CO)[subscript]3 are also reported. In kinetic studies of S-coordinated thiophene substitution by PPh[subscript]3, Cp(CO)[subscript]2Re(Th) + PPh[subscript]3 → Cp(CO)[subscript]2Re(PPh[subscript]3) + Th, rate constants (10[superscript]7k, s[superscript]-1) for thiophene dissociation decrease with increasing methyl substitution: T(3,000) \u3e 3-MeT(1,200) \u3e 2-MeT(91) \u3e 2,5-Me[subscript]2T(13) \u3e Me[subscript]4T(2.7) \u3e DBT(1.6);Several S-coordinated 2,5-dihydrothiophene (2,5-DHT) transition metal complexes were synthesized to investigate the possibility of metal promoted butadiene formation as proposed in a HDS mechanism. Thermal decomposition of W(CO)[subscript]5(2,5-DHT) and Re[subscript]2(CO)[subscript]9(2,5-DHT) at 110°C liberate the butadiene and free 2,5-DHT (relative ratio 1:4);The benzo(b) thiophene complexes Cp[superscript]\u27(CO)[subscript]2Re(BT) exist as S-and 2,3-[eta][superscript]2-bound BT isomers in rapid equilibrium with each other. Replacing Cp by Cp* shifts the equilibrium in favor of the [eta][superscript]2-isomer. A structural determination of Cp*(CO)[subscript]2Re(2,3-[eta][superscript]2-BT) confirms this new bonding mode. However, methyl-substituted BT (2-MeBT or 3-MeBT) are shown to coordinate only through the sulfur atom;In the Se analogs of thiophene complexes, Cp*(CO)[subscript]2Re(Sel), the selenophene (Sel) coordinates to Re through Se or [eta][superscript]2 through the olefin depending of the number of methyl groups on the selenophene ring. While Sel is [eta][superscript]2-bound in Cp*(CO)[subscript]2Re(Sel), the analogous 2,5-dimenthyl selenophene (2,5-Me[subscript]2Sel) complex is Se-coordinated, and the compound containing 2-methyl selenophene (2-MeSel) exists as an equilibrium mixture of the Se- and [eta][superscript]2-isomers. The uncoordinated Se atom in Cp*(CO)[subscript]2Re(Sel) is capable of binding to a second metal to give dinuclear complexes in which the selenophene is [eta][superscript]2-bonded to the Re and Se-bonded to the second metal. The structure of Cp*(CO)[subscript]2Re([mu]2-[eta][superscript]2(Se)-Sel)W(CO)[subscript]4(PPh[subscript]3) is reported;These studies and the discovery of several novel bonding modes ([eta][superscript]2-BT, [mu]2-[eta][superscript]4(S)-Th, and [mu]2-[eta][superscript]2(Se)-Sel) suggest possible new modes of thiophene adsorption and activation in HDS catalysis

An Agent Based Market Design Methodology for Combinatorial Auctions

Auction mechanisms have attracted a great deal of interest and have been used in diverse e-marketplaces. In particular, combinatorial auctions have the potential to play an important role in electronic transactions. Therefore, diverse combinatorial auction market types have been proposed to satisfy market needs. These combinatorial auction types have diverse market characteristics, which require an effective market design approach. This study proposes a comprehensive and systematic market design methodology for combinatorial auctions based on three phases: market architecture design, auction rule design, and winner determination design. A market architecture design is for designing market architecture types by Backward Chain Reasoning. Auction rules design is to design transaction rules for auctions. The specific auction process type is identified by the Backward Chain Reasoning process. Winner determination design is about determining the decision model for selecting optimal bids and auctioneers. Optimization models are identified by Forward Chain Reasoning. Also, we propose an agent based combinatorial auction market design system using Backward and Forward Chain Reasoning. Then we illustrate a design process for the general n-bilateral combinatorial auction market. This study serves as a guideline for practical implementation of combinatorial auction markets design.Combinatorial Auction, Market Design Methodology, Market Architecture Design, Auction Rule Design, Winner Determination Design, Agent-Based System

Spatiotemporal Stochastic Resonance in Fully Frustrated Josephson Ladders

We consider a Josephson-junction ladder in an external magnetic field with half flux quantum per plaquette. When driven by external currents, periodic in time and staggered in space, such a fully frustrated system is found to display spatiotemporal stochastic resonance under the influence of thermal noise. Such resonance behavior is investigated both numerically and analytically, which reveals significant effects of anisotropy and yields rich physics.Comment: 8 pages in two columns, 8 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Apigenin Induces Apoptosis through a Mitochondria/Caspase-Pathway in Human Breast Cancer MDA-MB-453 Cells

In this study, we investigated the mechanistic role of the caspase cascade in extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis induced by apigenin, which has been targeted as a candidate in the development of noncytotoxic anticancer medicines. Treatment with apigenin (1–100 µM) significantly inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-453 human breast cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner with IC50 values of 59.44 and 35.15 µM at 24 and 72 h, respectively. This inhibition resulted in the induction of apoptosis and the release of cytochrome c in cells exposed to apigenin at its 72 h IC50. Subsequently, caspase-9, which acts in mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, was cleaved by apigenin. In addition, apigenin activated caspase-3, which functions downstream of caspase-9. The apigenin-induced activation of caspase-3 was accompanied by the cleavage of capases-6, -7, and -8. These results are supported by evidence showing that the activity patterns of caspases-3, -8, and -9 were similar. The present study supports the hypothesis that apigenin-induced apoptosis involves the activation of both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways