Exploring Higher-Order Conceptual Learning in an Arthropod with a Large Multisensory Processing Center

Comparative cognition aims to understand the evolutionary history and current function of cognitive abilities in a variety of species with diverse natural histories. One characteristic often attributed to higher cognitive abilities is higher-order conceptual learning, such as the ability to learn concepts independent of stimuli—e.g., ‘same’ or ‘different’. Conceptual learning has been documented in honeybees and a number of vertebrates. Amblypygids, nocturnal enigmatic arachnids, are good candidates for higher-order learning because they are excellent associational learners, exceptional navigators, and they have large, highly folded mushroom bodies, which are brain regions known to be involved in learning and memory in insects. In Experiment 1, we investigate if the amblypygid Phrynus marginimaculatus can learn the concept of same with a delayed odor matching task. In Experiment 2, we test if Paraphrynus laevifrons can learn same/different with delayed tactile matching and nonmatching tasks before testing if they can transfer this learning to a novel cross-modal odor stimulus. Our data provide no evidence of conceptual learning in amblypygids, but more solid conclusions will require the use of alternative experimental designs to ensure our negative results are not simply a consequence of the designs we employed.

Classification of Spatio-temporal Patterns in Charging and Discharging of Li-ion Batteries

We classify the dynamic patterns that emerge in charging or discharging of Li-ion batteries, under galvanostatic conditions, using simulations of the two-phase 1D porous model. This work examines the effect of exchange current function, R0(X), which expresses the nature of kinetics and extends our previous study limited to R0=1 for which the same pattern emerges, whether homogeneous or step-wise process made of multiple symmetry breaking events. With the commonly-used asymmetric R0(X) the emerging pattern may be one of the two above or fronts that follow single SB event and lithiation/delithiation behaviors are different. These effects are clear when parameters are uniform; non-uniformity leads to noise that mask the behavior. The full 4-variable model exhibits SB, even in absence of noise, since the liquid potential gradient ( ) works like a perturbation. Similarity between noise and gradient effects allows us to derive approximations to full model behavior, and study various effects.

Parameterized 2D Field Model of a Switched Reluctance Motor

This work aimed to develop a parameterized, two-dimensional field model of a switched reluctance motor (SRM). The main task of the developed model was to calculate the value of the electromagnetic torque for various positions of the rotor. Based on these calculations, the characteristics of the electromagnetic torque were determined depending on the position of the rotor angle φ for the current function I (T = f (φ, I)). Using the model, it was possible to additionally observe the phenomena occurring in the motor winding, e.g., distributions, isolines of magnetic potential, induction, and to calculate the values of the temperature. The parameterized structural elements that made up the entire model can be freely changed and, thus, the results for various structures can be obtained. Thanks to this, it was possible to evaluate and compare motor of different designs. To validate the model, measurements were conducted on real-scale reluctance motors, and families of electromagnetic torque characteristics were obtained for various design cases. The results received from the tested motors were juxtaposed with simulation results procured via the model. Based on this comparison, it was possible to determine the accuracy of the model’s operation.

Portrait of Pesinden Documentary Film: Role of Sinden in Puppet Show

ABSTRAKPotret Posinden merupakan film dokumenter yang berusaha menunjukkan peran dan kedudukan sinden pada pertunjukan wayang kulit. Perubahan yang terjadi pada sinden saat ini membuat pertunjukan wayang kulit menjadi semakin menarik. Hal ini dibuktikan dengan fungsi sinden saat ini, bukan hanya menembang namun menjadi unsur penghibur. Sesekali jadi bahan lelucon pada saat limbukan dan goro-goro. Umumnya, sinden harus tampil dengan dandanan yang tidak biasa, sebab saat ini posisi sinden menghadap ke penonton. Sinden menjadi aspek penting di dalam setiap pertunjukan wayang kulit, dan hal itu tidak bisa dipisahkan. Film dokumenter ini menggunakan gaya expository, yaitu memiliki ciri berbicara langsung kepada penonton melalui on screen. Dokementer ini memanfaatkan penuturan dari narasumber atau subjek utama dalam menyampaikan informasi atau isi pada film.Kata kunci: Film Dokumenter, Sinden, Wayang Kulit. ABSTRACTPortrait of Pesinden is a documentary film that attempts to show Sinden's role and position in shadow puppets performances. The changes that occurred in the current Sinden made shadow puppets performances even more enjoyable. This matter is evidenced by the current function of Sinden singing and being an entertainment element. Occasionally it becomes the material for a joke at the moment when it is “limbukan” and “goro-goro”. The general findings show that the Sinden must appear with unusual make-up because the position of the Sinden is facing the audience. In addition, Sinden is an essential aspect of every shadow puppet show, and it cannot be separated. To sum up, this documentary film uses an expository style characterized by speaking directly to the audience via the on-screen. So, the documentary uses the narrative from the primary source or subject in conveying information or content in the film.Keywords: Documentary Film, Sinden; Shadow Puppets.

K2P18.1 translates T cell receptor signals into thymic regulatory T cell development

It remains largely unclear how thymocytes translate relative differences in T cell receptor (TCR) signal strength into distinct developmental programs that drive the cell fate decisions towards conventional (Tconv) or regulatory T cells (Treg). Following TCR activation, intracellular calcium (Ca2+) is the most important second messenger, for which the potassium channel K2P18.1 is a relevant regulator. Here, we identify K2P18.1 as a central translator of the TCR signal into the thymus-derived Treg (tTreg) selection process. TCR signal was coupled to NF-κB-mediated K2P18.1 upregulation in tTreg progenitors. K2P18.1 provided the driving force for sustained Ca2+ influx that facilitated NF-κB- and NFAT-dependent expression of FoxP3, the master transcription factor for Treg development and function. Loss of K2P18.1 ion-current function induced a mild lymphoproliferative phenotype in mice, with reduced Treg numbers that led to aggravated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, while a gain-of-function mutation in K2P18.1 resulted in increased Treg numbers in mice. Our findings in human thymus, recent thymic emigrants and multiple sclerosis patients with a dominant-negative missense K2P18.1 variant that is associated with poor clinical outcomes indicate that K2P18.1 also plays a role in human Treg development. Pharmacological modulation of K2P18.1 specifically modulated Treg numbers in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we identified nitroxoline as a K2P18.1 activator that led to rapid and reversible Treg increase in patients with urinary tract infections. Conclusively, our findings reveal how K2P18.1 translates TCR signals into thymic T cell fate decisions and Treg development, and provide a basis for the therapeutic utilization of Treg in several human disorders.

Sponge City Program (SCP) and Urban Flood Management (UFM)—The Case of Guiyang, SW China

Flood management is a complex issue in Chinese cities that exhibit high populations and have undergone rapid urbanization. Urban flood management (UFM) approaches can be used to mitigate urban flood risk. To address urban issues of poor water quality and urban surface flooding, the Sponge City Program (SCP) was initiated in 2013 in China. The SCP aims to provide an opportunity for Chinese cities to improve their current UFM practices. This study looks at Guiyang (a pilot sponge city located in SW China) as a case study to identify the challenges and opportunities of UFM in China. Guiyang is a valley city surrounded by a hilly landscape. Using interview records and flood data, we illustrate that the primary type of flood in Guiyang is fluvial rather than surface water flooding. In Guiyang, the current function and targets of the SCP have yet to engage with the catchment level flood management, instead mainly focusing on the site-specific context (i.e., community level). Catchment flood management planning (CFMP) and natural flood management (NFM) both address this problem and may be a more suitable approach to manage flood discharge from the upper and middle catchments in Guiyang. In addition, it is suggested that a mixed option combining “hard” infrastructure (e.g., reservoirs and floodwalls) with “soft” flood management measures (e.g., improving people awareness and participation) may improve urban flood resilience in Chinese cities.

Current calculation of irreversible electrode reaction mechanismsin linear sweep voltammetry

Application of exponential infinite series gives highly accurate analytical solution contributing to the theory of linear sweep voltammetry for single scan experiments. We have calculated theoretical dimensionless current function (usually denoted as π1/2χ(bt)) at relevant potentials for irreversible charge transfer without a coupled chemical reaction. For this purpose several transformation techniques were used, which convert the derived infinite series into summable sequences. Since infinite series of further electrochemical mechanisms with irreversible electrode reaction have similar features (particularly those comprising preceding and catalytic chemical reaction), the same approach can be successfully applied also for further electrochemical mechanisms. The respective infinite series are divergent in the most important potential region at and after voltammetric peak therefore their transformation by Epsilon and Levin transform techniques was used. Necessary arbitrary precision arithmetic (APA) was implemented by UBASIC. The results were compared to the customary solution of Nicholson and Shain, who computed the current-potential curves by means of numerical solution of the integral equations but with a much lower precision. Our results were obtained in a broad potential range including the potential regions where the series are divergent. Obtained current functions are precise to 12 valid decimal numbers, which is utilizable for evaluation of the results achieved by various faster but less precise digital simulation techniques.

Forward-Looking Ultrasound Wearable Scanner System for Estimation of Urinary Bladder Volume

Accurate measurement of bladder volume is an important tool for evaluating bladder function. In this study, we propose a wearable bladder scanner system that can continuously measure bladder volume in daily life for urinary patients who need urodynamic studies. The system consisted of a 2-D array, which included integrated forward-looking piezoelectric transducers with thin substrates. This study aims to estimate the volume of the bladder using a small number of piezoelectric transducers. A least-squares method was implemented to optimize an ellipsoid in a quadratic surface equation for bladder volume estimation. Ex-vivo experiments of a pig bladder were conducted to validate the proposed system. This work presents the potential of the approach for wearable bladder monitoring, which has similar measurement accuracy compared to the commercial bladder imaging system. The wearable bladder scanner can be improved further as electronic voiding diaries by adding a few more features to the current function.

Architecting an Agent-Based Fault Diagnosis Engine for IEC 61499 Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems

IEC 61499 is a reference architecture for constructing Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems (ICPS). However, current function block development environments only provide limited fault-finding capabilities. There is a need for comprehensive diagnostic tools that help engineers identify faults, both during development and after deployment. This article presents the software architecture for an agent-based fault diagnostic engine that equips agents with domain-knowledge of IEC 61499. The engine encourages a Model-Driven Development with Diagnostics methodology where agents work alongside engineers during iterative cycles of design, development, diagnosis and refinement. Attribute-Driven Design (ADD) was used to propose the architecture to capture fault telemetry directly from the ICPS. A Views and Beyond Software Architecture Document presents the architecture. The Architecturally-Significant Requirement (ASRs) were used to design the views while an Architectural Trade-off Analysis Method (ATAM) evaluated critical parts of the architecture. The agents locate faults during both early-stage development and later provide long-term fault management. The architecture introduces dynamic, low-latency software-in-loop Diagnostic Points (DPs) that operate under the control of an agent to capture fault telemetry. Using sound architectural design approaches and documentation methods, coupled with rigorous evaluation and prototyping, the article demonstrates how quality attributes, risks and architectural trade-offs were identified and mitigated early before the construction of the engine commenced.

Geomagnetic method for automatic diagnostics of auroral oval boundaries in two hemispheres of Earth

The ground-based automatic method for determining auroral oval (AO) boundaries developed by the authors [Lunyushkin, Penskikh, 2019] has been modified and expanded to the Southern Hemisphere. Input data of the method contains large-scale distributions of the equivalent current function and field-aligned current density calculated in the polar ionospheres of two hemispheres in a uniform ionospheric conductance approximation based on the magnetogram inversion technique and the geomagnetic database of the world network of stations of the SuperMAG project. The software implementation of the method processes large volumes of time series of input data and produces coordinates of the main boundaries of AO in both hemi- spheres: the boundaries of the ionospheric convection reversal, the AO polar and equatorial boundaries, the lines of maximum density of field-aligned currents and auroral electrojets. The automatic method reduces the processing time for a given amount of data by 2–3 orders of magnitude (up to minutes and hours) compared to the manual method, which requires weeks and months of laborious operator work on the same task, while both methods are comparable in accuracy. The automatic geomagnetic method has been tested for diagnostics of AO boundaries during the isolated substorm of August 27, 2001, for which the expected synchronous dynamics of polar caps in two hemispheres has been confirmed. We also show the AO boundaries identified are in qualitative agreement with simultaneous AO images from the IMAGE satellite, as well as with the results of the OVATION and APM models; the boundary of ionospheric convection reversal, determined by the geomagnetic method in two hemispheres, is consistent with the maps of the electric potential of the ionosphere according to the SuperDARN-RG96 model.