Novelty and Habituation: The Driving Forces in Early Stage Learning for Developmental Robotics

Author(s):  
Q. Meng ◽  
M. H. Lee
Energetika ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Araujo ◽  
Andrés Robalino-López ◽  
Natalia Tapia

The energy sector is an important factor that influences life quality and economic prosperity. Differences in infrastructure, technology and even in culture of each country make it imperative to include their own characteristics into energy analyses, making it necessary to identify the different types of sources of CO2 emissions and their magnitudes. The aim of this paper is to present a foresight analysis of the productive and energy matrices dynamics in Ecuador for the period 2016–2030 and to propose public policy that contributes to sustainable development. In a first stage, the research has an explanatory character, referring to construction of a model, which uses an extended variation of the Kaya Identity where the volume of CO2 emissions may be examined quantifying contributions of productive sectors activity, sectorial energy intensity, energy matrix, and CO2 emission features. Subsequently, the research acquires a predictive-experimental nature, using exploratory scenarios. That allows linking historic and present events with hypothetical futures. In consequence, driving forces of the scenario can be explained and analysed using quantitative modelling based on the Kaya Identity and qualitative narratives. Within this study two scenarios were built. The Business as Usual scenario, without modifying the structure of productive and energy matrices, and the Alternative scenario that seeks to reduce the consumption of oil derivatives in land transport, which consumes 50% of the country’s energy demand. The Alternative scenario, which promotes the use of biofuels, projects to reduce the CO2 emissions from 45.58 to 43.41 Mt of CO2 equivalent for 2030. The policy on biofuels in Ecuador is at an early stage. So, biofuels offer important opportunities: i) diversification of the energy matrix, ii) contribution to energy security, iii) promotion of the growth of the industrial sector, and iv) substitution of fossil fuels and mitigation of the greenhouse gas effects.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Hall ◽  
Simona Percec ◽  
Michael Klein

<p>This study reveals two important features of polymer crystal formation at high-driving forces in entangled polymer melts based on molecular dynamics simulations of polyethylene, a prototypical polymer. First, in contrast to existing literature on small-molecule crystallization, it is demonstrated that the heat released during polymer crystallization does not appreciably influence molecular-level structural details of early-stage, crystalline clusters (i.e., polymer crystal nuclei). Second, it is revealed that early-stage polymer crystallization (i.e., crystal nucleation) can occur without substantial chain-level relaxation and conformational changes, which is consistent with previous experimental work and yet in contrast to many previous computational studies. Given the conditions used to process polyethylene, the separation of timescales associated with crystallization and chain-level processes is anticipated to be of substantial importance to processing strategies. This study thus provides insights that highlight new research directions for understanding polymer crystallization under industrially-relevant conditions while also providing guidance as to how this work can be undertaken.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6147
Author(s):  
Chun Liu ◽  
Gui-Hua Nie

This paper studies the EKC hypothesis and STIRPAT model. Based on the panel data of carbon emission intensity and other influencing factors of 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2018, the spatial effect of per capita food nitrogen footprint (FNF) and the effect of different socio-economic factors in China were studied by using exploratory spatial data analysis and fixed effect spatial Durbin model for the first time. The results show that: (1) there is a spatial agglomeration effect and a positive spatial dependence relationship in China’s provincial per capita FNF (FNFP), which verifies that the relationship between China’s FNF and economy is in the early stage of EKC hypothesis curve. (2) The driving forces of China’s FNF were explored, including Engel’s coefficient of urban households (ECU), population density (PDEN), urbanization, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and technology. (3) The results show that there is a significant spatial spillover effect of FNFP. The ECU and NUE can reduce the regional FNFP, and can slow down the FNFP of surrounding provinces. (4) Policy makers need to formulate food nitrogen emission reduction policies from the food demand side, food consumption side and regional level.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 414-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soo Khoon Goh ◽  
Koi Nyen Wong ◽  
Chee Lam Yew

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has made remarkable economic progress in terms of rapid economic growth and expanding export trade and foreign direct investment (FDI). Theoretically speaking, both merchandise exports and FDI can be regarded as the key driving forces behind the ‘economic miracle’ of the regional economy. The major contribution of this study is that it is the first effort to empirically analyse the short-run and long-run growth effects of merchandise exports and FDI on the ASEAN-10 countries using time-series panel data. In this regard, this study aims to ascertain whether the spectacular regional growth is export- and FDI-driven, based on the ASEAN-10 panel data spanning from 1970 to 2016 using the pooled mean group (PMG) method. The findings show that merchandise exports are a key source of growth for the regional economy, attributable to the joint liberalisation efforts of the member states to expand trade and FDI. The study does not find evidence of FDI-led growth because the bulk of the FDI was invested in only a few ASEAN countries, and the minor FDI-recipient countries are at an early stage to benefit from the growth impacts of FDI, owing to lower absorptive capacity. JEL Classification: C51, F21, F23, O19


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6515
Author(s):  
Olga Kurmyshkina ◽  
Pavel Kovchur ◽  
Ludmila Schegoleva ◽  
Tatyana Volkova

The establishment of a proangiogenic phenotype and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are considered as critical events that promote the induction of invasive growth in epithelial tumors, and stimulation of lymphangiogenesis is believed to confer the capacity for early dissemination to cancer cells. Recent research has revealed substantial interdependence between these processes at the molecular level as they rely on common signaling networks. Of great interest are the molecular mechanisms of (lymph-)angiogenesis and EMT associated with the earliest stages of transition from intraepithelial development to invasive growth, as they could provide the source of potentially valuable tools for targeting tumor metastasis. However, in the case of early-stage cervical cancer, the players of (lymph-)angiogenesis and EMT processes still remain substantially uncharacterized. In this study, we used RNA sequencing to compare transcriptomes of HPV(+) preinvasive neoplastic lesions and early-stage invasive carcinoma of the cervix and to identify (lymph-)angiogenesis- and EMT-related genes and pathways that may underlie early acquisition of invasive phenotype and metastatic properties by cervical cancer cells. Second, we applied flow cytometric analysis to evaluate the expression of three key lymphangiogenesis/EMT markers (VEGFR3, MET, and SLUG) in epithelial cells derived from enzymatically treated tissue specimens. Overall, among 201 differentially expressed genes, a considerable number of (lymph-)angiogenesis and EMT regulatory factors were identified, including genes encoding cytokines, growth factor receptors, transcription factors, and adhesion molecules. Pathway analysis confirmed enrichment for angiogenesis, epithelial differentiation, and cell guidance pathways at transition from intraepithelial neoplasia to invasive carcinoma and suggested immune-regulatory/inflammatory pathways to be implicated in initiation of invasive growth of cervical cancer. Flow cytometry showed cell phenotype-specific expression pattern for VEGFR3, MET, and SLUG and revealed correlation with the amount of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes at the early stages of cervical cancer progression. Taken together, these results extend our understanding of driving forces of angiogenesis and metastasis in HPV-associated cervical cancer and may be useful for developing new treatments.


Philosophies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minoru Asada

In this paper, a working hypothesis is proposed that a nervous system for pain sensation is a key component for shaping the conscious minds of robots (artificial systems). In this article, this hypothesis is argued from several viewpoints towards its verification. A developmental process of empathy, morality, and ethics based on the mirror neuron system (MNS) that promotes the emergence of the concept of self (and others) scaffolds the emergence of artificial minds. Firstly, an outline of the ideological background on issues of the mind in a broad sense is shown, followed by the limitation of the current progress of artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on deep learning. Next, artificial pain is introduced, along with its architectures in the early stage of self-inflicted experiences of pain, and later, in the sharing stage of the pain between self and others. Then, cognitive developmental robotics (CDR) is revisited for two important concepts—physical embodiment and social interaction, both of which help to shape conscious minds. Following the working hypothesis, existing studies of CDR are briefly introduced and missing issues are indicated. Finally, the issue of how robots (artificial systems) could be moral agents is addressed.


1999 ◽  
Vol 570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Zinke–Allmang ◽  
Oleksa Hul'ko ◽  
Sywert Brongersma ◽  
Graham Carlow

ABSTRACTOstwald ripening, early stage and late stage coalescence growth are well–characterized, fundamental late–stage processes in the phase separation of thin film deposits on surfaces. These processes have recently been studied in respect to ordering of the clustered phase. While late stage coalescence growth is associated with random positions of the growing clusters, partial ordering is observed for early stage coalescence and ripeningTo obtain even higher order of clustering, additional physical driving forces must be included in the process. Two examples are discussed, one utilizing vertical correlation of clusters in super-lattice growth of coherent Stranski–Krastanov structures (coalescence based structures) and a novel concept based on preferential secondary clustering based on ripening morphologies.


Author(s):  
P. R. Okamoto ◽  
N.Q. Lam ◽  
R. L. Lyles

During irradiation of thin foils in a high voltage electron microscope (HVEM) defect gradients will be set up between the foil surfaces and interior. In alloys defect gradients provide additional driving forces for solute diffusion since any preferential binding and/or exchange between solute atoms and mobile defects will couple a net flux of solute atoms to the defect fluxes. Thus, during irradiation large nonequilibrium compositional gradients can be produced near the foil surfaces in initially homogeneous alloys. A system of coupled reaction-rate and diffusion equations describing the build up of mobile defects and solute redistribution in thin foils and in a semi-infinite medium under charged-particle irradiation has been formulated. Spatially uniform and nonuniform damage production rates have been used to model solute segregation under electron and ion irradiation conditions.An example calculation showing the time evolution of the solute concentration in a 2000 Å thick foil during electron irradiation is shown in Fig. 1.


Author(s):  
L. Vacca-Galloway ◽  
Y.Q. Zhang ◽  
P. Bose ◽  
S.H. Zhang

The Wobbler mouse (wr) has been studied as a model for inherited human motoneuron diseases (MNDs). Using behavioral tests for forelimb power, walking, climbing, and the “clasp-like reflex” response, the progress of the MND can be categorized into early (Stage 1, age 21 days) and late (Stage 4, age 3 months) stages. Age-and sex-matched normal phenotype littermates (NFR/wr) were used as controls (Stage 0), as well as mice from two related wild-type mouse strains: NFR/N and a C57BI/6N. Using behavioral tests, we also detected pre-symptomatic Wobblers at postnatal ages 7 and 14 days. The mice were anesthetized and perfusion-fixed for immunocytochemical (ICC) of CGRP and ChAT in the spinal cord (C3 to C5).Using computerized morphomety (Vidas, Zeiss), the numbers of IR-CGRP labelled motoneurons were significantly lower in 14 day old Wobbler specimens compared with the controls (Fig. 1). The same trend was observed at 21 days (Stage 1) and 3 months (Stage 4). The IR-CGRP-containing motoneurons in the Wobbler specimens declined progressively with age.


Author(s):  
W. O. Saxton

Recent commercial microscopes with internal microprocessor control of all major functions have already demonstrated some of the benefits anticipated from such systems, such as continuous magnification, rotation-free diffraction and magnification, automatic recording of mutually registered focal series, and fewer control knobs. Complete automation of the focusing, stigmating and alignment of a high resolution microscope, allowing focal series to be recorded at preselected focus values as well, is still imminent rather than accomplished, however; some kind of image pick-up and analysis system, fed with the electron image via a TV camera, is clearly essential for this, but several alternative systems and algorithms are still being explored. This paper reviews the options critically in turn, and stresses the need to consider alignment and focusing at an early stage, and not merely as an optional extension to a basic proposal.


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