Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Drosophila visual system

A compact genome and a tiny brain make Drosophila the prime model to understand the neural substrate of behavior. The neurogenetic efforts to reveal neural circuits underlying Drosophila vision started about half a century ago, and now the field is booming with sophisticated genetic tools, rich behavioral assays, and importantly, a greater number of scientists joining from different backgrounds. This review will briefly cover the structural anatomy of the Drosophila visual system, the animal’s visual behaviors, the genes involved in assembling these circuits, the new and powerful techniques, and the challenges ahead for ultimately identifying the general principles of biological computation in the brain. A typical brain utilizes a great many compact neural circuits to collect and process information from the internal biological and external environmental worlds and generates motor commands for observable behaviors. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, despite of its miniature body and tiny brain, can survive in almost any corner of the world.1 It can find food, court mate, fight rival conspecific, avoid predators, and amazingly fly without crashing into trees. Drosophila vision and its underlying neuronal machinery has been a key research model for at least half century for neurogeneticists.2 Given the efforts invested on the visual system, this animal model is likely to offer the first full understanding of how visual information is computed by a multi-cellular organism. Furthermore, research in Drosophila has revealed many genes that play crucial roles in the formation of functional brains across species. The architectural similarities between the visual systems of Drosophila and vertebrate at the molecular, cellular, and network levels suggest new principles discovered at the circuit level on the relationship between neurons and behavior in Drosophila shall also contribute greatly to our understanding of the general principles for how bigger brains work.3 I start with the anatomy of Drosophila visual system, which surprisingly still contains many uncharted areas.
Estrogen Enhances Performance of Female Rats during Acquisition of a Radial Arm Maze

Estrogen can influence the expression of behaviors not associated directly with reproduction, including learning and memory. However, the effects of estrogen on learning and memory in mammals are complex, dependent on a variety of factors. The radial arm maze is a traditional experimental task that takes advantage of the natural foraging strategy of rats and provides an appropriate measure for studying the effects of estrogen on working memory in this species. In the experiments reported here, ovariectomized rats were implanted subcutaneously with 5-mm Silastic capsules containing 25% estradiol diluted with cholesterol. Control females received 5-mm Silastic capsules containing 100% cholesterol. Results of three separate experiments demonstrated that estradiol administered by Silastic implants for 30 days prior to eight-arm radial maze training, during the 24 days of maze training, or both significantly improved working memory performance compared to females treated with cholesterol alone, as indicated by improved arm choice accuracy over trials. The positive effect of estradiol exposure prior to training suggests that estrogen may induce neuronal changes that persist beyond the period of exposure with functional consequences for behavior.
SiC based on-board EV power-hub with high-efficiency DC transfer mode through AC port for vehicle-to-vehicle charging

This paper is focused on a high-density, bi-directional, 6.6 kW EV power-hub, designed to operate in four distinct modes: 1) Grid-to-Vehicle (G2V), 2) Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), 3) Vehicle-to-House (V2H), and 4) the more recent Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) operating mode. This study also investigates sending DC power through a conventional 240 VRMS Level-2 AC power port, with all the associated ratings and constraints from the AC design, in order to achieve higher power transfer and efficiency for V2V operation. Using a digital Hysteretic Current Mode Control (HCMC) scheme, the efficiency and loss distribution of four operating modes are analyzed: 1) dc-ac Boundary Conduction Mode (BCM), 2) dc-ac Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM)/BCM hybrid, 3)dc-dc BCM, and 4) dc-dc CCM. The AC design achieves a peak efficiency of 96.6% and an average THD of 3.2%. The peak efficiency of the power-hub is increased from 96.6% to 98.3%, by operating in DC transfer mode for V2V operation, thus increasing the power capability by 50%. Finally, a new low-frequency output voltage commutation scheme is proposed to reduce the peak junction temperature of MOSFETs when operating in V2V dc-dc mode.
The biology and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is characterized by the progressive accumulation of functionally incompetent, mature looking, monoclonal CD5+, CD23+ B lymphocytes in blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes and spleen/liver. CLL B cells express low levels of surface immunoglobulin (Ig)M, IgD (10% of those on normal B cells), CD21, CD22 and CD79b. Close to 99% of B-CLL lymphocytes in peripheral blood are in the G0 or early G1 phase of the cell cycle [1]. Defects in apoptosis have been associated with the accumulation of leukemic cells and disease progression, and presumably account for much of the chemotherapy-resistance of this disease. However recent data indicate that a relatively high proportion of cells are also dividing [2]. The diagnosis of B-CLL has usually been based on the classical criteria as outlined by the International Workshop on CLL (IWCLL) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-working group guidelines; however, current definitive criteria require an absolute blood lymphocytosis of >5 · 10/l consistent with the appearance of small mature looking lymphocytes, with an immunophenotype consistent with that described for B-CLL. The typical immunophenotype required for establishing the diagnosis is based on the identification of CD19+ B cells which also are CD5+, CD23+, FMC7-, and weak or negative for CD22/CD79b and surface Ig [3]. B-CLL is the most common adult leukemia in the Western world and accounts for about 40% of all leukemias in adults over the age of 65 years. The clinical course of B-CLL is heterogeneous. Some patients remain stable for a long time (even for the rest of their lives), without need of therapy, while others progress rapidly to a more advanced disease and die despite aggressive treatment.
ADAPTIVE VARIATION IN THE VULNERABILITY OF WOODY PLANTS TO XYLEM CAVITATION

The ability of plants to supply water to their leaves is intimately associated with survival. Water supply to leaves depends on maintaining an intact water column in the xylem from the roots to shoots. Because this hydraulic pathway is under tension, it is vulnerable to breakage through the induction of air emboli (cavitation). Although the phys- iological benefit of resistance to water-stress-induced xylem cavitation for desiccation tol- erance is clear, there is considerable interspecific variation within and across climates. To understand the adaptive significance of this variation and the potential trade-off with water transport, we compiled a database of 167 species from 50 seed plant families and examined relationships among resistance to xylem cavitation, water transport capacity (as determined by the specific conductivity of xylem ( KS)), and climate. Relationships were evaluated using standard cross-species correlations ( r). Because inferences about the adaptive significance of these correlations can be biased by the potential similarity of closely related species, we also analyzed our data using phylogenetically independent contrast correlations (PIC) calculated over a range of alternate seed plant phylogenies. Resistance to cavitation, ex- pressed as the xylem tension at which 50% of hydraulic conductivity was lost (C50), ranged from 20.18 to 29.9 MPa for angiosperms and from 21.5 to 214.1 MPa for conifers. Conifers were most resistant to cavitation, with mean C50 80% more negative than angio- sperms. In contrast, KS was 270% higher in angiosperms than conifers. Across all species, cavitation resistance increased with decreasing mean annual precipitation. However, sig- nificant phylogenetically independent contrast correlations between C50 and annual precip- itation were found within the evergreen angiosperms and conifers but not in the deciduous angiosperms. Thus, the adaptive significance of increased resistance to cavitation as a mechanism of drought tolerance may be of primary importance in evergreen angiosperms and conifers. In contrast, analysis of independent contrasts indicated that KS increased with decreasing rainfall in deciduous angiosperms, whereas there was no association between KS and water availability for evergreen angiosperms and conifers. These results suggest that the evolution of increased KS may be a critical adaptation to water limitation in de- ciduous angiosperms. Although there was a significant cross-species correlation between C50 and KS, this relationship was not supported by the independent contrast correlation, suggesting that the evolutionary basis for a trade-off between cavitation resistance and water transport capacity is weak.
Performance Evaluation of Interval-Searching Conflict Resolution Algorithms

A single multiaccess channel is studied with the outcome of a transmission being either 'idle'. 'success'. or 'collision' (ternary channel). Packets involved in a collision must be retransmitted, and an efficient way to solve a collision is known in the literature as Gallager-Tsybakov-Mikhailov (G1M) algorithm. which falls into class of interval-searching contention resolution algorithms. Perfonnance analysis of the algorithm was based on a numerical solution of some recurrence equations and on a numerical evaluation of some series. The obvious drawback of such an analysis is lack of insight into the behaviour of the algorithm. We shall present a new approach of looking at the algorithm and discuss some attempts of analyzing its performance. In particular, expected lengths of a resolved interval and a conflict resolution interval as well as throughput of the algorithm will be discussed using asymptotic approximation and "a small input rate" approximation. Finally, we generalize these results to cover a wider class of interval-searching algorithms.
Thermal, thermo‐mechanical, and dynamic mechanical properties of polypropylene/cycloolefin copolymer blends

Interaction of the components and physical properties of the polypropylene (PP)/cycloolefin copolymer (COC) blends were studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), Vicat softening temperature (VST), and measurements of the coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) and of the density. The attention was focused on the blends with 90–60% of PP by wt, where the COC minority component was present in the form of short fibers. DSC, DMTA, and density measurements concurrently prove the immiscibility of PP and COC. DSC measurements reveal that crystallinity and melting temperature of the PP component slightly decrease with the fraction of COC in blends, in the range of 56–47% and 164–161°C, respectively. Storage modulus and loss modulus of the blends are in a good accord with the model predictions based on (i) the equivalent box model (EBM) and on (ii) modified equations of the percolation theory. The dependence of the VST on the blend composition is in a good correlation with the previous morphological analysis. Measurements of the coefficient of thermal expansion provide useful data as the functions of temperature and blend composition. Density of the blends was found to obey the volume additivity. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011.
Assessing Empathy across Childhood and Adolescence: Validation of the Empathy Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (EmQue-CA)

Empathy plays a crucial role in healthy social functioning and in maintaining positive social relationships. In this study, 1250 children and adolescents (10–15 year olds) completed the newly developed Empathy Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (EmQue-CA) that was tested on reliability, construct validity, convergent validity, and concurrent validity. The EmQue-CA aims to assess empathy using the following scales: affective empathy, cognitive empathy, and intention to comfort. A Principal Components Analysis, which was directly tested with a Confirmatory Factor Analysis, confirmed the proposed three-factor model resulting in 14 final items. Reliability analyses demonstrated high internal consistency of the scales. Furthermore, the scales showed high convergent validity, as they were positively correlated with related scales of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1983). With regard to concurrent validity, higher empathy was related to more attention to others’ emotions, higher friendship quality, less focus on own affective state, and lower levels of bullying behavior. Taken together, we show that the EmQue-CA is a reliable and valid instrument to measure empathy in typically developing children and adolescents aged 10 and older.
Line voltage difference integral method of commutation error adjustment for sensorless brushless DC motor

Sensorless Brushless DC Motor (BLDCM) often suffers from the inaccurate commutation signal, which degrades the operation performance inevitably. The inaccurate commutation signal will increase the loss of motor and torque ripple. In order to achieve accurate commutation, this paper presents a novel commutation error compensation method for sensorless BLDCM. With this method, the voltage integral value of the line voltage difference during the 60-degree conduction period is used to adjust the commutation instants, which avoids the negative effects owing to the parameter variation and elevates the robustness of system from external disturbances. Compare with conventional commutation correction methods, reconstruction of the virtual neutral voltage is not required, which reduces the corresponding complexity of the hardware circuit design. In addition, the integral intervals are determined by commutation signals, which simplify the detection of the integral boundary. The experiment and simulation results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Nanostructured Materials under Ion and Microwave Radiation

Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto www.aalto. fi Author Khattiya Chalapat Name of the doctoral dissertation Nanostructured Materials under Ion and Microwave Radiation Publisher School of Science Unit O.V. Lounasmaa Laboratory Series Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS 91/2013 Field of research Engineering Physics, Nanoscience Manuscript submitted 12 February 2013 Date of the defence 24 May 2013 Permission to publish granted (date) 2 May 2013 Language English Monograph Article dissertation (summary + original articles) Abstract This thesis discusses how ion radiation and microwaves interact with nanoscale-structured materials.This thesis discusses how ion radiation and microwaves interact with nanoscale-structured materials. In the case of ion radiation, the experiments show that ion processing, either with low-energy ions in reactive ion etching or with higher energy ions in focused ion beams, produces inelastic strain in polycrystalline thin metallic films. This results in the bending of thin strips of metallic films, which cannot be explained by elastic models. The concept of ion-induced plastic strain implies the insertion of adatoms into grain boundaries within the metal matrix. In ion etching processes, thin strips of metallic films with different widths were released from the substrate at different times. Therefore, the rate of atomic flow into grain boundaries is different for different strips. The larger curvatures in narrower strips are the result of a faster rate of adatom insertion into the grain boundaries. With a high-energy focused ion beam, plastic strain can be created locally, allowing the fabrication of non-trivial three-dimensional structures at nanometer scales. In the case of microwave radiation, the materials studied include cobalt nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes. The magnetic resonance and absorption in cobalt nanoparticles are observed in various magnetizing fields at frequencies between 0.5 and 18 GHz, by using a wideband method. The obtained experimental results show that the energy absorption is associated with the ferromagnetic resonance of cobalt nanoparticles. The results include measurements of blocking temperature and saturation magnetization with SQUID magnetometry. The absorption spectra are analyzed theoretically by combining Kittel's theory for uniaxial spherical particles, the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation and effective medium models. At zero magnetizing field, the observed resonance occurs at higher frequencies compared to the non-interacting particle model. The shift of resonance is suggested to be caused by the clustering of particles. Transmission electron microscopic images demonstrate that indeed particles aggregate in the forms of clusters, superlattices, and chains. The absorption properties of yarns of carbon nanotubes are also presented in the thesis.
Discussion of the Article “Website Morphing”

T he article under discussion illustrates the trade-off between optimization and exploration that is fundamental to statistical experimental design. In this discussion, I suggest that the research under discussion could be made even more effective by checking the ﬁt of the model by comparing observed data to replicated data sets simulated from the ﬁtted model.
All-Nanoparticle SnO2/TiO2 Electron-Transporting Layers Processed at Low Temperature for Efficient Thin-Film Perovskite Solar Cells

Solution-processed metal halide perovskite materials have revealed outstanding optoelectronic features that make them uniquely suited for photovoltaic applications. Although a rapid progress has led to performances similar to inorganic thin film technologies, the fabrication method of some of the most widely used electron selective layers, based on either mesoporous architectures or high annealing temperatures, may limit yet a future large-scale production. In that regard, planar perovskite solar cell configurations that can be processed at low temperatures are more desirable. Herein, we demonstrate that a few tens of nanometers thick bilayer, made of two types of inorganic oxide nanoparticles, can perform as a robust and low-temperature-processed electron-selective contact for planar perovskite solar cells. Aside from boosting the average efficiency of planar opaque devices, the proposed method allowed us to preserve the main photovoltaic characteristics when thinner active layers, usually exhibiting a n.
An enhanced PWM method for loss balancing of five level T-type inverter in PV systems

Multilevel inverters have attracted much industry and research concerns in photovoltaic (PV) applications. Although, it is demonstrated that power switching devices are subjected to unequal distribution of power losses and the reliability of multilevel inverters becomes low in accordance. Therefore, a new pulse width modulation (PWM) method is proposed in this paper for loss balancing in single phase five level inverters. The proposed method swaps the utilization of power components through the line period using the redundancy property between the switching states of T-type multilevel inverters. In addition, natural balance of voltages over DC link capacitors is achieved using the proposed method. The superiority of the proposed method is verified using simulation and experimental prototypes.
Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology Dovepress Gastrointestinal Motility during Sleep Assessed by Tracking of Telemetric Capsules Combined with Polysomnography – a Pilot Study

Studies of gastrointestinal function during sleep are hampered by lack of applicable techniques. Recent development of a novel ambulatory telemetric capsule system, which can be used in conjunction with polysomnography, offers a solution to this problem. The 3D-Transit system consists of ingestible electromagnetic capsules traceable through a portable extracorporeal receiver while traversing the gut. During sleep monitored by polysomnography, gastrointestinal motility was concurrently investigated using 3D-Transit in nine healthy subjects. Overall, the amplitude of gastric contractions decreased with depth of sleep (light sleep, N2 versus deep sleep, N3; P,0.05). Progression through the small intestine did not change with depth of sleep (Kruskal–Wallis probability =0.1), and there was no association between nocturnal awakenings or arousals and the occurrence of colonic or small intestinal propagating movements. Basal colonic activity was suppressed during both deep sleep (P,0.05) and light sleep (P,0.05) when compared with nocturnal wake periods. In conclusion, the novel ambulatory 3D-Transit system combined with polysomnography allows minimally invasive and completely ambulatory investigation of associations between sleep patterns and gastrointestinal motility.
Experiences of a student-run clinic in primary care: a mixed-method study with students, patients and supervisors

Abstract Objective: To explore how a student-run clinic (SRC) in primary health care (PHC) was perceived by students, patients and supervisors. Design: A mixed methods study. Clinical learning environment, supervision and nurse teacher evaluation scale (CLES + T) assessed student satisfaction. Client satisfaction questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8) assessed patient satisfaction. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with supervisors. Setting: Gustavsberg PHC Center, Stockholm County, Sweden. Subjects: Students in medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology and their patients filled in questionnaires. Supervisors in medicine, nursing and physiotherapy were interviewed. Main outcome measures: Mean values and medians of CLES + T and CSQ-8 were calculated. Interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Results: A majority of 199 out of 227 student respondents reported satisfaction with the pedagogical atmosphere and the supervisory relationship. Most of the 938 patient respondents reported satisfaction with the care given. Interviews with 35 supervisors showed that the organization of the SRC provided time and support to focus on the tutorial assignment. Also, the pedagogical role became more visible and targeted toward the student’s individual needs. However, balancing the student’s level of autonomy and the own control over care was described as a challenge. Many expressed the need for further pedagogical education. Conclusions: High student and patient satisfaction reported from five disciplines indicate that a SRC in PHC can be adapted for heterogeneous student groups. Supervisors experienced that the SRC facilitated and clarified their pedagogical role. Simultaneously their need for continuous pedagogical education was highlighted. The SRC model has the potential to enhance student-centered tuition in PHC. Key Points Knowledge of student-run clinics (SRCs) as learning environments within standard primary health care (PHC) is limited. We report experiences from the perspectives of students, their patients and supervisors, representing five healthcare disciplines. Students particularly valued the pedagogical atmosphere and the supervisory relationship. Patients expressed high satisfaction with the care provided. Supervisors expressed that the structure of the SRC supported the pedagogical assignment and facilitated student-centered tuition – simultaneously the altered learning environment highlighted the need for further pedagogical education. Student-run clinics in primary health care have great potential for student-regulated learning.