Multi-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) power plants are widespread in electrical power systems because of the drastic decrease in the PV panel prices. The multi-string structure is considered for high power PV systems due to the increase in the overall energy conversion efficiency and the modularity when compared to the centralized topology. High power conversion can be achieved easily using parallel connection of several grid-tied two-level voltage-source inverters (2L-VSIs). However, this configuration complicates the control designs. Thus, this issue can be overcome by replacing these 2L-VSIs with a single high power three-level neutral point clamped inverter (3L-NPC). Moreover, the 3L-NPC inherits several attractive merits such as improved power quality with reduced total harmonic distortion (THD), increased overall efficiency as well as lower costs. In addition to that, the voltage oriented control using proportional-resonant (VOC-PR) in conjunction with the adaptive space vector modulation (ASVM) technique is proposed for the large-scaled PV system with grid-tied NPC inverter. The feasibility of the proposed control for the high power system is validated through the simulation results under various environmental conditions. Besides that, the dynamic mance of the system under the proposed VOC-PR is greatly enhanced in comparison with the conventional method using PI controller.


The last ten years have seen a marked increase of interest in agent-oriented technology, in several areas of computer science, including both software engineering and artificial intelligence. Agents are being used, and touted, for applications as diverse as personalised information management, electronic commerce, interface design, computer games, and management of complex commercial and industrial processes. Several deployed systems already use agent technology, and many more commercial and industrial applications are in development.


Object references in object-oriented languages suffer from their pointer heritage. In this paper we discourage the use of a single magic value, shared among all reference types, to denote a nonreferencing state. The advantages of void values, which include uniform treatment of void and nonvoid data, provision of default-behavior, termination of recursive definitions, and gracefully dealing with error situations are presented in pattern form. We then investigate the impact of the Void Value pattern for language design, extending the applications to implicit creation, abstract method execution, and simplified module usage. Finally we point out related mechanisms like pattern matching in functional programming languages and compare void values to nullcases.


Hourly measurements of 13 volatile hydrocarbons (C 2 –C 7 ) were performed at an urban background site in Zurich (Switzerland) in the years 1993–1994 and again in 2005–2006. For the separation of the volatile organic compounds by gas-chromatography (GC), an identical chromatographic column was used in both campaigns. Changes in hydrocarbon profiles and source strengths were recovered by positive matrix factorization (PMF). Eight and six factors could be related to hydrocarbon sources in 1993–1994 and in 2005–2006, respectively. The modeled source profiles were verified by hydrocarbon profiles reported in the literature. The source strengths were validated by independent measurements, such as inorganic trace gases (NO x , CO, SO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), oxidized hydrocarbons (OVOCs) and meteorological data (temperature, wind speed etc.). Our analysis suggests that the contribution of most hydrocarbon sources (i.e. road traffic, solvents use and wood burning) decreased by a factor of about two to three between the early 1990s and 2005–2006. On the other hand, hydrocarbon losses from natural gas leakage remained at relatively constant levels (−20%). The estimated emission trends are in line with the results from different receptor-based approaches reported for other European cities. Their differences to national emission inventories are discussed.


Evaluation of patients before transsphenoidal hypophysectomy for large intrasellar mass lesions has required bilateral internal carotid artery angiography. Using intravenous injection of contrast medium, a method has been developed to visualize the parasellar carotid arteries with rapid sequence sequential computed tomographic scanning. In 18 patients, the cavernous segments of the internal carotid arteries were well seen in 27 of 28 instances with technically complete examinations. The vascularity of the mass lesions and vascular encasement was also demonstrated.


Al-Mg-Si alloys often contain small additions of, for example, Mn or Cr, to form dispersoids, which may act as nucleation sites for Mg2Si particles after homogenization. The purpose of adding Mn and Cr is to ensure a high density of uniformly distributed small β'-particles, which can be dissolved during further processing prior to the final age hardening step. However, their density and spatial distribution are critically dependent on the homogenization procedure. It is therefore important to have a robust and reliable method for assessing their spatial distribution. In the present work, an existing methodology for assessing spatial uniformity, the Global Shannon Entropy (GSE), was implemented and evaluated for different dispersoid structures characterized by scanning electron microscopy. This metric is highly dependent on the parameters used, but by careful selection of adequate parameters, it can be effective in detecting non-uniformity. An important weakness with the GSE was identified, and a modification to improve on the ability to differentiate degrees of non-uniformity is suggested. To evaluate the proposed methodology, the effect of heating rate on dispersoid precipitation behaviour during homogenisation of four Al-Mg-Si alloys with different Mn/Cr-content was investigated. In general, the dispersoid density increased with decreasing heating rates as longer times in the furnace resulted in particle coarsening. Slower heating rates were found to promote a more uniform dispersoid structure for most alloys investigated in this study. The metric with the new term demonstrated promising results, and improved the ability to differentiate degrees of spatial uniformity.


The presence of grouting defects emanating from construction operations constitutes a major threat to the structural integrity of the grouted sleeve connection of precast concrete members. This work presents a location-based assessment of the impact of grouting defects on the tensile performance of the grouted sleeve connection. Twenty-two specimens with different configurations of defects were subjected to a uniaxial tensile experiment. Corresponding numerical models were proposed, validated and used to conduct a sensitivity analysis of the connection to the defect's location while considering different design confinements of grouting materials. Experimental and numerical studies revealed the following outcome: In consideration of confinement parameters, when the defect of size 3d is located in the mid-span anchorage length, the variation of the sleeve-to-bar diameter (ds/d) from 2.66 (lower design limit) to 3.55 (upper design limit) changed the drop in the ultimate capacity from 19% to 44% below the connection's design requirement. The governing parameters of the grout-bar bond stiffness were the defect's location and degree of confinement. This work proposes a theoretical diagnosis model and a risk assessment catalogue as a promising step toward establishing a computerized diagnosis model of the defective connection to enlighten rational maintenance actions in actual construction.


Global helium (He) shortage is a challenging problem; however, the types of helium source rock and the mechanisms of He generation and release therein remain still poorly understood. In this study, in order to evaluate the potential of granite as an effective helium source rock, we collected granitic samples from the North Qinling Orogen, Central China, in the south of the helium‐rich Weihe Basin. The helium generation and release behaviors in granite were studied through analysis of U and Th concentrations, EMPA images, and He and Ar concentrations and isotopic ratios extracted by crushing and stepwise heating. The results indicate that Ar has a better retention and a lower mobility than He. 3He/4He ratios released by crushing and stepwise heating are 0.016–0.056 RA and 0.003–0.572 RA, respectively, where RA is the atmospheric 3He/4He of 1.4×10‐6, reflecting a crustal and radiogenic source. Helium concentrations extracted by the two ways are 0.13–0.95 ucm3 STP/g and 7.82–115.62 ucm3 STP/g, respectively, suggesting that matrix‐sited He accounts for more than 98% of total helium preserved in granite. In addition, the total generated He amounts in granites are calculated based on the measured U and Th concentrations in granitic samples. Dividing the preserved He quantities by the generated He amounts, it turned out that less than 10% of He produced since the formation of the granite is preserved in the rock over geological time, suggesting that more than 90% generated He can be transferred to the Weihe Basin. Temperature and fracture are the two critical factors controlling He release. Based on the relationship between He diffusivity of granites and temperature and the He closure temperatures of a variety of U‐ and Th‐rich minerals (27–250°C), we estimate that He can be partially released out of granite at the depths <400 m and totally released at the depths >7800 m. Fractures provide effective transfer of free He from deep source rocks to shallow reservoirs. Finally, a model on granite as an effective helium source rock is established. We suggest exploring He resources in hydrocarbon basins with granitic basement (or adjacent to granite bodies), high geothermal field, and young active fractures.


Objective: Excessively violent or otherwise inappropriate acts by military personnel on the modern battlefield can impede mission success, and they can have detrimental effects on the victims, witnesses, and perpetrators. This study provides new insights into the association between unethical battlefield conduct and mental health, as well as the processes through which misconduct on military operations occurs. Method: Through a comprehensive literature review, we examine the scope of issues around unethical battlefield conduct and we consider the association between unethical conduct and mental health from different perspectives. Results: Our review culminates in a process model that suggests that mental health problems, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can drive unethical battlefield conduct through anger induction and/or disregulation. Additionally, we propose a framework, the Triad of Ethical Risk, that underscores three factors that increase service members' risk for acting unethically on the battlefield: (a) recent history of combat exposure, (b) history of committing offenses that underscore violence and/or impulsivity, and (c) recent history of anger-related behaviors. Conclusions: This practical framework can assist military leaders and health professionals in understanding the processes through which mental health can affect battlefield conduct, and in identifying personnel at risk of offending before they offend.


The main seismic objective in China is defined as "no failure under minor earthquake, repairable damage under moderate earthquake and no collapse under major earthquake". Both strength and deformation are important to evaluate the seismic performance. For masonry building, only the shear strength check under minor earthquake is stipulated in the current Chinese seismic design code. Due to the poor ductility of masonry building, the seismic design analysis method may not guarantee the collapse-resistant capacity under major earthquake. For the achievement of the seismic objective, the demand of ductility is discussed. A typical severely damaged masonry building by the 5.12 Wenchuan Earthquake of 2008 is presented for the analysis of the through X-shape crack on the load-bearing wall. In order to enhance the collapse-resistant capacity, the authors suggest more shear strength margin to take the influence of structural ductility into consideration. The feasible way can be easily realized as a target to raise the limitation for the shear strength check parameter under minor earthquake and to keep uniform seismic capacity in two directions. The investigated building is also illustrated here as an example to process the shear strength check for better seismic performance by the authors' suggestion.


Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents in the United States. In recent years there has been increased attention given to suicide and suicidal ideation. It is no secret that depression, self-harming behavior, and suicidal ideation can have a negative impact on social, cognitive, and academic functioning. This pilot study looks at and analyzes the implementation of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program in a suburban high school in Rochester, NY. The study is designed to assess if student knowledge and attitudes towards depression and suicidal ideation changed as a result of the program. The program was implemented in two sections of health class in the fall of 2015. Previous research on suicide education have found that comprehensive prevention education have increased student knowledge and attitudes. This suggests that the SOS program has the potential to have beneficial impact on students' knowledge and attitudes about depression and suicide. In order to gain a clearer sense of the programs benefits additional research would be necessary.


Tpl-2 is a gene encoding a protein kinase which is primarily expressed in normal spleen, thymus, and lung tissue and is activated by provirus insertion in Moloney murine leukemia virus-induced T-cell lymphomas during the late stages of oncogenesis. Tpl-2 is composed of eight exons and spans a 35-kb genomic DNA region. The provirus integrates reproducibly in the last intron and in the same transcriptional orientation as the Tpl-2 gene. This genetic change leads to the expression of enhanced steady-state levels of a truncated Tpl-2 RNA transcript which is predicted to encode a protein with an altered C-terminal domain. Tpl-2 is transcribed from two alternating promoters, P1 and P2. The RNA transcripts originating in the two promoters harbor different 5' untranslated regions derived from the alternate noncoding exons IA and IB. Utilization of the P2 promoter, which gives rise to exon IB containing Tpl-2 RNA transcripts, was detected primarily in tumor cells. The Tpl-2 protein was expressed in COS-1 cells as an N-terminal fusion with a 12-amino-acid hemagglutinin tag. Immunoprecipitation of transfected COS-1 cell lysates with antihemagglutinin or anti-Tpl-2 antibodies, followed by incubation with [gamma-32P]ATP, confirmed that Tpl-2 possesses protein kinase activity.


This paper consists of three parts, each treating a single type of antenna scan. Part I is devoted to the spiral scan, deriving the equations of motion for searching a region of space in a minimum period of time. Power relations required for the antenna drive also are derived. Part II discusses a simple conical scan; the development concerns the optimum antenna gain, the gain at the edges of the region scanned, and the optimum wavelength. Part III pertains to sector scanning. The analysis of the variation of target illumination over the sector is presented for an antenna having simple harmonic motion. The critical angles for selection between a sector-scanning antenna and a uniformly rotating assembly of ``n'' antennas are derived. A figure of merit for sector scan having non-harmonic motion is defined.


To the Editor.— In our experience, and that of others, 1 acute vitamin K deficiency is a common occurrence in patients who are on no oral intake and receiving antibiotics, as is likely to occur in patients in intensive care units. This deficiency may appear in a period as brief as 48 hours after admission if the patient was nutritionally impaired. This occurrence manifests mainly in a prolongation of the prothrombin time, and it can lead to serious bleeding. Since we instituted routine replacement with parenteral vitamin K, this picture has become a rarity. Those patients still having prolonged prothrombin times were studied in detail (assaying their clotting factors II, V, VII/X, and VIII). As expected, it was found that those patients who failed to respond to intravenous vitamin K had underlying liver disease, and, accordingly, their factor V was decreased (not a vitamin K-dependent factor also synthesized by the


This thesis describes an investigation of the transport phenomena of a binary mixture over a rotating disk and under conditions of molecular distillation. These phenomena were studied using a modified version of the commercially designed centrifugal molecular still, CMS-5. A mathematical model was developed which relates the equations of maximum evaporation rate, heat and mass transfer of the transport behaviour of fluid on a rotating disk to such parameters as mass flow rate, composition, film thickness, mean velocity, Reynolds number, surface temperature, and relative volatility. Numerical techniques have been used in solving the model, and from the computed and the experimentally measured values, it was possible to evaluate the performance of the still in terms of the theoretical molecular plate. The mathematical model is also capable of predicting the mean distillation rate and composition of distillate. Reasonable agreement was obtained between the measured and calculated values. In order to solve the mathematical model, it was also necessary to evaluate experimentally some physical property data of the binary mixture. Mean rates of distillation and compositions of distillate of the binary mixture (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate) were measured for a set of feed compositions over a range of temperatures and feed rates. The overall performance of the centrifugal still and the binary mixture were evaluated. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABSTRACT CONTENTS


Silicon carbide single crystals grown by the seeded physical vapour transport method have been investigated. These crystals were grown on the Si-face (0001) of 6H-SiC seeds. The growth proceeded under quasi-equilibrium conditions with the growth rate in the range 0.05-0.2 mm/h, that was extremely low as compared to used in standard growth processes. The shape and morphology of the crystallization fronts have been studied. Moreover, defects in crystals and wafers cut from these crystals were examined by optical and atomic force microscopy combined with KOH etching and X-Ray diffraction.


The seismological characteristics of the 15 February 2013 Chelyabinsk bolide explosion are investigated based on seismograms recorded at 50 stations with epicentral distances ranging from 229 to 4324 km. By using 8–25 s vertical‐component Rayleigh waveforms, we obtain a surface‐wave magnitude of 4.17±0.31 for this event. According to the relationship among the Rayleigh‐wave magnitude, burst height and explosive yield, the explosion yield is estimated to be 686 kt. Using a single‐force source to fit the observed Rayleigh waveforms, we obtain a single force of 1.03×1012 N, which is equivalent to the impact from the shock wave generated by the bolide explosion.


Multicultural programs in schools have done well in implementing a varied amount of themes and cultures that represent our pluralistic society. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about LGBT themes in schools. Some teachers fear the ramifications of having a more inclusive curriculum with LGBT themes, especially in the elementary classroom. The present article will provide information, strategies, and techniques that may help in mitigating teacher fears when one decides to implement LGBT themes and literature in the elementary classroom.


Purpose: The United States (U.S.) is encountering an opioid public health crisis. Opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose has become a top public health issue and a burden on health care costs and mortality rates. In 2016, there were over 33,000 deaths from opioid overdose in the U.S., and 3,383 deaths in Pennsylvania (PA). Due to this public health concern, the Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) Emergency Department (ED) strives to provide all opioid overdose patients with either a prescription for naloxone or naloxone take-home kit prior to patient discharge. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that binds to opioid receptors. Naloxone therapy is used in opioid overdose because it displaces the opioid drug from the receptors and reverses the effects, particularly death from opioid overdose induced respiratory depression and hypotension.

Methods: The primary objective of this retrospective quality improvement study was to determine the number of patients treated and released in the AGH ED for opioid overdose. Secondary objectives included determining the percentage of opioid overdose patients with health insurance, the percentage of opioid overdose patients provided a naloxone prescription or naloxone take-home kit prior to ED discharge, and mean ED length of stay of these patients. Identification of study patients was determined using ED discharge diagnoses; heroin overdose, drug overdose, narcotic overdose, opiate overdose, general overdose, and various trauma diagnoses. Data was obtained using AGH's electronic medical records.

Results: From October 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016, a total of 103 unique patients with 106 visits were treated and released for opioid overdose. Patients were mostly male (70.6%), with a mean age 37 years (range 27-64 years). Seventy-nine percent (81/103) of patients were insured. Take-home naloxone was provided in 58 percent (61/106) of ED visits, and mean ED length of stay was 165 minutes (range: 12-733 minutes).

Conclusion: This information can be used to anticipate the future volume of patients treated and released in AGH ED for opioid overdose and assist in the design of a sustainable take-home naloxone program.


Andersson, M. (2009). Social influence in stock markets. Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden Influences by others when making investments and predictions in stock markets, referred to as herding, is a widely discussed phenomenon in financial economics. This thesis aims to understand herding by applying theories of social influence. In a series of studies employing a multi-trial experimental approach, undergraduates made predictions of stock prices. On each trial they received information about the current price and the predictions made by other fictitious participants, forming a majority or a minority herd. Study I investigated how different rewards altered the level of influence from a herd making random predictions. Experiment 1 (n = 80) demonstrated that the tendency to follow others overrides the effect of a financial reward for individual performance. In Experiment 2 (n = 80) a reward for following a majority herd increased the influence, but a reward for following a minority herd did not. Addressing the importance of consistency for herding, in Study II (n = 96) consistency was varied both as agreement between the others' predictions (correlation) and within the others' predictions (variance). Correlation increased the herd influence, but no effect of variance was observed. Studies I and II suggested that the influence from a consistent random majority herd was associated with the use of a consensus heuristic. Study III further explored the processes mediating majority and minority influences, with the focus on accuracy motives. The results of Experiment 1 (n = 64) showed that the participants followed a majority herd independently of whether its predictions were accurate or random. In Experiment 2 (n = 80) the majority influence was reduced by requesting participants to focus their attention on the accuracy of the others' predictions. It was found in Experiment 3 (n = 60) that a minority herd was influential only when its predictions were accurate and when the participants were requested to focus their attention on the accuracy of the others' predictions. The focus instruction thus seemed to break the tendency to use a consensus heuristic. Study IV (n = 80) examined whether induced expertise and augmenting the validity of price information would have the same effect, showing that the others only influenced participants' predictions when participants were non-experts and the price was invalid. The results of Studies I-IV demonstrate that in prediction tasks based on uncertain information people use heuristic processing more extensively than has been assumed in previous social influence research. A majority herd seems to be influential due to the use of a consensus heuristic. However, no support was found for the proposition that minority influence is associated with systematic processing. Instead, the tendency to follow the price instead of a minority suggests the use of a "minority heuristic". Factors such as focus instructions, high price validity and expertise suppressed heuristic processing.


Sustainable tourism is a heavily researched concept but in reality there has been limited implementation of the principles and practices of sustainable tourism for destinations. Adopting a destination focused perspective, this thesis presents research which expounded Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a practical, new and innovative approach to sustainable tourism development i.e. computer-supported sustainability.
A literature review revealed that there was no specific study focusing on the uses and applications of ICT for sustainable tourism development despite the mention and benefits of doing so. However it did identify that several opportunities existed in destination management for using ICT as well as a collection of ICT-based tools/applications which can be used for managing different aspects of sustainable tourism. Therefore an investigative analysis was necessary in building a solid body of work on the uses and applications of ICT for sustainable tourism as a practical approach for destination managers.
These findings formed the input for the primary research which was conducted in two phases: surveys administered to destination managers and eTourism experts followed by semi-structured interviews with experts in this domain identified from the surveys. The primary research alongside the literature findings led to the development of a descriptive framework which identified, categorised and described the uses of these ICT-based tools/applications for managing tourism"s impacts. Assessment procedures based on the sustainability goals of the destination were then developed in order assist destination managers selecting the ICT-based tools/applications that were best suited for managing the sustainable tourism development of their destinations. The conclusion of this research clearly identifies that destination managers" sophisticated application of ICT to sustainable tourism is the next logical and practical step they can take in making sustainable tourism a workable reality for their destinations.
This research is the building block for prospective research in the ICT-sustainable tourism domain. Future research avenues would be to use the results presented to determine the suitability, applicability and feasibility of the ICT-based tools/applications presented for destination managers. This existing research can be used to develop a more co-ordinated approach to theory development and engage in more empirical research to address tourism challenges with regards to using ICT for sustainable tourism development.


When the French Ligue des droits de l'homme was founded in 1898, it was the world's first league for human rights. Over the following decades, human rights leagues were formed in many other countries following its example, and from 1922, they advocated for a universal human rights ideal under the auspices of a shared umbrella organization. The majority of these leagues were forced to interrupt their activities at some point, especially during the National Socialist period. After World War II, many leagues experienced a renaissance. Not least through their cooperation with the United Nations, they significantly contributed to the global acceptance of the very idea of human rights in the second half of the 20th century. The contributors in this volume break new ground: they provide a so-far lacking overview of international research on human rights leagues, synthesizing it and identifying research desiderata. Some of the presented civil society associations, like those in Eastern Europe, have never before been subject to scholarly consideration.


The L4All system provides an environment for the lifelong learner to access information about courses, personal development plans, recommendation of learning pathways, personalised support for planning of learning, and reflecting on learning. Designed as a web-based application, it offers lifelong learners the possibility to define and share their own timeline (a chronological record of their relevant life episodes) in order to foster collaborative elaboration of future goals and aspirations. A keystone for delivering such functionalities is the possibility for learner to search for 'people like me'. Addressing the fact that such a definition of 'people like me' is ambiguous and subjective, this paper explores the use of similarity metrics as a flexible mechanism for comparing and ranking lifelong learners' timelines.


Cholecystokinin (CCK) is secreted from enteroendocrine I cells in response to fat, carbohydrate, and protein ingestion. Gene expression of nutrient-sensing molecules in I cells remains unclear, primarily due to the difficulty in distinguishing I cells from intestinal epithelial cells in vivo. In this study, we generated CCK reporter male mice in which the red fluorescence protein tdTomato (Tomato) is produced by activation of the native murine Cck promoter. Fluorescence microscopy revealed the presence of Tomato-positive cells in upper small intestine (SI), lower SI, and colon. Flow cytometer analysis revealed that Tomato-positive cells among epithelial cells of upper SI, lower SI, and colon occurred at the rate of 0.95%, 0.54%, and 0.06%, respectively. In upper SI and lower SI, expression levels of Cck mRNA were higher in Tomato-positive cells than those in Tomato-negative cells. The fatty acid receptors Gpr120, Gpr40, and Gpr43 and the oleoylethanolamide receptor Gpr119 were highly expressed in Tomato-positive cells isolated from SI, but were not found in Tomato-positive cells from colon. The glucose and fructose transporters Sglt1, Glut2, and Glut5 were expressed in both Tomato-positive cells and -negative cells, but these expression levels tended to be decreased in Tomato-positive cells from upper SI to colon. The peptide transporter Pept1 and receptor Gpr93 were expressed in both Tomato-positive cells and -negative cells, whereas Casr was expressed only in Tomato-positive cells isolated from SI. Thus, this transgenic mouse reveals that I cell number and gene expression in I cells vary according to region in the gastrointestinal tract.


The analysis carried out in this research work, showed the inconsistencies observed in trying to identify the tube wear in heat exchangers. It is seen that the associated error could be an order of magnitude higher than the expected value, indicating the possibilities of failure at less than the predicted design life. Hence, the use of the commonly accepted concept of "work rate" as a scaling parameter is found to be questionable. Wear models available in the open literature, have always been heavy on empirical formulations, because of the complexity of the process. Therefore, it is essential to verify any proposed model experimentally, using controlled parameters. The experimental study conducted for this research work was implemented for the verification of the new theoretical wear model developed. These experiments were carried out on two independent rigs to assert the validity of the new model. The basis for this model was the extension of the delamination theory of wear for impact conditions (normal and oblique). It was essential to conduct a parametric study using a future mechanics approach, to quantify some variables for this model. The finite element method was implemented to study the crack nucleation zones and loading cycles required for the formation of a crack. It was also implemented to study the probable direction a growing crack will follow, and to estimate the crack propagation rate. Even though, all the quantities in the new wear model were determined theoretically, it was observed that the prediction of the wear volume using the trend line was close to the prediction of the wear using the experimental one. This discrepancy was adjusted using randomly selected three data points to properly calibrate the crack tip sliding displacement (CTSD). Calibrating the model using three data points or all the data points did not alter the results significantly, for most of the experiments. In order to reduce the scatter observed while verifying the wear model, it is essential to introduce a characterization parameter. The new wear model is extended to incorporate this characterization, by implementing a force and displacement category multiplier to the work rate. The verification of the characterization process was conducted using the fretting experiments which were carried out on Inconel 600 tubes and stainless steel supports. The wear rate was properly characterized using the new macro/micro contact stress dependent model, developed through a fundamental understanding of the process.


Here, we discuss recent efforts during the last 5 years for the development of molecular electrocatalysts involving metal hydride intermediates with particular attention to iron carbonyl clusters. This review begins with a brief description of thermodynamic properties (hydricity) of metal hydride intermediates and methods of hydricity measurements, specifically for iron carbonyl clusters. We then discuss two important reactions by iron carbonyl clusters relevant to solar fuel catalysis: electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to formate and proton reduction to hydrogen. These examples are included because they provide valuable mechanistic insights into the design of catalysts that produce hydrogenated products selectively from CO2.


: Basic trends of research carried out in Poland during the past decade within the Military Institute of Aviation Medicine were reviewed. Aviation psychological research has concentrated around four important problems: 1) personality determinants of the occupational functioning of pilots including (a) temperamental factors and the occupational adaptation of pilots, (b) personality determinants (i.e., manifested attitudes towards vocation) of the occupational adjustment of pilots, (c) personality correlates of the psychosomatic costs of pilots' vocational adjustments; 2) perceptual efficiency mechanisms of task performance in flight simulators--the research objective was to study visualmotor mechanisms associated with compensatory perception in the process of training for aviation tasks requiring visual-motor coordination; eye movements were measured as an index of perception of visual information. 3) psychological criteria in predicting success in pilot training--the external criterion was the assessment of progress in practical flight training; and 4) computer assisted psychological research.


Discharge measurement and control structures are widely employed in hydraulic engineering applications. The objective of this study is to numerically investigate the modelling of two different structures, namely sharp‐crested weirs as Problem 1 and combined weir and gate systems as Problem 2. The research methodology herein is based on the comparison of results of numerical simulations with experimental data for both problems separately. For the purpose of performing numerical simulations, the Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations are solved by finite volume formulation using commercially available Flow‐3D software. Assessment of empirical data and numerical findings for both problems reveals that discharge rates agree reasonably well. In addition, using the capabilities of numerical modelling, weir and gate discharge coefficients in the combined system are calculated separately which were not easy to obtain in experimental studies. It is seen that gate and weir discharge coefficients of the combined system are different and higher than the corresponding coefficients of the individual systems. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


A robot is a complex machine that involves the conjunction of many technologies working harmoniously together to provide to the final user, a nice interface to interact. The kind of problems needed to be solved to have a robotic arm involves overcoming lateral loads, power consumption, solution of kinematics equations, etc. Peter Corke's Robotics Toolbox [1] is a computer library useful to design, model, visualize and simulate a robot and it is widely utilized in the present study. This paper describes the design process and construction of a 4-DOF robotic arm, involving CAD, CAM, electronics, and Matlab's Robotics Toolbox to solve kinematics. It constitutes a low-cost platform, in a process of permanent improvement, for the study of laboratory courses of design, manufacturing, electronics and robotics, essentials for many engineering curriculums. The platform provides the student with hands-on experience that consolidates classroom lectures.


INTRODUCTION
Patients with large non-pedunculated colorectal polyps (L-NPCP) have been traditionally treated with surgery. Advances in therapeutic endoscopy allow endoscopic resection of these lesions and can be considered as an alternative to surgery.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic resection in patients with L-NPCP.

METHODS
A prospective multicentric cohort. All patients referred for endoscopic resection with L-NPCP between January 2012 and December 2015, followed until August 2016, were included. Rates of successful resection, recurrence and complications were obtained. Predictive factors associated with unsuccessful resection and recurrence were analyzed.

RESULTS
115 L-NPCP in 107 patients were included. The rate of successful resection was 92%. The most common complications were bleeding (8.7%) and perforation (2.6%). The recurrence rate was 7%, all successfully treated with a new endoscopic session. Predictors of unsuccessful resection were a measure >50 mm of the lesion and the presence of fibrosis; and the only predictor of recurrence was a size of the polyp resected >50 mm.

CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic resection of L-NPCP is very efficacious and safe.


Globalisation has become a catch-all term imbuing public discussions with a sense of urgency about something that often cannot even be properly identified. This literature review presents an outline of arguments about what globalisation actually can mean, how to measure it and how to face it. Large parts of the world have seen an explosion in trade, cross-border investment flows and innovation transfers in recent years. Quantitatively, this can be captured in the appropriate statistics. On the other hand, in trying to understand the drivers of these changes, it is necessary to describe the changing institutions and actors that play a significant role in this process. Some authors point to the role of the multinational enterprise as a uniquely defining feature of globalisation. It is difficult to disentangle the effect of globalisation from the evolution of the most-developed economies towards a 'post-industrial' mode of operation. On top of this, countries are increasingly affected by endogenous social changes such as the diminished role of the nuclear family and population ageing (resulting from falling birth rates and rising longevity). Policy-makers face demands to help citizens cope with the risks arising out of this new state of affairs. In addition to describing globalisation, this paper provides an overview of the possible responses. In particular, it focuses on the growing body of literature that seeks to re-focus the attention on social protection as a 'productive factor' and as something that should be seen as part of the larger framework of 'social risk management'. The latter concept stresses the need to look at social protection as only one component of a larger framework, which contains macroeconomic conditions as well as various state, market and individual tools for managing personal risks.


This essay, part of a symposium investigating methods of empirically evaluating health policy, focuses on American health care federalism, the relationship between the federal and state governments in the realm of health care policy and regulation. We describe the results of a five year study of the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) from 2012-2017. Our study focused on two key pillars of the ACA, which happen to be its most state-centered — expansion of Medicaid and the implementation of health insurance exchanges — and sheds light on federalism in the modern era of nationally-enacted health laws that preserve key roles for state leadership. The full study is detailed in the Stanford Law Review; here, we offer a more accessible snapshot and highlight a key aspect of the research: interviews of approximately twenty high ranking former state and federal officials at the forefront of ACA implementation.
The interviews corroborate the study data and substantiate our conclusions about the defining characteristics of the ACA's implementation from a federalism perspective. Specifically, we found that the ACA's implementation process has been 1) dynamic; 2) pragmatic; 3) negotiated; and 4) and marked by intrastate politics. We observed waves of engagement and estrangement between states and the federal government, and state decisions to participate in the ACA's programs have not been binary, in/out choices. Vertical and horizontal negotiation and copying have been near constants.
The findings also reveal theoretical and empirical challenges for quantitatively evaluating health care federalism. Does it exist? Is it successful? We found the traditional federalism attributes pop up in inconsistent ways under the ACA and emerge from virtually every structural arrangement of the law. We tried, for instance, to measure how "cooperative" the states were, only to find that concept meaningless. Some states attempted implementation but failed; other states rebelled by refusing to run their own programs at all. The federal government stepped in for both. Were such states equally "cooperative" or "autonomous"? The same challenges occurred for all of the classic federalism metrics. For example, we saw local experimentation emerge from every kind of governance structure under the ACA, including nationalist ones.
Our work leads us to a key question: Why choose federalism-oriented health reform models in the first place? In ACA implementation, it sometimes appeared that federalist arrangements did not aim to improve health outcomes but rather reflected "federalism for federalism's sake"—federalism to advance political or constitutional values, such as reserving power to the states in the interest of sovereignty and balance of power — regardless of the effect on health care coverage, cost, quality, or other measures of health policy success. At other times, it seems federalism was intended as a means to an end — e.g., that state-led health policy is assumed to produce better health outcomes. In the end, we were able to conclude more assuredly that the ACA's many structural arrangements served state power than that any particular one of those arrangements was more federalist or that any particular one produced better health policy. Clearly, we cannot evaluate federalism — whether it exists, whether it is working, whether it is worth defending — without knowing what it is for in the first place.


Virtual collisions are reportedly an important part of creating effective experiences of virtual environments. Although they are considered vital, collision responses for travel in a virtual environment are not well understood. The effectivity of methods for notifying users of collisions has not been explored in the context of travel and the methods used are often not even reported. We present novel notification methods, based on haptic feedback via an output device embedded in the floor of our display and an initial study that compares nine notification methods. In a comparative study, our haptic floor feedback methods were preferred, followed by a thump sound and a wand device rumble. The results indicate that methods that are context appropriate, e.g. haptic responses and audio cues similar to real collisions with the object, are clearly preferable for realistic impressions of a world and of collisions.


BACKGROUND
The increasing relevance of individual bile acids quantification in biological samples requires analytical standardization to guarantee robustness and reliability of laboratory results. We have organized the first international ring trial, carried out in 12 laboratories, to evaluate the newly developed LC-MS/MS-based test kit for bile acid analysis.

METHODS
Each laboratory received a Biocrates® Bile Acids Kit including system suitability test (SST) protocol. The kit is designed to analyze 16 individual human and 19 mouse bile acids. A set of 9 human and mouse plasma samples was measured in replicates. Laboratories were first required to pass the acceptance criteria for the SST. Within the subset of laboratories passing SST criteria, we evaluated how many laboratories met the target criteria of 80% of reported values with a relative accuracy within the 70%-130% range and analytical precisions (%CV) below 30%.

RESULTS
A total of 12 of 16 participating laboratories passed the SST as the prerequisite to enter the ring trial. All 12 laboratories were then able to successfully run the kit and ring trial samples. Of the overall reported values, 94% were within 70%-130% relative accuracy range. Mean precision was 8.3% CV. The condition of CV <30% was fulfilled by 99% of the reported values.

CONCLUSIONS
The first publically available interlaboratory ring trial for standardized bile acids quantification in human and mouse plasma samples showed very good analytical performance, within acceptance criteria typically applied in the preclinical environment. The kit is therefore suitable for standardized quantitative bile acid analysis and the establishment of reference values.


Alcohol use disorder in older adults is associated with a number of substantial medical complications, including cognitive decline. Due to limited success and application of screening approaches in this cohort, older adults are more likely to present to general hospital settings with undiagnosed problematic alcohol use. Consultation-liaison psychiatry services operating in general hospital settings are likely to be referred older adults with alcohol use disorders for assessment and management. A 77-year-old female presented to a metropolitan hospital with symptoms including frequent falls, slurred speech, difficulty judging distance, hypersomnia, poor reasoning, and odd behaviours. She also presented with severe anxiety and bruxism. Several diagnostic tests were inconclusive, and a consultation-liaison psychiatry assessment revealed a prominent heavy drinking pattern and concurrent abuse of oxycodone and benzodiazepines. This report adds further support to the case for uniform screening of all older adults for alcohol and other drug (AOD) use. A number of weeks had passed before the patient's drinking pattern was established, with no withdrawal management in place. A multifaceted treatment approach, including antidepressant therapy, anticraving medication, benzodiazepine as well as opiate rationalisation, and AOD counselling support was commenced prior to discharge from the general hospital.


Nucleosomes can block access to transcription factors. Thus the precise localization of nucleosomes relative to transcription start sites and other factor binding sites is expected to be a critical component of transcriptional regulation. Recently developed microarray approaches have allowed the rapid mapping of nucleosome positions over hundreds of kilobases (kb) of human genomic DNA, although these approaches have not yet been widely used to measure chromatin changes associated with changes in transcription. Here, we use custom tiling microarrays to reveal changes in nucleosome positions and abundance that occur when hormone-bound glucocorticoid receptor (GR) binds to sites near target gene promoters in human osteosarcoma cells. The most striking change is an increase in measured nucleosome occupancy at sites spanning ∼1 kb upstream and downstream of transcription start sites, which occurs one hour after addition of hormone, but is lost at 4 hours. Unexpectedly, this increase was seen both on GR-regulated and GR-non-regulated genes. In addition, the human SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling factor (a GR co-activator) was found to be important for increased occupancy upon hormone treatment and also for low nucleosome occupancy without hormone. Most surprisingly, similar increases in nucleosome occupancy were also seen on both regulated and non-regulated promoters during differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells and upon activation of human CD4+ T-cells. These results indicate that dramatic changes in chromatin structure over ∼2 kb of human promoters may occur genomewide and in response to a variety of stimuli, and suggest novel models for transcriptional regulation.


ABSTRACT This study examined how teachers support kindergarten children's social and emotional development in everyday contexts. It used an ethnographic qualitative mode of enquiry, employing participant observations and semi-structured and structured interviews to examine the ways teachers optimize opportunities for supporting kindergarten children's social and emotional development. Data were analyzed through collating common themes and bundling ideas. The data from this study were taken from a larger study, and reports on three of the original eight case studies. These three case studies were chosen for this article to specifically and succinctly articulate the findings. The data are discussed in terms of guided participation which supports the notion that guidance can occur anywhere, and that guidance can be either desirable or undesirable. The study found that the three elements of environment, play, and relationships work in synergy to support children's social and emotional development. When one element does not exist, or is not well developed, the other two are affected, limiting the effectiveness of social and emotional supports for children. Those classrooms where all three elements are present are more likely to offer guided participation that is desirable and supportive of kindergarten children's social and emotional development.


The regulation effect of melatonin on water use efficiency of leaf and potential mechanisms related to phytohormone of leaf/root were investigated using two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars with contrasting drought tolerance: drought-tolerant 'Hengguan35' (HG35) and growing in irrigated fields 'Jimai22' (JM22). Four treatments, including normal water treatment (N), 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG) (P), P + 1 μM melatonin and P + 10 μM melatonin were conducted. Results indicated that exogenous melatonin could significantly improve net photosynthetic rate (Pn), instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEinst.) and intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEintr.) of cultivar 'Jimai22'. This was possibly related to increasing root auxin (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR) content and inhibiting abscisic acid (ABA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) production in leaf. However, for cultivar 'Hengguan35', 1 μM and 10 μM melatonin did not improve photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content even took negative effect on that. This could be caused by high vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and high H2O2 contents in leaf. Also, as a drought-tolerant cultivar, 'Hengguan35' possesses some physiological regulation itself such as increasing IAA and ZR content in root and leaf, inhibiting H2O2 production in root. But ABA and ACC content in root was not inhibited, even increased with melatonin under drought treatment. ACC was a potential central player in the hormone cross-talks that regulated leaf and root growth and physiological function. These results suggest that the effect of exogenous melatonin application on drought-resistance in seedling was distinct owing to wheat cultivars with different drought sensitivity, and this was also involved in complicated mechanism of physiological regulation to keep water status. Suitable application of melatonin thus can be an effective way in improving plant drought tolerance in wheat.


The phenylethanolamine D2343 exhibits a dualistic adrenoceptormediated effect, i.e, a beta-agonistic effect combined with an alpha-antagonistic one. Tracheal smooth muscles and heart preparations were used to gauge the agonistic effect of adrenergic beta-receptors. Rabbit aorta and rat vas deferens were used to determine the alpha-adrenoceptor blocking activity. The beta-adrenoceptor activity of D2343 was classified as beta 2-type with about the same efficacy as the beta 2-selective terbutaline on tracheal muscle. The effect on isolated heart preparations was greater than that produced by terbutaline. The alpha-receptor blocking capacity was directed against the alpha 1-receptor type and was of nearly the same potency as for phentolamine.


In this work, solution-processed organic solar cells with conjugated small molecules both as electron donors and electron acceptors were studied, where the influence of the chemical structures of the donor and acceptor on the device performance was systematically investigated. A small molecular donor incorporating binary electron-deficient units, diketopyrrolopyrrole and pentacyclic aromatic bislactam, was synthesized to provide a low band gap of 1.65 eV and low-lying energy levels. Three molecules, from a fullerene derivative to non-fullerene perylene bisimide-based acceptors, were selected as electron acceptors to construct organic solar cells. The results showed that fullerene-based solar cells provided power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of up to 4.8%, while the non-fullerene solar cells also exhibited promising PCEs of 2.4% and 3.5%, with a photoresponse of up to 750 nm. Further analysis of the bulk-heterojunction systems between donors and acceptors revealed that the relatively low carrier mobilities of the non-fullerene acceptors and the large phase separations are mainly responsible for the less efficient solar cells. Our results demonstrate that molecules containing several electron-deficient units can effectively reduce the band gap of small molecules, and thus offer great potential for realizing high performance fullerene and non-fullerene solar cells.


This article takes us back to scholarly debates that raged through the 1990s on the 'perils of presidentialism' for new democracies, and the suitability or otherwise of presidential democracy as a political system for ethnically divided societies. It shows convincingly that this debate remains relevant today, with so many 'Third Wave' democracies having chosen presidential systems as part of their constitutional arrangements. As the author notes, 'the number of "basically open" regimes with a presidential form of government has been following a steady upward trend since 1976, and increased significantly from only nine in 1955 to 38 in 2007'. The article also provides a classification of presidential electoral systems over time that is very relevant to the debate on presidentialism and the risk of ethnic violence.


While supplementary budgeting has long been part of the Japanese fiscal cycle, substantive and procedural aspects of the process have changed. First, since the late 1970s, supplementary budgets have been used to fund government economic stimulus efforts (keizai taisaku), and second, since the late 1980s, these budgets have been assembled several months after the announcement of the actual stimulus packages. Such stimulus policies do not fit the prevailing model of the Japanese electoral business cycle, which emphasizes the targeting of benefits by the Liberal Democratic Party (ldp) at its constituents at election time. This article addresses this anomoly by developing a theory of how governing parties use the economic policy process to serve their electoral interests, particularly through broadly gauged policies designed to improve macroeconomic conditions. The authors amend the prevailing model to allow an adequate test of their electoral theory to be conducted. The results suggest that Japanese economic stimulus policies were the result of governing parties' attempts to expand their support at election time and to satisfy U.S. pressure to use fiscal policy to stimulate domestic demand.


Educators in Colleges of Business face continual pressure to include international aspects of their disciplines when teaching their courses. This paper suggests several easy, practical, and interesting ways to supplement text material on international topics. These suggestions apply particularly to courses which benefit from anecdotes and examples, such as Management and Marketing, but may also be useful in other areas. Educators in Colleges of Business are under continual pressure to include international aspects of their disciplines when teaching their courses. This pressure comes from three dominant sources. First, both institutions and the general public are increasingly aware of international business' growing influence and importance ("A Way to Measure," 1999; Krugman, 1993). This is evident in the immense pressure on many businesses to compete globally (Cavusgil, 1991; Ohmae, 1905; Parkhurst, 1998). Keeping a business curriculum current is critical to graduates' job placement and a program's reputation and continued ability to attract students (Celis, 1993). Exposure to different situations likely to be encountered in international business and behavioral suggestions to use in various scenarios thus become necessary and desirable elements to be included along with more traditional course material. Second, explosive growth in internet commerce has opened global business opportunities to a vast number of smaller companies and individuals who would not otherwise have been so involved. Finally, realizing the extent of this international influence in business, accrediting bodies exhort colleges and universities to include coverage of international business aspects in their guidelines for both graduate and undergraduate coursework (e.g., American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business, 1999). These pressures are not accompanied by comprehensive suggestions on how best to accomplish the objective of covering international material. A quick glance through almost any current business text reveals a significant emphasis on international aspects across disciplines - accounting, economics, finance, management, and marketing. Nonetheless, the relative unfamiliarity of international aspects compared with more traditional topics, and the lag between events and their reflection in textbooks result in this material being somewhat incomplete. This same situation exists in other areas of change in undergraduate business education. Thus, new information lends to be "imperfectly reflected" (Stiglitz, 1993, p. 27). Additionally, professors searching for something novel to enliven text material may be quite frustrated. Our objective is to provide a few suggestions on relatively easy ways to integrate international coverage in business courses. These suggestions apply particularly to classes in which course material can be qualitatively augmented by examples and anecdotes, such as certain management and marketing courses, but may be relative in other academic areas as well. Practical Suggestions for Integrating International Aspects Many professors find an excellent resource for help on international topics facing them each day in class. Students - international and otherwise - can contribute substantially to classroom discussions. International students constitute a sizeable contingent at many universities, at both undergraduate and graduate levels. These students obviously possess a wealth of information on business in their home country, particularly if they have worked for companies there. Even if not, they have had experience dealing with business organizations, thereby vicariously learning some of their practices. Such students' information grows in its potential contribution as they increase their knowledge of domestic business practices. That is, the longer they live and study in the U.S., especially if they are working, the more bases for comparison, anecdotes, etc., they will be able to provide. This is also true if they have traveled or lived in countries other than their home country or the U. …


Any discussion on quit India movement is incomplete without mentioning the contributions made by Indian women. Their active participation not only changed their goals but also organized the activities. They were endowed with a new spirit on the call of Mahatma Gandhi's 'do or die'. Women as a force played a crucial role which changed the course of the movement. The role played by women is a story of devotion, sacrifice and patriotism and it is marked as the most remarkable contribution towards the attainment of freedom.


Patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) have a median survival of 4-8 years from diagnosis and a cause-specific survival of about 10 years. Radiotherapy can be curative in a small proportion of patients with very localized disease, but the majority of patients have advanced disease at diagnosis and it is not clear that any current therapy is curative in this situation. While in many instances patients with high-grade NHL are cured by chemotherapy, those with low-grade NHL, despite impressive response rates, almost invariably relapse. A 'watch-and-wait' strategy can therefore delay the onset of chemotherapy by 2-3 years, without affecting survival. Results with autologous stem cell transplantation have been similarly disappointing to date. Rituximab is a human-mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody that represents a novel approach to treatment of low-grade NHL, targeting malignant cells without the side effects associated with chemotherapy. A pivotal study has demonstrated a response rate of 56% in relapsed or refractory low-grade NHL. The relatively benign side-effect profile means rituximab can be used early in the disease process, and in combination with chemotherapeutic regimens and autologous transplantation. Ongoing and future studies will define the optimal role of rituximab in treatment of low-grade NHL.


Illness and other misfortunes were commonly attributed to the Devil in the Trinidadian village where I undertook fieldwork. These explanations included an understanding that both the Holy Spirit and demonic spirits could dwell within and change the nature of bodies and objects. Spirits within the body guided actions, thoughts and feelings but also caused, or cured and protected, individuals from illnesses. A good Christian lifestyle was necessary to maintain the healthy body for the Holy Spirit to dwell within while neglect left the body open to malevolent spirits. These conceptions of health and illness linked to understandings of Caribbean sorcery ( obeah ) and cultural conceptions of the body, as well as Evangelical Christian approaches. Two types of bodies were constructed in these understandings: the healthy maintained body in which the Holy Spirit dwelt and the unhealthy disordered body in which devilish spirits could be found. These bodies differed not metaphorically but in actual substance, they were materially different bodies. Bodies, spirits, health, illness and morality were thus connected in everyday village life and to gather a more nuanced understanding of this I attend to the concrete aspects of these interactions. Drawing on approaches in medical anthropology focusing on practices and the material, I examine the role of devilish spirits in illness causation and how relationships between spirits and bodies were lived. I argue that through the material body immaterial cosmological understandings were expressed, understood and impacted on practices. This was cosmology as lived, embedded in everyday experience and practice, not in abstract belief.


A new electrochemical sequence-specific DNA detection platform based on primer generation-rolling circle amplification (PG-RCA), methylene blue (MB) redox indicator, and indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode is reported. In the presence of a specific target sequence, PG-RCA, an isothermal DNA amplification technique, produced large amounts of amplicons in an exponential manner. In addition to the standard components, the reaction mixture contained MB, which bound with the PG-RCA amplicons. End-point electrochemical measurement by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was performed using ITO electrode. The amplicon-bound MB resulted in a lower DPV signal than free MB due to a smaller diffusion coefficient as well as electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged amplicon-bound MB and ITO electrode. With simple assay design (recognition probe) and instrumentation (operating temperature at 37 °C and ITO electrode without the need for probe immobilization), this detection platform is well suited for point-of-care and on-site testing. Real-time measurement was also achieved by pretreating the ITO electrode with bovine serum albumin.


SUMMARY In this project, an operant mechanism that will allow sows housed in a group system to control their own environmental temperature was developed. Th e mechanism was confi gured with a manual control switch that the sows can access and operate, which in turn activated the supplementary room heating system, as well as a localized radiant heater above the location of the switch as an immediate reward. Testing of a prototype system installed in a controlled-environment chamber with two sows showed that the mechanism functioned satisfactorily to allow the sows to control their environmental temperature. Preparations for subsequent tests in group-housed sow gestation rooms to assess overall heating cost savings, associated sow behavior, and optimal dietary requirements when raised at lower temperatures are underway.


In the paper there is presented an analysis of hygienic--medical and environmental aspects of water disinfection as exemplified of chlorine and chlorine dioxide (CD). The concept of persistent multivariate risk for aquatic pathogens, the own vision of the mechanism of formation of chlorine resistance of bacteria under the influence of biocides based on a two-step process of information and spatial interaction of the receptor and the substrate, the hypothesis of hormetic stimulating effect of residual active chlorine (in the complex with other factors) on the growth of aquatic pathogens have been proposed. The aggravation of the significance of halogen containing compounds (HCC) as byproducts of water chlorination in terms of their potential danger as toxicants and carcinogens has been substantiated. Analysis of hygienic and medical and environmental aspects of the use of chlorine dioxide as a means of disinfection of water allowed to justify chemism of its biocidal effect and mechanisms of bactericidal, virucidal, protozoocidal, sporicidal, algacidal actions, removal of biofilms, formation of disinfection byproducts. Chlorine dioxide was shown both to provide epidemic safety of drinking water due to its high virucidal, bactericidal and mycocidal action and to be toxicologically harmless in the context of the influence on the organism of laboratory animals as well as in relation to aquatic organisms under the discharge of disinfected wastewater. There has proved the necessity of the close relationship of fundamental and applied research in performing the first in terms of depth study of microbiological, molecular genetic and epidemiological problems of disinfection (chlorination) of water and the implementation of the latters by means of the introduction of alternative, including combined, technologies for water treatment and disinfection.


Single crystals of magnesium sulphamate, a promising non-linear optical crystal were synthesized and grown from aqueous solution by slow evaporation method at room temperature. The powder X-ray diffraction and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of new crystal. The crystals were characterized by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) to reveal their chemical composition. The functional groups were analyzed by FT-IR and FT-Raman techniques. The optical transmission region was analyzed by UV-Vis-NIR studies. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) studies showed the thermal behaviour of the grown crystal. The non-linear optical (NLO) property of the crystal was tested by Nd-YAG laser as a source.


Chaotic tunneling is studied based on the complex semiclassical theory as a continuation of the previous paper (Shudo et al 2009 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 42 265101). In this paper, the nature of complex classical trajectories controlling chaotic tunneling is investigated. Combining the results of numerical investigations and rigorous mathematical considerations based on the theory of complex dynamical systems leads us to a fundamental mathematical theorem which relates the set of complex classical trajectories contributing to the tunneling probability, called the Laputa chains, and the chaotic component in the complexified phase space called the Julia set. In particular, we demonstrate that the mechanism for tunneling in non-integrable systems is controlled by a dense set of trajectories. This mechanism is radically different from the integrable system where a sparse set of instantons on invariant tori controls tunneling. The physical significance of claims in the fundamental mathematical theorem is numerically examined in detail. On the basis of the numerical studies and the ergodic nature of the Julia set, we finally propose a hypothesis which guarantees the existence of complexified trajectories contributing to the tunneling process in non-integrable systems. The hypothesis supports the following picture of chaotic tunneling: tunneling trajectories pass the dynamical barriers in the real space with the guidance of the stable and unstable sets of the Julia set in the complex space.


Polar twin wall properties in non-polar or weakly polar matrices can be switched by electric fields with a well-defined ferroelectric hysteresis. While the bulk is nonpolar or weakly polar, the ferroelectric hysteresis stems from the interplay of the field-induced polarization in the bulk and the rotation of the dipole moments in the twin walls. While each tilt of a dipole would be a linear function of the applied field, their combination leads to frustration: The boundary polarity hinders the development of the bulk polarity for weak fields perpendicular to the twin walls. Only when the boundary polarity is sufficiently rotated under stronger fields do we find a sudden collapse of the frustration and the rapid development of bulk polarity. This effect suggests that wall polarity (as observed in CaTiO3 and SrTiO3) may lead to nonconventional ferroelectric switching including the bulk rather than exclusively inside domain walls.


A study on the half-ducted axial flow fan designed by a diagonal flow fan design method was conducted. The rotor which has NACA65 blades was designed, calculated numerically, manufactured and tested experimentally. As a result of the design and CFD, the meridional streamline and three distributions of the meridional, tangential and radial velocity at inlet and outlet go well as designed values of the half ducted fan. On the other hand, the values of the meridional velocity and the tangential velocity are little smaller than the design values at the hub side of the radial distribution. The improvement of the design is prospected for this point, that is, the approach between the design value and the actual flow is prospected if the tangential velocity is assigned small at hub and is assigned large at the tip so as to accord the actual flow in the vortex design of the rotor blade. Then the designed half-ducted rotor with four NACA65 blades was fabricated by a three-dimensional printer and tested in the wind tunnel in order to validate the half-ducted design method. For the comparison between the design values and the experimental values at the design flow rate coefficient of φ = 0.264, the experimental values of the pressure rise coefficient ψ and the efficiency η are rather small than the design values, while the experimental value of the torque coefficient τ is almost the same as the design value. However, the experimental value of approximately 0.45 of the maximum efficiency is comparably large value considering for the limitation of the situation of half-ducted. For the comparison between the experimental values and the CFD values at φ = 0.264, the CFD values are almost the same values as the experimental values for all the values of ψ, τ and η. In addition, the tendencies of the CFD values when the flow rate coefficient changes are almost similar as the experimental tendencies, though the flow rate coefficient for the CFD values when ψ or η takes the peak value shifts toward larger flow rate. For the case at rotor outlet at φ = 0.264, two values of the meridional velocity and the tangential velocity are larger than the design values at the tip side of the radial distribution.


Journals have been utilized in classrooms both as a reflective tool for students and as a feedback instrument for teachers. The current study however focused on form by means of analyzing the informal writing styles of students through a physical and topical structure analysis of randomly selected journal paragraphs. Following Lautamatti (1987) and Simpson (2000), two additional topical development schemes have been identified. Results indicate that topic repetition techniques and cohesive devices used adhere to the subjective nature of journal writing. Recommendations and pedagogical implications are also provided.


Introduction
 Multiple myeloma (MM) is consistently preceded by an asymptomatic expansion of clonal plasma cells, clinically recognized as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM). Here, we present the first comprehensive whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of patients with MGUS and SMM.
 Methods
 To characterize the genomic landscape of myeloma precursor disease (i.e. SMM and MGUS) we performed WGS of CD138-positive bone marrow mononuclear samples from 32 patients with MGUS (N=18) and SMM (N=14), respectively. For cases with low cellularity resulting in low amounts of extracted DNA (N=15), we used the low-input enzymatic fragmentation-based library preparation method (Lee-Six et al, Nature 2019). Myeloma precursor disease samples were compared with 80 WGS of patients with MM. All WGSs (N=112) were investigated using computational tools available at the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
 Results
 After a median follow up of 29 months (range: 2-177), 17 (53%) patients with myeloma precursor disease progressed to MM (13 SMM and 4 MGUS). To interrogate the genomic differences between progressive versus stable myeloma precursor disease we first characterized the single base substitution (SBS) signature landscape. Across the entire cohort of plasma cell disorders, all main MM mutational signatures were identified: aging (SBS1 and SBS5), AID (SBS9), SBS8, SBS18, and APOBEC (SBS2 and SBS13). Interestingly, only 2/15 (13%) stable myeloma precursor disease cases showed evidence of APOBEC activity, while 14/17 (82%) and 68/80 (85%) patients with progressive myeloma precursor disease (p=0.0058) and MM (p=0.004), respectively, had APOBEC mutational activity. The two stable cases with detectable APOBEC were characterized by a high APOBEC3A:3B ratio, a feature which defines a group of MAF-translocated MM patients whose pathogenesis is characterized by intense and early APOBEC activity (Rustad et al Nat Comm 2020) and is distinct from the canonical ~1:1 APOBEC3A:3B mutational activity observed in most cases.
 When exploring the cytogenetic landscape, no differences were found between progressive myeloma precursor disease and MM cases. Compared to progressors and to MM, patients with stable myeloma precursor disease were characterized by a significantly lower prevalence of known recurrent MM aneuploidies (i.e. gain1q, del6q, del8p, gain 8q24, del16q) (p<0.001). This observation was validated using SNP array copy number data from 78 and 161 stable myeloma precursor disease and MM patients, respectively. To further characterize differences between progressive versus stable myeloma precursor disease, we leveraged the comprehensive WGS resolution to explore the distribution and prevalence of structural variants (SV). Interestingly, stable cases were characterized by low prevalence of SV, SV hotspots, and complex events, in particular chromothripsis and templated insertions (both p<0.01). In contrast, progressors showed a genome wide distribution and high prevalence of SV and complex events similar to the one observed in MM. To rule out that the absence of key WGS-MM defining events among stable cases would reflect a sample collection time bias, we leveraged our recently developed molecular-clock approach (Rustad et al. Nat Comm 2020). Notably, this approach is based on pre- and post-chromosomal gain SBS5 and SBS1 mutational burden, designed to estimate the time of cancer initiation. Stable myeloma precursor disease showed a significantly different temporal pattern, where multi-gain events were acquired later in life compared to progressive myeloma precursor disease and MM cases.
 Conclusions
 In summary, we were able to comprehensively interrogate for the first time the whole genome landscape of myeloma precursor disease. We provide novel evidence of two biologically and clinically distinct entities: (1) progressive myeloma precursor disease, which represents a clonal entity where most of the genomic drivers have been already acquired, conferring an extremely high risk of progression to MM; and (2) stable myeloma precursor disease, which does not harbor most of the key genomic MM hallmarks and follows an indolent clinical outcome.

 Hultcrantz: Intellisphere LLC: Consultancy; Amgen: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding. Dogan:Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; Corvus Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Physicians Education Resource: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; EUSA Pharma: Consultancy; National Cancer Institute: Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy. Landgren:Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Adaptive: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Independent Data Monitoring Committees for clinical trials, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy, Honoraria; Cellectis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Merck: Other; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Glenmark: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Other: Independent Data Monitoring Committees for clinical trials, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Independent Data Monitoring Committees for clinical trials, Research Funding; Binding Site: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharma: Research Funding; Binding Site: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Other: Independent Data Monitoring Committees for clinical trials, Research Funding; Merck: Other; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Glenmark: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharma: Research Funding; Cellectis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Juno: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria. Bolli:Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria.


MMG3D is a tetrahedral fully automatic remesher. Starting from a tetrahedral mesh, it produces quasi-uniform meshes with respect to a metric tensor field. This tensor prescribes a length and a direction for the edges, so that the resulting meshes will be anisotropic. The software is based on local mesh modifications and an anisotropic version of Delaunay kernel is implemented to insert vertices in the mesh. Moreover, {\mmg} allows one to deal with rigid body motion and moving meshes. When a displacement is prescribed on a part of the boundary, a final mesh is generated such that the surface points will be moved according this displacement. More details can be found on http://www.math.u-bordeaux1.fr/~dobj/logiciels/mmg3d.php.


Lutein and zeaxanthin are selectively accumulated in the lens and macular region of the retina. It was suggested that these xanthophylls protect ocular tissues from free-radical damage that can cause cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Insights regarding the absorption of dietary xanthophylls for delivery to ocular tissues are limited. Our primary objective was to examine factors affecting the transfer of lutein from foods to absorptive intestinal epithelial cells during digestion. Lutein and other carotenoids present in spinach purée and lutein from a commercial supplement were relatively stable during in vitro digestion. Micellarization of lutein and zeaxanthin during the small intestinal phase of digestion exceeded that of -carotene and was greater for xanthophylls in oil-based supplements than in spinach. Apical uptake of lutein from micelles by Caco-2 human intestinal cells was linear for at least 8 h, and accumulation from synthetic micelles exceeded that from micelles generated during simulated digestion. Stimulation of chylomicron synthesis resulted in the secretion of 7.6 0.1% of cellular lutein into the triglyceride-rich fraction in the basolateral chamber. These data support the use of simulated digestion and the Caco-2 cell model as effective tools for identifying factors affecting absorption of dietary carotenoids. J. Nutr. 134: 2280–2286, 2004.


The fractal-based approach was used for computing magnetic depths and temperatures for the Soutpansberg Basin in South Africa. The average depth to the top Zt and basement depth Zo for the Soutpansberg Basin were 4.36 ± 0.28 km, 10.43 ± 0.65 km, respectively. The average temperature at depth Zt was 184.69 ± 7.66 ºC. Magnetic source depths and basal temperatures that were in the Curie point range were determined, to be within 20.35 km to 21.68 km and 549.34 ºC to 585.24 ºC, respectively. Increasing the value of the fractal parameter β from 0 to 4, had an effect of retaining deeper depths and higher temperatures. The fractal parameter values of β > 3 retained Curie point depths and temperatures that indicated basal rock types with an igneous predisposition. The fractal-based approach proved to be an improved technique as compared to the conventional centroid method.


Immediacy and the lack of mediation have been treated as the central features of literary presence (German literarische Präsenz) in discussion of the concept. In medieval German studies, presence has been discussed primarily on two different heuristic levels. The first is the level of cultural history and the theory of signs. Presence is understood here as the absence of reference, as the quality of being purely here and now – as an immediacy that transcends any kind of referentiality. The example of the Eucharist is used repeatedly in the literature to illustrate this kind of presence: the consecrated Host does not refer to the body of Christ, does not symbolize it, but is Christ himself. According to the much-quoted words of Aleida Assmann, when things are present there are no signs. It has been asserted from various perspectives that medieval culture was one in which the representation of presence in cultural products and the experience of presence was particularly intense (in images representing several points in time, for example, or metonymic legal formulas). Hans-Ulrich Gumbrecht has introduced the term ›culture of presence‹ (Präsenzkultur) to reflect this situation. The second level involves the discussion of presence as an effect of intensity and presentation – as suddenness that constitutes an event. In medieval studies, this concept of presence is discussed under the rubrics of visual culture, symbolic communication, and the reading of bodies. Gerd Althoff in particular, for example, has pointed out that acts of rulership had to take place in a public space so that, visible to all, they could lay claim to authority and influence. The relationship between the two concepts of presence is a precarious one, for it has yet to be considered whether the ability to produce, present, and manipulate presence reinforces the status of a culture of presence or questions it. What the two categories of presence do have in common, though, this article suggests, is the fact that they cannot be applied to the description of literary presence. Strictly speaking, the very term ›literary presence‹ is a contradiction in itself. Although narratives can tell about the experiences of their characters in which presence is involved, these experiences are always confined to the level of the histoire and are therefore present only for the characters and the narrator. For the recipient, on the other hand, they are precisely not unmediated, not present and immediate; instead, they can be experienced only as mediated by the discours. Literary presence is therefore always mediated presence. But how are we meant to conceive of a mediated absence of mediation? The problem of mediation and the lack of mediation can be paradigmatically illustrated using the twofold time of narrative as an example. By necessity, the time of the histoire is different from that of the discours. On the one hand, the time of what is narrated must have passed in order for it to become the subject of the narrative; on the other hand, it becomes present by virtue of the very fact that it is the subject of the narrative. Although the story is created only by the fictional narrative itself as it progresses, the story also adopts the status of a given quantity that preceded the beginning of the narrative about it. Every narrative narrates something that has already been completed and entered the past at the time of the narrative itself. So, while the time of the histoire is always that of the past, that of the discours always has to be the present. As both together are required to make up a narrative, the narrative partakes of past and present in equal measure with every word. In order to unfold over time as narrating time, the narrative has to narrate something: it needs a topic, a story. However, this story, the histoire, can produce its own time span (the time of the characters who are part of the action) only in the time of the narrative. Although they mutually exclude each other, each time is dependent on the other for its existence. Conversely, although they depend on each other for their existence, the success of the narrative is dependent on the time of the narrative not being the time of what is narrated. The article suggests that the literary presence created in this way can be described only as a negative presence. Ricœur's theory of narrated time is used to support this argument. His monumental Time and Narrative is a theory of the experience of time as configured or reconfigured by narration, and thus a theory that covers human experience and its manifestation in literature. The concept of configuration is crucial for Ricœur. He believes that time becomes human time in proportion to the extent to which is given narrative form. Conversely, the meaningfulness of a narrative is proportional to the extent to which the narrative is marked by features of the experience of time. The experience of time can be freely shaped only by fictional narrative, not by historical narrative (the two terms are those of Ricœur), since only the former links two times that are always separate, in this case narrating time and fictional narrated time. Unlike non-fictional narration in all its forms, the fictional narrative creates through fiction a ›new‹ time that does not establish a reference to a ›real‹ past that has been made comprehensible, but represents an alternative to it. As a result, the narrative has free reign over what is narrated, and it is only because of this that time can be experienced anew by means of configuration – experienced as time that passes or as time that stands still. Thus, literary presence obtains its quality of presence only by being mediated by the discours. Only as mediated is it present, ›now‹. Only while the succession of the discours remains intact can time stand still and presence arise on the level of the histoire. This is because the discours lends presence to what is narrated, not as an event or occurrence (as that as which it is narrated) but only by virtue of the fact that it is narrated (as a narrative). It is therefore the act of mediation alone that gives presence to what is narrated, and this is why it is wrong to describe literary presence in terms of the categories of immediacy or the absence of mediation. True, a narrative cannot but serve to generate presence, but it does this only through mediation. Because of this, it would only be possible to retain the concept of literary presence if presence were treated not, as previously, as immediacy and the absence of mediation, but as a literary effect that depends on the interplay of the two levels that can never fall together but can generate presence only by means of their disjunctiveness.


Abstract Determining whether a species' vocal communication system is graded or discrete requires definition of its vocal repertoire. In this context, research on domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) vocalizations, for example, has led to significant advances in our understanding of communicative functions. Despite their close relation to domestic pigs, little is known about wild boar (Sus scrofa) vocalizations. The few existing studies, conducted in the 1970s, relied on visual inspections of spectrograms to quantify acoustic parameters and lacked statistical analysis. Here, we use objective signal processing techniques and advanced statistical approaches to classify 616 calls recorded from semi‐free ranging animals. Based on four spectral and temporal acoustic parameters—quartile Q25, duration, spectral flux, and spectral flatness—extracted from a multivariate analysis, we refine and extend the conclusions drawn from previous work and present a statistically validated classification of the wild boar vocal repertoire into four call types: grunts, grunt‐squeals, squeals, and trumpets. While the majority of calls could be sorted into these categories using objective criteria, we also found evidence supporting a graded interpretation of some wild boar vocalizations as acoustically continuous, with the extremes representing discrete call types. The use of objective criteria based on modern techniques and statistics in respect to acoustic continuity advances our understanding of vocal variation. Integrating our findings with recent studies on domestic pig vocal behavior and emotions, we emphasize the importance of grunt‐squeals for acoustic approaches to animal welfare and underline the need of further research investigating the role of domestication on animal vocal communication.


With technology scaling and complexity, better error detection and correction mechanisms within chips and systems are becoming increasingly important in order to provide sufficient protection against both soft and hard errors. Verifying the correctness of error detection circuits and ensuring they provide enough design coverage is a hard problem which usually involves substantial amount of manual work. This problem is even more challenging in the presence of different design methodologies, such as with the inclusion of third party IP blocks where functional descriptions of logic designs may not be available. This paper addresses the problem by proposing a completely automated RTL-based verification flow for error detection and correction circuits. Several related challenges are solved: first, that of identification of potential error detection circuits in logic designs where no functional description or methodology hints are given. Second, identification of structures of the latches that are potentially protected by such error detection circuits. Third, using formal verification for ensuring that the implemented circuits for resiliency indeed detect all single bit errors in the latches they are intended to cover. The approach is described with parity detection as an example, although it is extensible to other coding methods such as ECC and state orthogonality checking. Novel algorithms are given and results on industrial designs are presented.


Lexical usage frequency is known to influence the application rate of some variable processes. Specifically, variable lenition processes typically affect frequent lexical items more often than infrequent lexical items. For instance, variable t/d-deletion in English is more likely to apply to a frequent word (just) than to an infrequent word (bust). Existing grammatical models of phonological variation do well at accounting for the influence of grammatical factors on variation, but these models cannot account for the contribution of non-grammatical factors such as lexical frequency. In this paper, I propose a model of phonological variation that can simultaneously account for the influence of both these factors on variation. I assume an Optimality Theoretic grammar with lexically indexed faithfulness constraints. Variation arises as a result of variable lexical indexation - a single lexical item can be assigned to different lexical classes on different evaluation occasions, and will hence not always be evaluated by the same faithfulness constraints. Each lexical item is associated with a probabilistic distribution function that determines the likelihood of it being assigned to each of the lexical classes. The shape of a lexical item's distribution function is determined by its usage frequency, so that frequency influences the likelihood of the lexical item being assigned to specific lexical classes, and hence the likelihood of it being evaluated by specific faithfulness constraints. I apply the proposed model to variable t/d-deletion in English, and show that it succeeds in accounting for the way in which usage frequency influences this process. In two appendices, I show how the model can be implemented by interpreting the lexical distribution functions as instantiations of the beta distribution (Evans et al. 2000). This implementation of the model is then used to determine the expected t/d-deletion rates in a corpus of American English. I also use this implementation to model the acquisition path of a variable process, showing that the model predicts more variation during earlier acquisitional stages.


The hair lipid composition collected from 44 Japanese females between 1 and 81 years of age was examined for eight lipids including hydrocarbons (HCs), squalene (SQ), wax esters (WEs), triglycerides (TGs), fatty acids (FAs), cholesterol (CH), ceramides (CERs), and 18-methyl eicosanoic acid (MEA). In this study, the 5-cm length from the proximal root end of hair fibers, which had never been exposed to any chemical treatment, was used after 5-min incubation with hexane following shampooing. Hair lipids were extracted with solvent and subsequent alkali-solvent and were then analyzed by a combination of chromatography. Although the average contents of the lipids showed great fluctuations among individuals, there were significant correlations between the levels of each lipid, which allowed for the classification of the hair lipids into four groups: group A: SQ, WEs, TGs, and FAs (designated as endogenous lipids based upon their sebum origin); group B: CH and CERs (designated as endogenous lipids); group C: HC (unknown origin); and group D: MEA (the other endogenous lipid). A principal component analysis for eight lipids revealed that the hair lipid composition was characterized by a predominant negative correlation between each lipid for groups A and B. This negative correlation suggests that the endogenous lipids in group B serve as a barrier against the penetration of predominantly sebum-derived exogenous lipids (group A). Endogenous lipids consisting of CH and CERs (group B) and MEA (group D) should be designated as intrinsic internal lipids of human hair.


Along with the information and communication technique progress, nosocomial medical care service has extended to the long-term care institute and home care. To meet the great amount of health care demand in this aging society, telecare comes to develop. This research realizes the sense system integrating of blood pressure (BP), blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), hear beat (HR), electrocardiograph (ECG), body temperature, and other physiological information, wirelessly and real-timely upload to the database which presents on the web end. It will provide the patients, their family, or medical members better, logger, and more stable physiological monitoring, then warns the related people of abnormal physiological signal. Moreover, it not only substitutes the hand-write medical record which may takes much physician time, but it provides the more intact health history of patients for the future reference.