A low-cost open-source 5-choice operant box system optimized for electrophysiology and optophysiology in mice

Operant boxes enable the application of complex behavioural paradigms to support circuit neuroscience and drug discovery research. However, commercial operant box systems are expensive and often not optimised for combining behaviour with neurophysiology. Here we introduce a fully open-source Python-based operant-box system in a 5-choice design (pyOS-5) that enables assessment of multiple cognitive and affective functions. It is optimized for fast turn-over between animals, and for testing of tethered mice for simultaneous physiological recordings or optogenetic manipulation. For reward delivery, we developed peristaltic and syringe pumps based on a stepper motor and 3D-printed parts. Tasks are specified using a Python-based syntax implemented on custom-designed printed circuit boards that are commercially available at low cost. We developed an open-source graphical user interface (GUI) and task definition scripts to conduct assays assessing operant learning, attention, impulsivity, working memory, or cognitive flexibility, alleviating the need for programming skills of the end user. All behavioural events are recorded with millisecond resolution, and TTL-outputs and -inputs allow straightforward integration with physiological recordings and closed-loop manipulations. This combination of features realizes a cost-effective, nose-poke-based operant box system that allows reliable circuit-neuroscience experiments investigating correlates of cognition and emotion in large cohorts of subjects.

Pretrained Language Model for Text Generation: A Survey

Text generation has become one of the most important yet challenging tasks in natural language processing (NLP). The resurgence of deep learning has greatly advanced this field by neural generation models, especially the paradigm of pretrained language models (PLMs). In this paper, we present an overview of the major advances achieved in the topic of PLMs for text generation. As the preliminaries, we present the general task definition and briefly describe the mainstream architectures of PLMs for text generation. As the core content, we discuss how to adapt existing PLMs to model different input data and satisfy special properties in the generated text. We further summarize several important fine-tuning strategies for text generation. Finally, we present several future directions and conclude this paper. Our survey aims to provide text generation researchers a synthesis and pointer to related research.

pyControl: Open source, Python based, hardware and software for controlling behavioural neuroscience experiments

Laboratory behavioural tasks are an essential research tool. As questions asked of behaviour and brain activity become more sophisticated, the ability to specify and run richly structured tasks becomes more important. An increasing focus on reproducibility also necessitates accurate communication of task logic to other researchers. To these ends we developed pyControl, a system of open source hardware and software for controlling behavioural experiments comprising; a simple yet flexible Python-based syntax for specifying tasks as extended state machines, hardware modules for building behavioural setups, and a graphical user interface designed for efficiently running high throughput experiments on many setups in parallel, all with extensive online documentation. These tools make it quicker, easier and cheaper to implement rich behavioural tasks at scale. As important, pyControl facilitates communication and reproducibility of behavioural experiments through a highly readable task definition syntax and self-documenting features.ResourcesDocumentation: https://pycontrol.readthedocs.ioRepositories: https://github.com/pyControlUser support: https://groups.google.com/g/pycontrol

Virtual Fixture Generation for Task Planning with Complex Geometries

Many robotic processes require the system to maintain a tool's orientation and distance from a surface. To do so, researchers often use Virtual Fixtures (VFs) to either guide the robot along a path or forbid it from leaving the workspace. Previous efforts relied on volumetric primitives (planes, cylinders, etc.) or raw sensor data to define VFs. However, those approaches only work for a small subset of real-world objects. Extending this approach is complicated not only by VF generation but also generalizing user traversal of the VF to command a robot trajectory remotely. In this work, we present the concept of Task VFs, which convert layers of point cloud based Guidance VF into a bidirectional graph structure and pair it with a Forbidden Region VF. These VFs are hardware-agnostic and can be generated from virtually any source data, including from parametric objects (superellipsoids, supertoroids, etc.), meshes (including from CAD), and real-time sensor data for open-world scenarios. We address surface convexity and concavity since these and distance to the task surface determine the size and resolution of VF layers. This paper then presents the Manipulator-to-Task Transform Tool for Task VF visualization and to limit human-robot interaction ambiguities. Testing confirmed generation success, and users performed spatially discrete experiments to evaluate Task VF usability complex geometries, which showed their interpretability. The Manipulator-to-Task Transform Tool applies many robotic applications, including collision avoidance, process design, training, task definition, etc. for virtually any geometry.

Task Taxonomy for Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Manipulator: A Review

The development of unmanned aerial manipulators (UAMs) allows a novel class of flying robots to carry out a wide variety of tasks in difficult environments due to their versatility and autonomy. However, the different tasks that can be carried out might call for different control strategies. To this end, one needs to categorize the possible tasks accomplishable by UAMs. This paper proposes a novel taxonomy, which is the result of a video information acquisition methodology combined with a review of research works in the literature. The different elements of the taxonomy are separated using a higher level of abstraction in a way that the general description of the tasks are considered and not its operational details. To illustrate the fact that algorithms must adapt to different tasks, a description of the usual UAM architecture is carried out. Four categories of criteria are used in the taxonomy to differentiate all possible tasks. These categories are the interaction type, the actual task definition, the environment condition and the time sensitivity of the task. This taxonomy forms the basis for possible machine-learning-based task classifiers that could be used in autonomous UAMs control and mission planning. Multiple tasks defined in the taxonomy can be combined to accomplish complex missions.

Peran Pustakawan Dalam Menyiapkan Generasi Emas: Implementasi Literasi Informasi di SD Muhammadiyah Sapen Yogyakarta

Introduction. The golden generation is a generation that is able to compete globally with comprehensive intelligence, including productive, innovative, peaceful in social interactions, healthy and healthy in natural interactions, and superior civilization.Data Collection Method. This type of research is qualitative. Data were collected by in-depth interviews and direct observation. The validity of the data was tested through data triangulation.Analysis Data. The data is discussed with the big6 model of information literacy theory. Data analysis using library research method or literature study.Results and Discussion. Information literacy is the ability to recognize information needs and when information is needed, identify and locate information, evaluate information critically. Information literacy is one way to form a golden generation in the school environment. The big6 literacy model has 6 effective steps that can be used to solve problems, namely; task definition; information seeking strategies; location and access; use the information; synthesis; and evaluation.Conclusions. Implementation of this model requires planning methods and instructor competence. Implementation of information literacy at SD Muhammadiyah Sapen Yogyakarta in the form of library research that produces student work in the form of mini books

Regulatory and legal basis of electronic governance for modernization of administrative processes in public authorities of Ukraine

In the article, we understand the term «administrative process» as the statutory procedure for public administration. The author considers the legal framework for introducing e-governance according to modernizing the activities of public administration, which are the main stages of administrative processes. The author believes the implementation of information and communication technologies is an important area for achieving greater efficiency of public administration. The purpose of the article is to conduct a retrospective review and systematization of regulatory and legal support of Ukraine on the implementation of e-governance aimed at modernizing the administrative processes taking place in public administration. The author examines the regulations on informatization, e-governance and digital transformation in terms of the main stages of administrative processes, namely: task definition; preparation for management decisions; decision making; bringing it to the recipients and organization of execution; control over the implementation of the decisions. The author concludes that since the proclamation of Ukraine’s independence in 1991 to the present in regulations on the introduction of information and communication technologies in public administration areas of public policy in the field of informatization and e-governance have significantly changed the administrative processes in public administration bodies. The author states that at the first stages of informatization of public administration in regulatory and legal support the greatest attention in the introduction of information and communication technologies was paid to the main stages of administrative processes. According to the author, the basic principles of information society development in Ukraine, with their focus on citizen participation in governance, have influenced all the main stages of administrative processes. To support, the author systematizes the main stages of information systems used in public administration, namely: information systems for statistical presentation of information are introduced for the stage of «task definition»; information-analytical systems are introduced for the stages «preparation for management decision-making» and «decision-making»; for the stages of «bringing it to the addressees of the decision», «organization of execution» and «control of execution of decisions» electronic document management systems are introduced. In the course of the analysis, the author finds out that the activities of public administration bodies such as «disclosure and access to public information» and «public services providing» in which administrative processes take place have become important. According to the author, the active phase of rule-making support of e-governance shows that the main focus is on providing administrative services in electronic form through web portals and mobile Internet services.