Impacts of using a social robot to teach music to children with low-functioning autism

This article endeavors to present the impact of conducting robot-assisted music-based intervention sessions for children with low-functioning (LF) autism. To this end, a drum/xylophone playing robot is used to teach basic concepts of how to play the instruments to four participants with LF autism during nine educational sessions. The main findings of this study are compared to similar studies conducted with children with high-functioning autism. Our main findings indicated that the stereotyped behaviors of all the subjects decreased during the course of the program with an approximate large Cohen’s d effect size. Moreover, the children showed some improvement in imitation, joint attention, and social skills from the Pre-Test to Post-Test. In addition, regarding music education, we indicated that while the children could not pass a test on the music notes or reading music phrases items because of their cognitive deficits, they showed acceptable improvements (with a large Cohen’s d effect size) in the Stambak Rhythm Reproduction Test, which means that some rhythm learning occurred for the LF participants. In addition, we indicated that parenting stress levels decreased during the program. This study presents some potential possibilities of performing robot-assisted interventions for children with LF autism

Utilizing social virtual reality robot (V2R) for music education to children with high-functioning autism

Virtual Reality (VR) technology is a growing technology that has been used in various fields of psychology, education, and therapy. One group of potential users of VR are children with autism who need education and have poor social interactions; this technology could help them improve their social skills through real-world simulation. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of conducting virtual music education programs with automatic assessment system for children with autism at treatment/research centers without the need to purchase a robot, resulting in the possibility of offering schedules on a larger scale and at a lower cost. Intervention sessions were conducted for five children with high-functioning autism ranging in age from 6 to 8 years old during 20 weeks which includes a baseline session, a pre-test, training sessions, a post-test, and a follow-up test. Each music education sessions involved teaching different notes and pieces of music according to the child’s cooperation, accuracy, and skill level utilizing virtual reality robots and virtual musical instruments. Actually, by analysis of psychological tests, and questionnaires conducted by a psychologist, we observe slight improvements in cognitive skills because of the ceiling effect. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of the proposed method was proved by conducting statistical analysis on the child’s performance data during the music education sessions which were obtained by using both video coding and the proposed automatic assessment system. Consequently, a general upward trend in the musical ability of participants was shown to occur in these sessions, which warrants future studies in this field

Amine Functionalized Kit-6 Mesoporous Magnetite Nanocomposite as an Efficient Adsorbent for Removal of Ponceau 4R Dye from Aqueous Solutions

In this study, amine functionalized Kit-6 silica mesoporous magnetite nanocomposite (NH2-MMNC) was synthesized by chemical methods and used as an efficient and recoverable adsorbent for removal of Ponceau 4R, as a toxic dye, from aqueous solutions. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, BET and SEM instruments. The effect of various experimental parameters on the dye removal efficiency was studied using Taguchi orthogonal array design (L9 array) method and under optimum conditions (pH = 2, adsorbent amount = 80 mg, stirring time = 30 min and without addition of salt) removal efficiency higher than 98% was obtained.The kinetic studies showed rapid sorption dynamics by a second-order kinetic model with R2=0.9993 and qeq= 58.8 mg g-1, suggesting chemisorption mechanism. Dye adsorption equilibrium data were fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm and the synthesized sorbent showed complete removal efficiency. The maximum monolayer capacity of the sorbent (Qmax , mg g-1), and the Langmuir binding constant which is related to the energy of adsorption (KL, L mg-1), were obtained as 87.7 and 0.407, respectively. The results of real samples show that the synthesized nanocomposite can be used as a recyclable and efficient adsorbent for removal of Ponceau 4R anionic dye from aqueous solutions

Preconcentration of trace amounts of lead in water samples with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide coated magnetite nanoparticles and its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A sensitive and simple magnetic solid phase extraction procedure was presented for the preconcentration of lead ions in environmental water samples. In the present study, lead ions form complexes with 1-(2-pyridilazo)-2-naphthol reagent (PAN) in basic medium, and then are quantitatively extracted to the surface of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-coated magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs). After magnetic separation of adsorbent, the adsorbent was eluted with 0.5% (v/v) HCl in methanol prior to its analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The pH of sample, concentrations of PAN, amounts of CTAB and Fe3O4 NPs, sample volume and desorption conditions were optimized. Under optimum conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.05–100 ng mL−1 with R2 = 0.9996. Detection and quantification limits of the proposed method were 0.005 and 0.05 ng mL−1, respectively. Enhancement factor of 1050 was achieved using this method to extract 1000 mL of different environmental water samples. Compared with conventional solid phase extraction methods, the advantages of this method still include easy preparation of sorbents, short times of sample pre-treatment, high extraction yield, and high breakthrough volume. It shows great analytical potential in preconcentration of lead from large volume water samples

Differential pulse voltammetric assessment of phthalate molecular blocking effect on the copper electrode modified by multi-walled carbon nanotubes: Statistical optimization by Box-Behnken experimental design

This research not only assesses the phthalate molecular blocking effect on differential pulse voltammetric nanosensor, but also qualifies phthalate blockers at too low concentrations. To achieve these goals, the copper surface is modified by a two-ingredient paste containing electroencephalographic gel (EEG) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The Fe2+/Fe3+ couple was chosen as a voltammetric signal generator. Di-buthyl phthalate (DBP), di-methyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) and dicyclo hexyl (DCHP) phthalate were assessed to block the surface of fabricated nanosensor. The Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize the experimental major parameters; Fe2+ and supporting electrolyte (KCl) concentrations, pH and MWCNTs/EEG ratio. The phthalate molecular blocker cuts the Fe2+ oxidation signal because of holding Fe2+ ions back from the surface of the nanosensor. The optimum conditions were obtained as CFe2+= 402 µM, CKCl = 0.13 M, pH = 8.2 and MWCNTs/EEG ratio = 0.09. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) porosity analysis, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed for evidence giving and gathering. The obtained results confirmed the molecular blocking effect of phthalates; and an accepted linear relationship between signal cutback and blocker concentration was observed. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were equal to 0.004–0.009 µgL−1 and 0.01–0.03 µgL−1, respectively. Finally, the fabricated nanosensor was successfully utilized in aqueous real sample analyses, and satisfactory results were obtained

Magnetite nanoparticles with surface modification for removal of methyl violet from aqueous solutions

In this research, the potential of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) for efficient removal of methyl violet as a cationic dye from aqueous solutions was investigated. For this purpose, Fe3O4 MNPs were synthesized via chemical precipitation method. The synthesized MNPs were characterized by XRD and SEM techniques. To remove methyl violet, the surface of the MNPs was modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as an anionic surfactant. Also, the various parameters affecting dye removal were investigated and optimized. The kinetic studies for methyl violet adsorption showed rapid sorption dynamics by a second-order kinetic model, suggesting chemisorption mechanism. Dye adsorption equilibrium data were fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm rather than Freundlich isotherm. The maximum monolayer capacity, (qmax), was calculated from the Langmuir as 416.7 mg g−1. The results show that, SDS-coated magnetic nanoparticles, can be used as a cheap and efficient adsorbent for removal of cationic dyes from aqueous solutions