Say What You Are Looking At: An Attention-Based Interactive System for Autistic Children

Gaze-following is an effective way for intention understanding in human–robot interaction, which aims to follow the gaze of humans to estimate what object is being observed. Most of the existing methods require people and objects to appear in the same image. Due to the limitation in the view of the camera, these methods are not applicable in practice. To address this problem, we propose a method of gaze following that utilizes a geometric map for better estimation. With the help of the map, this method is competitive for cross-frame estimation. On the basis of this method, we propose a novel gaze-based image caption system, which has been studied for the first time. Our experiments demonstrate that the system follows the gaze and describes objects accurately. We believe that this system is competent for autistic children’s rehabilitation training, pension service robots, and other applications.</jats:p

FECTS: A Facial Emotion Cognition and Training System for Chinese Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Traditional training methods such as card teaching, assistive technologies (e.g., augmented reality/virtual reality games and smartphone apps), DVDs, human-computer interactions, and human-robot interactions are widely applied in autistic rehabilitation training in recent years. In this article, we propose a novel framework for human-computer/robot interaction and introduce a preliminary intervention study for improving the emotion recognition of Chinese children with an autism spectrum disorder. The core of the framework is the Facial Emotion Cognition and Training System (FECTS, including six tasks to train children with ASD to match, infer, and imitate the facial expressions of happiness, sadness, fear, and anger) based on Simon Baron-Cohen's E-S (empathizing-systemizing) theory. Our system may be implemented on PCs, smartphones, mobile devices such as PADs, and robots. The training record (e.g., a tracked record of emotion imitation) of the Chinese autistic children interacting with the device implemented using our FECTS will be uploaded and stored in the database of a cloud-based evaluation system. Therapists and parents can access the analysis of the emotion learning progress of these autistic children using the cloud-based evaluation system. Deep-learning algorithms of facial expressions recognition and attention analysis will be deployed in the back end (e.g., devices such as a PC, a robotic system, or a cloud system) implementing our FECTS, which can perform real-time tracking of the imitation quality and attention of the autistic children during the expression imitation phase. In this preliminary clinical study, a total of 10 Chinese autistic children aged 3-8 are recruited, and each of them received a single 20-minute training session every day for four consecutive days. Our preliminary results validated the feasibility of the developed FECTS and the effectiveness of our algorithms based on Chinese children with an autism spectrum disorder. To verify that our FECTS can be further adapted to children from other countries, children with different cultural/sociological/linguistic contexts should be recruited in future studies

Artificial intelligence : A powerful paradigm for scientific research

Y Artificial intelligence (AI) coupled with promising machine learning (ML) techniques well known from computer science is broadly affecting many aspects of various fields including science and technology, industry, and even our day-to-day life. The ML techniques have been developed to analyze high-throughput data with a view to obtaining useful insights, categorizing, predicting, and making evidence-based decisions in novel ways, which will promote the growth of novel applications and fuel the sustainable booming of AI. This paper undertakes a comprehensive survey on the development and application of AI in different aspects of fundamental sciences, including information science, mathematics, medical science, materials science, geoscience, life science, physics, and chemistry. The challenges that each discipline of science meets, and the potentials of AI techniques to handle these challenges, are discussed in detail. Moreover, we shed light on new research trends entailing the integration of AI into each scientific discipline. The aim of this paper is to provide a broad research guideline on fundamental sciences with potential infusion of AI, to help motivate researchers to deeply understand the state-of-the-art applications of AI-based fundamental sciences, and thereby to help promote the continuous development of these fundamental sciences.Peer reviewe

Analysis of the Urban Heat Island Effect in Shijiazhuang, China Using Satellite and Airborne Data

The urban heat island (UHI) effect resulting from rapid urbanization generally has a negative impact on urban residents. Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei Province in China, was selected to assess surface thermal patterns and its correlation with Land Cover Types (LCTs). This study was conducted using Landsat TM images on the mesoscale level and airborne hyperspectral thermal images on the microscale level. Land surface temperature (LST) was retrieved from four scenes of Landsat TM data in the summer days to analyze the thermal spatial patterns and intensity of surface UHI (SUHI). Surface thermal characteristics were further examined by relating LST to percentage of imperious surface area (ISA%) and four remote sensing indices (RSIs), the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Universal Pattern Decomposition method (VIUPD), Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and Biophysical Composition Index (BCI). On the other hand, fives scenes of airborne TASI (Thermal Airborne Spectrographic Imager sensor) images were utilized to describe more detailed urban thermal characteristics of the downtown of Shijiazhuang city. Our results show that an obvious surface heat island effect existed in the study area during summer days, with a SUHI intensity of 2–4 °C. The analyses reveal that ISA% can provide an additional metric for the study of SUHI, yet its association with LST is not straightforward and this should a focus in future work. It was also found that two physically based indices, VIUPD and BCI, have the potential to account for the variation in urban LST. The results concerning on TASI indicate that diversity of impervious surfaces (rooftops, concrete, and mixed asphalt) contribute most to the SUHI, among all of the land cover features. Moreover, the effect of impervious surfaces on LST is complicated, and the composition and arrangement of land cover features may play an important role in determining the magnitude and intensity of SUHI. Overall, the analysis of urban thermal signatures at two spatial scales complement each other and the use of airborne imagery data with higher spatial resolution is helpful in revealing more details for understanding urban thermal environments

5-fluorouracil suppresses stem cell-like properties by inhibiting p38 in pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1

Introduction. Suppressing the phenotype of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is a promising treatment strategy for cancer. P38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK, p38) play an important role in the occurrence, development, and stemness maintenance of tumors. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of p38 on the stemness maintenance of CSCs in pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1. Material and methods. PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) at 0.5 IC50, IC50, and 2 IC50 for 24 h. PANC-1 cells were treated for 24 h with 5-FU at 0.5IC50, IC50, and 2IC50 with or without VX-702, p38 phosphorylation inhibitor. Cells were resuspended in DMEM supplemented with 20 ng/ml epidermal growth factor, 2% B27, 5 mg/ml insulin, 20 g/ml basic fibroblast growth factor, and 10 μg/ml transferrin. Cells were seeded in ultra-low adhesion 6-well dishes to observe tumor spheroidization. The expression of CDK2, cyclin B1, cyclin D1, OCT4, SOX2, Nanog, and p38 was measured by Western blot. The mRNA expression of p38, OCT4, Nanog, and SOX2 was measured by RT-PCR. Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the cell cycle, apoptosis, and proportion of CD44+CD133+ PANC-1 cells. Results. 5-FU decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis. 5-FU suppressed the stemness maintenance of CSCs in PANC-1 cells, as demonstrated by the inhibition of tumorsphere formation, the decrease in CD44+CD133+ cells’ fraction, and downregulation of OCT4, Nanog, and SOX2 expression. In addition, 5-FU inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 in PANC-1 cells. The phosphorylation of p38 was subsequently suppressed by VX-702, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, which exhibited similar effects as those of 5-FU treatment. The effect of VX-702 on PANC-1 cells was further enhanced by 5-FU treatment. Thus, p38 inhibitor decreased the viability and increased the apoptosis of PANC-1 cells. P38 inhibitor suppressed the stemness maintenance of CSCs in PANC-1 cells, as demonstrated by the inhibition of tumorsphere formation, the decrease in CD44+CD133+ cells, and the downregulation of OCT4, Nanog, and SOX2 expression. Conclusions. These findings indicate that the inhibition of p38 phosphorylation suppresses the stemness maintenance and 5-FU resistance of PANC-1 cells, providing a potential therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer

Processing of Silicon Carbide Fibers from Polycarbosilane with Polypropylene as the Additive

The effects of polypropylene on the processing of low-oxygen silicon carbide (SiC) fibers by the polycarbosilane (PCS) route have been studied. Polypropylene acts as a high-temperature solvent for PCS, reducing the spinning temperature. A small amount of polypropylene (< 5 wt%) significantly improves the spinning ability and the tensile strength of the as-spun precursor fibers because of its excellent fiber-forming ability. During blending and spinning, no noticeable chemical interaction has been detected between PCS and polypropylene. In the early stage of electron beam irradiation of the polypropylene-containing precursor fibers, free radicals are formed from both PCS and polypropylene. They combine with each other, forming a cross-linked structure and promoting the curing. The introduction of polypropylene has no detrimental effects on the properties of the final SiC fibers.National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) [50532010

Lotus Bee Pollen Extract Inhibits Isoproterenol-Induced Hypertrophy via JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway in Rat H9c2 Cells

Bee pollen possesses an anti-cardiomyocyte injury effect by reducing oxidative stress levels and inhibiting inflammatory response and apoptosis, but the possible effect mechanism has rarely been reported. This paper explores the effect of the extract of lotus bee pollen (LBPE) on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy (CH) and its mechanism. The main components of LBPE were identified via UPLC-QTOF MS. An isoproterenol-induced rat H9c2 CH model was subsequently used to evaluate the protection of LBPE on cells. LBPE (100, 250 and 500 μg∙mL−1) reduced the surface area, total protein content and MDA content, and increased SOD activity and GSH content in CH model in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, quantitative real-time PCR trials confirmed that LBPE reduced the gene expression levels of CH markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines and pro-apoptosis factors, and increased the Bcl-2 mRNA expression and Bcl-2/Bax ratio in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, target fishing, bioinformatics analysis and molecular docking suggested JAK2 could be a pivotal target protein for the main active ingredients in the LBPE against CH. Ultimately, Western blot (WB) trials confirmed that LBPE can dose-dependently inhibit the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3. The results show that LBPE can protect against ISO-induced CH, possibly via targeting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, also suggesting that LBPE may be a promising candidate against CH

Iron Nanoparticle-Containing Silicon Carbide Fibers Prepared by Pyrolysis of Fe(CO)(5)-Doped Polycarbosilane Fibers

National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) [50532010]Silicon carbide (SiC) fibers are prepared using an iron-containing polycarbosilane (Fe-PCS) as the precursor. Iron pentacarbonyl [Fe(CO)(5)] is first reacted with low-molecular-weight liquid PCS to form an iron-containing colloid. The colloid is then added into high-molecular-weight solid PCS to form Fe-PCS. Formation of the iron-containing colloid as well as the SiC fiber processing has been studied. It is found that during the preparation of the colloid, the iron pentacarbonyl first decomposes under heat into nanosized carbonyl derivatives and CO. CO then reacts with liquid PCS at the interface, rendering liquid PCS cross-linked and hence the particles encapsulated. At a higher temperature, the derivatives further decompose into nanosized iron particles. The iron exists as nanosized alpha-Fe domains (similar to 5 nm) and is highly uniformly distributed inside the ceramic fibers. Ceramic fibers containing 3.64 wt% iron have a good combination of tensile strength (2.37 GPa), electrical resistivity (0.46 Omega.m) and magnetic properties (a saturation magnetization of 1.48 A.m(2)/kg and a coercivity of 5094 A/m)