Dual-Task Costs and the Role of Inhibitory Control in Non- Inferential Theory of Mind Processing

Current methods of assessing an individual’s Theory of Mind (TOM) abilities, especially the false-belief task, assess more than just TOM abilities (Bloom & German, 2000). One such ability in particular, inhibitory control (IC), is believed to be necessary for inhibiting salient and contradictory information about the reality of a situation in order to ascribe a false-belief to an individual (Carlson, Moses, & Breton, 2002; Leslie & Thaiss, 1992). The role of IC cannot be determined precisely, however, as existing tasks confound pure TOM reasoning with other processes (Apperly, Samson, & Humphreys, 2005). The current study sought to assess the role, if any, that IC plays in TOM processing aside from its possible role in making inferences about others’ behavior. The non-inferential TOM task was employed (as used in Apperly, Back, Samson, & France, 2007) to more selectively assess TOM reasoning and a dual-task methodology was used to assess the role of IC. The dependent measure was processing costs, a score comprised of the participant’s accuracy and reaction time. The participants completed the non-inferential TOM task concurrently with a secondary task either in non-inhibitory or inhibitory conditions. Unexpectedly, it was found that participants in the inhibitory conditions performed just as well on the non-inferential TOM task as participants in the non-inhibitory condition. This finding suggests that IC may not be involved in the representation of mental state information. Thus, the findings also suggest that the reason studies show IC to be correlated with other TOM tasks, such as the false-belief task, is because IC is related to the other processes involved in these tasks, such as making TOM inferences. Alternatively, the IC task used may not have been effective and could be the cause of the lack of a main effect for the inhibitory (experimental) condition. Keywords: theory of mind, TOM, non-inferential, inhibitory control

Thermal design optimization of novel modular power converter assembly enabling higher performance, reliability and availability

An alternative integration scheme for a half-bridge switch using 70 μm thin Si IGBTs and diodes is presented. This flat switch, which is designed for high-frequency application with high power density, exhibits high strength, high toughness, low parasitic inductance and high thermal conductivity. Such a novel assembly approach is suitable to optimize performance, reliability and availability of the power system in which it is used. The paper focuses on the thermal performance of this assembly at normal and extreme operating conditions, studied by means of FEM thermo-fluidynamic simulations of the module integrated with connectors and liquid cooler, and thermal measurement performed on an early prototype. Improved solutions are also investigated by the FE model

Eltern als Akteure im Übergang vom Elementar- zum Primarbereich: Praktiken von Elternpartizipation in kooperativen Tandems von Kindergärten und Grundschulen

"Im Zentrum des Beitrags steht die fallrekonstruktive Analyse der Praktiken der Partizipation von Eltern beim Übergang ihres Kindes vom Elementar- in den Primarbereich in zwei kontrastiv ausgewählten Netzwerken. Auf der Grundlage ethnographischer Beobachtungen der Kooperationsprozesse von pädagogischen Professionellen in Kindertagesstätten und Grundschulen im letzten Vorschuljahr werden die unterschiedlichen Konzepte und Formen der Übergangsgestaltung herausgearbeitet. Im Anschluss daran werden die damit verbundenen Praktiken der Einbeziehung und Partizipation der Eltern analysiert. Dabei werden die Passungsverhältnisse zwischen den von den pädagogischen Professionellen konstruierten Bildungsorientierungen der Eltern und deren tatsächlichem Bildungshabitus thematisch." (Autorenreferat)"The central focus of this study is a case-reconstructive analysis of the practices employed by professionals to involve parents during the transition of their children from pre-school child care provisions into primary school. The research was undertaken in two selected contrasting networks. The processes of co-operation between child care workers and professionals in primary schools in the last year of pre-school were observed in an ethnographical manner in order to elaborate the different concepts and ways of arranging the transition from pre-school child care provisions into primary school. The related involvement and participation of parents in this transition was also analyzed. One issue that is addressed in particular is the connection between the academic orientation of the parents as constructed by educational professionals and their actual academic habitus." (author's abstract

Different European Perspectives on the Treatment of Clinical Mastitis in Lactation

As part of the European Network for Optimization of Veterinary Antimicrobial Treatment (ENOVAT), a webinar on the topic “Mastitis Treatment in Lactation” was held, in which eight mastitis experts from different European countries (Spain, The Netherlands, Estonia, Ireland, Poland, Finland, Germany, and Italy) presented their treatment approaches for clinical mastitis in lactation. The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic approaches to identify commonalities and differences. In all eight participating countries, the decision to start treatment is usually made by the veterinarians, while the farm personnel are responsible for treatment administration. Antibiotic treatment is then typically administered intramammarily. The treatment duration often depends on the label instructions and is frequently extended if Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus uberis is involved. Administering supportive therapy, especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is an established practice in all countries. Penicillin is the first-choice drug for the treatment of mastitis in an increasing number of countries. The use of critically important antimicrobials (CIAs) such as quinolones and third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins is at a low level in Finland and The Netherlands. In Estonia, Germany, Italy, and Spain, the use of CIAs is declining and is only allowed if milk samples are analyzed in advance following the legal framework. Systems for monitoring antibiotic use are being introduced in more and more countries. This exchange of different views will help the European countries to move towards a common high standard of antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine

Different European Perspectives on the Treatment of Clinical Mastitis in Lactation

As part of the European Network for Optimization of Veterinary Antimicrobial Treatment (ENOVAT), a webinar on the topic “Mastitis Treatment in Lactation” was held, in which eight mastitis experts from different European countries (Spain, The Netherlands, Estonia, Ireland, Poland, Finland, Germany, and Italy) presented their treatment approaches for clinical mastitis in lactation. The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic approaches to identify commonalities and differences. In all eight participating countries, the decision to start treatment is usually made by the veterinarians, while the farm personnel are responsible for treatment administration. Antibiotic treatment is then typically administered intramammarily. The treatment duration often depends on the label instructions and is frequently extended if Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus uberis is involved. Administering supportive therapy, especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is an established practice in all countries. Penicillin is the first-choice drug for the treatment of mastitis in an increasing number of countries. The use of critically important antimicrobials (CIAs) such as quinolones and third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins is at a low level in Finland and The Netherlands. In Estonia, Germany, Italy, and Spain, the use of CIAs is declining and is only allowed if milk samples are analyzed in advance following the legal framework. Systems for monitoring antibiotic use are being introduced in more and more countries. This exchange of different views will help the European countries to move towards a common high standard of antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine

Thermal design and characterization of a modular integrated liquid cooled 1200 V-35 A SiC MOSFET bi-directional switch

The aim of this work is the thermal design of a modular direct liquid cooled package for 1200 V–35 A SiC power MOSFETs, in order to take full advantage of the high power density and high frequency performance of these devices, in the development of a modular integrated solution for power converters. An accurate electro-thermal fluid dynamic model is set up and validated by thermal characterization on a prototype; numerical models have been used to study the internal temperature distribution and to propose further optimization

A contribution to modular and highly compact isolated fast chargers for electric vehicles

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden Untersuchungen zur Systemgestaltung eines neuartigen modularen und hochkompakten isolierenden Ladewandlers zum Laden von Elektrofahrzeugen durchgeführt. Hierzu wurden zwei Funktionsdemonstratoren mit einer Eingangsleistung von 3,7 kW (4 dm3) und 22 kW (12 dm3) umgesetzt. Die Schaltungstopologie basiert auf 3,7 kW-Basiseinheiten, welche ohne weitere schaltungstechnische Anpassungen zu höheren Ladeleistungen zusammengefasst werden können. Dank dieses modularen Systemaufbaus können sowohl Hybrid-Fahrzeuge mit üblichen Ladeleistungen bis 7,4 kW als auch Elektrofahrzeuge mit großen Batteriekapazitäten mit einer Ladeleistung von 22 kW mit der gleichen leistungselektronischen Grundschaltung ausgestattet werden. Ferner kann die vorgestellte Topologie im Europäischen- und im US-amerikanischen Verbundnetz bis zur maximalen Versorgungsleistung des Niederspannungsnetzes eingesetzt werden. Das modulare Schaltungsdesign in Kombination mit einer weltweiten Netzkonformität erlaubt die Nutzung von Skaleneffekten beim Einkauf von Bauelementen, was die Gerätekosten gegenüber länderindividuellen Entwicklungen reduziert. Der Ladewandler kann durch die Verwendung einer galvanischen Isolierung ungeachtet der parasitären Gegebenheiten des fahrzeugseitigen Hochvolt-Bordnetzes betrieben werden. Zum normkonformen Aufbau wird der Einfluss des Hochvolt-Bordnetzes auf die Einhaltung von Personenschutzzielen und EMV-Anforderungen diskutiert. Dies erfolgt anhand einer Fehleranalyse und der Erörterung des Einflusses der galvanischen Isolierung auf Berührströme und hochfrequente Störströme. Aus den durchgeführten Untersuchungen werden allgemeingültige Handlungsempfehlungen zum Aufbau von Ladegeräten abgeleitet. Der Fokus dieser Ausarbeitung liegt auf der Systemarchitektur und der Systemauslegung zur Umsetzung eines modularen und hochkompakten Ladewandlers. Gerade bei der Systemauslegung wurde das Erreichen einer hohen Effizienz der Spannungswandlung in den Vordergrund gestellt. Der Nachteil von simultan (interleaved) betriebenen Systemen im Schwachlastbereich wurde durch eine Phasenabschaltung ausgeglichen. Dadurch kann bereits ab einer Eingangsleistung von circa 10 % die maximale Wandlereffizienz erreicht werden. Für zweistufige Ladewandler wurde erstmals eine sogenannte dynamische Anpassung der Zwischenkreisspannung vorgestellt, die für gleichbleibende optimale Betriebsbedingungen während eines Ladevorgangs sorgt und somit die Effizienz des Ladewandlers um bis zu 3 Prozentpunkte erhöht. Das komplexe Thema der Effizienzsteigerung des Hardwareaufbaus wird empirisch gelöst, hierzu wurden MOSFET-Schalter und SiC-Dioden unter Betriebsbedingungen in einer neuartigen isolierenden Leistungswandlerstufe verglichen. Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt der Untersuchungen liegt in der Einhaltung von hochfrequenten Störströmen im Bereich von 150 kHz bis 30 MHz nach Norm IEC 61000-6-3:2006. Alle betreffenden Schritte während der Systemkonzeption wurden im Hinblick auf die spätere Einhaltung leitungsgebundener elektromagnetischer Störungen untersucht. Dazu gehören beispielsweise Untersuchungen zur Wahl der Betriebsfrequenzen bei zweistufigen Schaltnetzteilkonzepten oder die Wahl des Gatewiderstands der Leistungsfaktorkorrekturschaltung (kurz PFC für engl. Power-Factor Correction). Es wird eine einfache Berechnungsvorschrift vorgestellt, mit welcher leitungsgebundene Störspannungspegel sowohl für die PFC- als auch für die isolierende Stufe ermittelt werden können. Darauf aufbauend erfolgt die Vorstellung der passiven Filterschaltung. Dieses bereits kompakte Filter wird für eine weitere Reduzierung des Bauvolumens durch eine neuartige aktive Filterschaltung zu einem sogenannten hybriden Filter weiter entwickelt. Die hybride Filterschaltung erlaubt eine Volumenreduzierung des Gleichtaktfilters von 40 Prozentpunkten gegenüber einer rein passiven Lösung.In the scope of this thesis, investigations about the system design of a novel, modular, and highly compact isolated charger for electric vehicles have been performed. To that end, the designs for two functional devices with an input power of 3.7 kW (4 dm3) and 22 kW (12 dm3) have been realized. The proposed circuit topology is based on 3.7 kW base units, which can be coupled without the need for additional switching technology to implement chargers with a higher output power. Thanks to the modular system design, both hybrid electric vehicles, with a typical charging power of 7.4 kW, as well as electric vehicles, with larger batteries and a charging power of up to 22 kW, can be equipped with the same power electronic base circuit. Furthermore, the presented topology is compatible with both the European as well as the US-American ac-mains up to the maximum deliverable power. The modular system design in combination with the worldwide grid connectivity allows for use of scales of economy for purchasing components, which reduces the device costs in comparison to country-specific designs. Due to the galvanically isolated design, the charger can be used regardless of the parasitic elements of the HV-components in the electric car. To ensure a standard compliant system design, the influence of the HV voltage system on personal safety and on EMC regulations was investigated and is discussed. The investigations include both a failure analysis and considerations about the influence of a galvanic isolation on touch currents and conducted EMI emissions. General design specifications for the charger design will be deduced from the conducted analysis. The focus of this thesis is on the system architecture and system design of a modular and highly compact charger. In particular, the system design is configured to obtain a high charging efficiency. The disadvantage of an interleaved operated system is balanced by a phase shutdown in light load conditions. The maximum efficiency is thereby achieved at 10 percent of the nominal input power. For two stage converters, a so called dynamic dc-link control technique has been presented for the first time. It causes consistent ideal operating conditions and increases the converter efficiency up to 3 percent. The complex matter of raising the efficiency of the hardware design is solved empirically. Silicium MOSFETs and SiC-diodes are compared under operating conditions in a novel isolating converter stage. Another central focus of the investigation is on the compliance of conducted EMI emissions in the range of 150 kHz to 30 MHz with the standard IEC 61000-6-3:2006. Every step of the system design was investigated regarding the compliance with these standards. This includes, for example, investigations about the choice of the switching frequencies in a two stage topology or the choice of the gate resistor in the power-factor-correction-circuit . Simple design rules for the calculation of conducted common mode emissions are given for the PFC as well as for the isolating converter. Based on this a discrete filter network to meet the EMI regulations is shown. For a further reduction of the EMI filter volume the already highly compact discrete filter has been extended to a so called hybrid filter. Because of this hybrid filter circuit, the overall filter volume has been reduced by 40 percent in comparison to the passive filter

Exploration of Natural Variants in Human Health and Disease

Data generation is rapidly progressing and data interpretation is hardly keeping up. New tools and approaches are needed to assess, filter and decide upon the impact of variants on biological systems. This work first presents a novel method of interpreting variants found to be exclusively heterozygous in public datasets (1000 Genomes Project and gnomAD). Variant pathogenicity is scored by a benchmarked, Bayesian integration of a diversity of gene, protein, sequence and structural features. A new 3D clustering method was developed to identify and understand pathogenic variant mechanism. This method uses known functional knowledge from a protein of interest and is homologs, and intramolecular distances from known/predicted structures to group and map functional information. This puts candidate variants into context by according to previously known functions of residues within the same group. Experimental validation of putative pathogenic variants is important for understanding variant mechanism. Several variants of RHOA, a small GTPase relevant to many crucial signalling pathways, were subjected to a battery of laboratory experiments. Variants affecting sites involved in interactions with other proteins are known to typically cause a loss-of-function phenotypes in cancer. However, it became evident that variants showed unique mechanisms in terms of observed phenotypes. Overall it can be argued that there is no single mechanism related to RHOA dysregulation in cancer. Lastly, a new method was developed with the aim of assisting diagnostics via clinical genetics. The method is able to produce a biological triplicate of laboratory results within four to five weeks, which would be a clinically useful timeframe in which to act on decisions related to dysregulated proteins. Modified HEK cells are transfected with tetracycline-controlled plasmids, containing the wild-type and mutated genes of interest. After selection and tetracycline induction the cells are harvested and total cell RNA is used to study gene expression via microarrays. Gene expression patterns can then be used to assess whether a given protein mutation is changing the enzyme activity, which can additionally be tested by rapid follow-up experiments such as phosphoantibodies. This hope is that the results can then be used to adjust treatment regimens, for instance, by highlighting putative oncogenes