Understanding the Uncertainty Loop of Human-Robot Interaction

Recently the field of Human-Robot Interaction gained popularity, due to the wide range of possibilities of how robots can support humans during daily tasks. One form of supportive robots are socially assistive robots which are specifically built for communicating with humans, e.g., as service robots or personal companions. As they understand humans through artificial intelligence, these robots will at some point make wrong assumptions about the humans' current state and give an unexpected response. In human-human conversations, unexpected responses happen frequently. However, it is currently unclear how such robots should act if they understand that the human did not expect their response, or even showing the uncertainty of their response in the first place. For this, we explore the different forms of potential uncertainties during human-robot conversations and how humanoids can, through verbal and non-verbal cues, communicate these uncertainties

Maximum expected ramp rates using cloud speed sensor measurements

Large ramps and ramp rates in photovoltaic (PV) power output are of concern and sometimes even explicitly restricted by grid operators. Battery energy storage systems can smooth the power output and maintain ramp rates within permissible limits. To enable PV plant and energy storage system design and planning, a method to estimate the largest expected ramps for a given location is proposed. Because clouds are the dominant source of PV power output variability, an analytical relationship between the worst expected ramp rate, cloud motion vector, and the geometrical layout of the PV plant is developed. The ability of the proposed method to bracket actual ramp rates is assessed over 10 months under different meteorological conditions, demonstrating an average compliance rate of 98.9% for a 2 min evaluation time window. The largest observed ramp of 29.7% s(-1)is contained with the worst case estimate of 34.3% s(-1). This method provides a convenient yet economical approach to worst-case PV ramp rate modeling and is compatible with solar irradiance measured at coarse temporal resolution.Juan Bosch was financed in part by Project No. PID2019-108953RB-C21, funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. In addition, Iñigo de la Parra was partially supported by the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) and FEDER-UE under Grant Nos. DPI2016-80641-R and DPI2016-80642-R

Silver spoon effects of hatching order in an asynchronous hatching bird

The silver spoon hypothesis proposes that individuals which develop under favourable conditions will gain fitness benefits throughout their lifetime. Hatching order may create a considerable size hierarchy within a brood and lead to earlier-hatched nestlings having a competitive advantage over their siblings, which has been illustrated in some studies. However, there have been few explorations into the effect on subsequent generations. Here, using a 15-year-long study, we investigated the long-term fitness consequence of hatching order in the endangered crested ibis, Nipponia nippon, a species with complete hatching asynchrony. In this study, we found strong support for silver spoon effects acting on hatching order. Compared to later-hatched nestlings, first-hatched nestlings begin reproduction at an earlier age, have higher adult survival rates, possess a longer breeding life span and achieve higher lifetime reproductive success. Interestingly, we found carry-over effects of hatching order into the next generation. Nestlings which hatched earlier and became breeders in turn also produced nestlings with larger tarsus and better body condition. Additionally, we found a positive correlation among life-history traits in crested ibis. Individuals which started reproduction at a younger age were shown to possess a longer breeding life span. And the annual brood size increased with an individual’s breeding life span. This suggests that the earlier-hatched nestlings are of better quality and the ‘silver spoon’ effects of hatching order cover all life-history stages and next generation effects

Frequency-Synthesized Approach to High-Power Attosecond Pulse Generation and Applications: Generation and Diagnostics

We present a new scheme of generating high-power attosecond pulses and arbitrary waveform synthesis by multicolor synthesis. The full bandwidth of the multicolor laser system extends more than two-octaves and reaches 37,600 cm−1 which can be used to generate sub-single-cycle (∼0.37 cycle) sub-femtosecond (360 attosecond) pulses with carrier-envelope phase (CEP) control. The results show a promising approach for generation of relatively high-power attosecond pulses in the optical region. In this chapter, the design and diagnostics of the laser system are described. In part 2 of this work (the following chapter), we demonstrate selected applications of this novel source, such as coherently controlled harmonic generation as well as phase-sensitive 2-color ablation of copper and stainless steel by this multi-color laser system

Rapid Increase in the Height and Width of the Upper Chest in Adolescents with Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax

BackgroundWe determined the chest height in a cohort of patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) who had received chest radiographic examinations prior to the attack. The aim of this study was to determine when their chest height began to change and how this was related to the PSP.MethodsFrom June 2009 to February 2012, the chest posteroanterior radiographs of 156 patients with PSP (Group 1) were reviewed. Among another 3134 patients with PSP, we identified 52 patients who had a chest posteroanterior radiograph prior to the attack (Group 2). We also recruited 196 controls for comparison (Group 3). The chest height and chest width at different levels were measured and analyzed.ResultsBefore 14 years of age, the chest height of patients in Group 2 was no different from that of patients in Group 3. By the age of 14 years, however, the chest height and upper chest width of patients with PSP was significantly higher than that of the normal controls. The difference from normal chest height did not increase at adulthood.ConclusionThe rapid increase in chest height and upper chest width is a unique finding in patients with PSP. It might be attributable to the occurrence of PSP. This finding may also help to identify patients who are at risk of PSP

Fabricating small-scale, curved, polymeric structures with convex and concave menisci through interfacial free energy equilibrium

Polymeric curved structures are widely used in imaging systems including optical fibers and microfluidic channels. Here, we demonstrate that small-scale, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based, curved structures can be fabricated through controlling interfacial free energy equilibrium. Resultant structures have a smooth, symmetric, curved surface, and may be convex or concave in form based on surface tension balance. Their curvatures are controlled by surface characteristics (i.e., hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity) of the molds and semi-liquid PDMS. In addition, these structures are shown to be biocompatible for cell culture. Our system provides a simple, efficient and economical method for generating integrateable optical components without costly fabrication facilities

Pseudopodium-enriched atypical kinase 1 mediates angiogenesis by modulating GATA2-dependent VEGFR2 transcription

PEAK1 is a newly described tyrosine kinase and scaffold protein that transmits integrin-mediated extracellular matrix (ECM) signals to facilitate cell movement and growth. While aberrant expression of PEAK1 has been linked to cancer progression, its normal physiological role in vertebrate biology is not known. Here we provide evidence that PEAK1 plays a central role in orchestrating new vessel formation in vertebrates. Deletion of the PEAK1 gene in zebrafish, mice, and human endothelial cells (ECs) induced severe defects in new blood vessel formation due to deficiencies in EC proliferation, survival, and migration. Gene transcriptional and proteomic analyses of PEAK1-deficient ECs revealed a significant loss of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) mRNA and protein expression, as well as downstream signaling to its effectors, ERK, Akt, and Src kinase. PEAK1 regulates VEGFR2 expression by binding to and increasing the protein stability of the transcription factor GATA-binding protein 2 (GATA2), which controls VEGFR2 transcription. Importantly, PEAK1-GATA2-dependent VEGFR2 expression is mediated by EC adhesion to the ECM and is required for breast cancer-induced new vessel formation in mice. Also, elevated expression of PEAK1 and VEGFR2 mRNA are highly correlated in many human cancers including breast cancer. Together, our findings reveal a novel PEAK1-GATA2-VEGFR2 signaling axis that integrates cell adhesion and growth factor cues from the extracellular environment necessary for new vessel formation during vertebrate development and cancer.NIHNCIAHANIGMS/NIHRay Thomas Edwards FoundationUniv Calif San Diego, Dept Pathol, La Jolla, CA 92093 USAUniv Calif San Diego, Moores Canc Ctr, La Jolla, CA 92093 USAUniv Calif San Diego, Dept Pharmacol, La Jolla, CA 92093 USAUniv Calif San Diego, Skaggs Sch Pharm & Pharmaceut Sci, La Jolla, CA 92093 USAUniv Calif San Diego, Dept Med, La Jolla, CA 92093 USAUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biochem, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Calif San Diego, Sanford Consortium Regenerat Med, La Jolla, CA 92093 USAComenius Univ, Jessenius Fac Med Martin, Dept Mol Med, Biomed Ctr Martin, Martin 03601, SlovakiaUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biochem, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilNIH: CA182495NIH: CA184594NIH: CA097022NIH: HL135737NIH: CA050286NCI: CA180374AHA: 16POST27250126NIGMS/NIH: K12GM068524Web of Scienc

Efficacy of Intravenous Immunoglobulin/Exchange Transfusion Therapy on Gestational Alloimmune Liver Disease

Background: Gestational alloimmune liver disease (GALD) is a rare but critical cause of neonatal liver failure. After discovering the maternal–fetal alloimmune mechanism, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) with or without exchange transfusion (ET) has gradually replaced antioxidant cocktails as the first-line therapy. Whether such therapy changes the outcome of neonates with GALD is yet to be defined.Method: We reported a pair of twins with discordant presentations, mild and self-limited in the older, whereas liver failure in the younger, who was successfully rescued by ET and IVIG. To investigate the outcome after therapeutic alteration, 39 cases between 2005 and 2020 from literature research were collected.Results: Half of the collected cases (47.1%) were preterm. Common presentations were ascites, jaundice, respiratory distress, hepatomegaly, and edema. Leading laboratory abnormalities were coagulopathy, hypoalbuminemia, and elevated serum ferritin. Salivary gland biopsy and magnetic resonance imaging detected extrahepatic siderosis in 70% (14/20) and 56% (14/25), respectively. IVIG, ET, and liver transplantation were performed in 19 (48.7%), 15 (38.5%), and 8 (20.5%) patients, respectively. The overall survival (OS) rate and native liver survival (NLS) rate were 64.1% (25/39) and 43.6% (17/39), respectively. Although the compiled results did not support a significant benefit, the OS and NLS were higher in the IVIG with/without ET group compared with those treated with conventional therapy [OS (70 vs. 57.9%) and NLS (55 vs. 31.6%), respectively].Conclusion: A high index of suspicion for GALD is crucial when facing a neonate with liver failure. Despite no significant influence on the outcome over conventional therapy in such a rare and detrimental disease, IVIG with or without ET can be worth trying before resorting to liver transplantation, which is resource-demanding and technique-challenging in small infants