Reducing negative emotions in children using social robots: systematic review.

Background: For many children, visiting the hospital can lead to a state of increased anxiety. Social robots are being explored as a possible tool to reduce anxiety and distress in children attending a clinical or hospital environment. Social robots are designed to communicate and interact through movement, music and speech.

Live animal assessments of rump fat and muscle score in Angus cows and steers using 3-dimensional imaging.

The objective of this study was to develop a proof of concept for using off-the-shelf Red Green Blue-Depth (RGB-D) Microsoft Kinect cameras to objectively assess P8 rump fat (P8 fat; mm) and muscle score (MS) traits in Angus cows and steers. Data from low and high muscled cattle (156 cows and 79 steers) were collected at multiple locations and time points. The following steps were required for the 3-dimensional (3D) image data and subsequent machine learning techniques to learn the traits: 1) reduce the high dimensionality of the point cloud data by extracting features from the input signals to produce a compact and representative feature vector, 2) perform global optimization of the signatures using machine learning algorithms and a parallel genetic algorithm, and 3) train a sensor model using regression-supervised learning techniques on the ultrasound P8 fat and the classified learning techniques for the assessed MS for each animal in the data set.

Investigation of Conditions Giving Minimal Scrambling in the Synthesis of trans-Porphyrins from Dipyrromethanes and Aldehydes.

A diverse range of reaction conditions for the MacDonald-type 2 + 2 condensation of a 5-substituted dipyrromethane and an aldehyde has been studied with the goal of eliminating acid-catalyzed polypyrrolic rearrangement reactions in the synthesis of trans-porphyrins. A rapid screening method based on laser desorption mass spectrometry has enabled the degree of rearrangement to be examined as a function of the acid catalyst, reagent concentration, reagent stoichiometry, solvent, salts, and temperature. For condensations involving 5-mesityldipyrromethane, we identified reaction at 10 mM concentration in CH(2)Cl(2) with 17.

Rational syntheses of porphyrins bearing up to four different meso substituents.

Porphyrins bearing specific patterns of substituents are crucial building blocks in biomimetic and materials chemistry. We have developed methodology that avoids statistical reactions, employs minimal chromatography, and affords up to gram quantities of regioisomerically pure porphyrins bearing predesignated patterns of up to four different meso substituents. The methodology is based upon the availability of multigram quantities of dipyrromethanes.

Efficient synthesis of monoacyl dipyrromethanes and their use in the preparation of sterically unhindered trans-porphyrins.

The condensation of an aldehyde with a dipyrromethane bearing a sterically unhindered aryl substituent at the 5-position typically results in low yield and a mixture of porphyrin products derived from acidolytic scrambling. We have developed a concise nonscrambling synthesis of such trans-porphyrins that takes advantage of the availability of multigram quantities of dipyrromethanes. This route involves the selective monoacylation of the dipyrromethanes with a pyridyl thioester, reduction of the monoacyl dipyrromethane to the corresponding carbinol, and self-condensation of the carbinol to form the porphyrin.

Alcohol blockade of the inferior dental nerve under radiographic control in the management of trigeminal neuralgia.

A classification of the various treatments available for controlling the pain of trigeminal neuralgia is given. The cause of this disorder remains unknown. Peripheral nerve block of a semipermanent nature by means of alcohol injection is sometimes indicated.

Orbital pseudotumour of dental origin.

A case is presented of chronic infra-temporal fossa infection following removal of an upper wisdom tooth, which subsequently developed an orbital pseudotumour. This is thought to be a previously unrecorded complication. Spread is assumed to have occurred via the inferior orbital fissure to the orbit.

Gorlin's syndrome and the heart.

Three further cases of the Multiple Basal Cell Naevi Syndrome are added to the literature. One case developed a neonatal left ventricular fibroma, subsequently successfully excised. An association between the syndrome and cardiac tumours has not been documented before, and the relative frequencies of the two conditions are discussed.