Integration Concept Research Articles

A Methodology for the Design of a Compliant Electrocardiograph: A Case Study

This document presents the methodology for designing an electrocardiograph capable of acquiring IEC 60601-2-25-compliant signals. The objective of developing this methodology is to address a signal incompatibility problem that has existed in academia for years, specifically in physiological processing research. This problem is related to the signal’s sampling rate and/or noise levels, and it becomes evident when one signal processing method is intended to work with another, either as a subsequent or simultaneous process. Even though matching algorithms can be implemented to remedy this incompatibility problem, the ultimate solution is the standardization of signals, which depends exclusively on the standardization of hardware. The signal incompatibility problem is urgent to solve because it makes the integration and scalability of different academic works difficult, preventing academia from reaching the stage of development that commercial equipment displays in automatic interpretation procedures. The design methodology presented in this document addresses the stated problem by creating an open-source hardware device capable of acquiring compliant signals, with careful consideration given to Signal Integrity and EMC concepts—a methodology that can be extended to other physiological acquisition systems. The expedited availability of the device’s design documentation and fabrication files is also an advantage of this work.

Weak laws of large numbers for weighted sums of arrays of random variables under sublinear expectation

. In this article, we introduce a new concept of integrability called extended residually h-integrability with exponent r, which deals with weighted sums of arrays under sublinear expectation. The classical copy of this concept extends the residually h-integrability given by Wang, Hu, and Volodin (2018). On this basis, we obtain three forms of weak laws of large numbers for weighted sums of arrays of rowwise negatively dependent or rowwise independent random variables, respectively, under sublinear expectation. As corollaries, we get some weak laws of large numbers for arrays of random variables with normalizing factor k n under sublinear expectation.

Integrating Digital Assistive Technologies Into Care Processes: Mixed Methods Study.

Current challenges in patient care have increased research on technology use in nursing and health care. Digital assistive technologies (DATs) are one option that can be incorporated into care processes. However, how the application of DATs should be introduced to nurses and care professionals must be clarified. No structured and effective education concepts for the patient-oriented integration of DATs in the nursing sector are currently available. This study aims to examine how a structured and guided integration and education concept, herein termed the sensitization, evaluative introduction, qualification, and implementation (SEQI) education concept, can support the integration of DATs into nursing practices. This study used an explanatory, sequential study design with a mixed methods approach. The SEQI intervention was run in 26 long-term care facilities oriented toward older adults in Germany after a 5-day training course in each. The participating care professionals were asked to test 1 of 6 DATs in real-world practice over 3 days. Surveys (n=112) were then administered that recorded the intention to use DATs at 3 measurement points, and guided qualitative interviews with care professionals (n=12) were conducted to evaluate the learning concepts and effects of the intervention. As this was a pilot study, no sample size calculation was carried out, and P values were not reported. The participating care professionals were generally willing to integrate DATs-as an additional resource-into nursing processes even before the 4-stage SEQI intervention was presented. However, the intervention provided additional background knowledge and sensitized care professionals to the digital transformation, enabling them to evaluate how DATs fit in the health care sector, what qualifies these technologies for correct application, and what promotes their use. The care professionals expressed specific ideas and requirements for both technology-related education concepts and nursing DATs. Actively matching technical support, physical limitations, and patients' needs is crucial when selecting DATs and integrating them into nursing processes. To this end, using a structured process such as SEQI that strengthens care professionals' ability to integrate DATs can help improve the benefits of such technology in the health care setting. Practical, application-oriented learning can promote the long-term implementation of DATs.

Integrating Marma Sharira: Ayurveda’s Insights into Modern Traumatology

Marma Sharira, an integral concept in Ayurveda, represents vital points in the human body where the life force (Prana) is concentrated. Marma points are certain anatomical locations on the human body that are important for understanding trauma management and injury prevention in addition to preserving health. When these sites are traumatized there can be profound effects on the body and mind. Several clinical observations suggests that Marma therapy i.e. manipulation of Marma points not only accelerates the healing process but also enhances the body's innate capacity for recovery by harmonizing the flow of Prana (vital life force) facilitatingin pain management, stress reduction, musculoskeletal disorders, and enhancing overall vitality. By balancing the body's energy flow, it supports the immune system, accelerates healing processes, and improves quality of life. The paper also highlights the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach that combines traditional knowledge with modern medical procedures as reported in stroke management, and it explores how Marma Sharira's tenets might help with trauma treatment today.

Performance testing of an innovative integrated zenithal daylight guide with solar water heater under real-weather conditions

Zenithal Daylight Guides (ZDG) and Solar Water Heaters (SWH) are individual energy-saving solutions utilized across diverse building types. This study proposes an innovative integrated power-saving system, uniting ZDG and SWH into a single model. The integration concept is rooted in leveraging the available space surrounding the daylighting device's pipe to incorporate a solar heater via a serpentine collector. The primary aim of this amalgamation is to optimize solar energy savings, minimize spatial demands, and alleviate manufacturing expenses. Moreover, the impetus behind this study stems from the recent emergence of daytime power outages in Egypt, attributed to heightened consumption surpassing production capacities. The ZDG is still not well known in Egypt. This is the only study until the year 2022/2023 in Aswan, Egypt, that analyzes the performance of this device under extreme sunlight conditions (with maximum global illumination reaching approximately 118 Klux). Across various seasons, the lighting and thermal efficacy of the current model underwent experimental testing and analysis to assess its practical utility. The integrated system effectively elevated the water temperature and achieved adequate light transmission, as indicated by the obtained results. The average transmitted indoor illumination on the work surface reached approximately 2470 lux. The reliance on electrical lighting could be mitigated for up to 5 hours. On the other hand, the highest water temperature and maximum instantaneous efficiency reached are about 70°C and 37%, respectively. Throughout the experiments, the proposed solar heater achieved a maximum daily thermal efficiency of 31.5%. The findings are deemed satisfactory and promising.

Tipping prediction of a class of large-scale radial-ring neural networks

Understanding the emergence and evolution of collective dynamics in large-scale neural networks remains a complex challenge. This paper seeks to address this gap by applying dynamical systems theory, with a particular focus on tipping mechanisms. First, we introduce a novel (n+mn)-scale radial-ring neural network and employ Coates’ flow graph topological approach to derive the characteristic equation of the linearized network. Second, through deriving stability conditions and predicting the tipping point using an algebraic approach based on the integral element concept, we identify critical factors such as the synaptic transmission delay, the self-feedback coefficient, and the network topology. Finally, we validate the methodology’s effectiveness in predicting the tipping point. The findings reveal that increased synaptic transmission delay can induce and amplify periodic oscillations. Additionally, the self-feedback coefficient and the network topology influence the onset of tipping points. Moreover, the selection of activation function impacts both the number of equilibrium solutions and the convergence speed of the neural network. Lastly, we demonstrate that the proposed large-scale radial-ring neural network exhibits stronger robustness compared to lower-scale networks with a single topology. The results provide a comprehensive depiction of the dynamics observed in large-scale neural networks under the influence of various factor combinations.

2022 개정 교육과정에서 넓이로서의 정적분 정의에 따른 교수학적 난점 및 대안 탐색

This study aims to analyze the expected didactic difficulties and prepare complementary measures for the concept of definite integral, defined as 'the area between the curve and the -axis' in the 2022 Curriculum, following the 2015 Curriculum. To this end, the development of the area concept was examined by comparing the 2022 and 2015 Curricula and analysing textbooks. The analysis revealed difficulties in understanding definite integral as the area due to the limited development of the area concept, such as only justifying the method for calculating the area of a rectangle when the sides are natural numbers. Additionally, it was found that the situation material for questioning that had already been developed in the 2015 Curriculum, introducing the 'relationship between definite integral and sum of series', were ineffective in the 2022 Curriculum. The material were revised and supplemented for use in the 2022 <CalculusII>. Based on this discussion, improvement measures for the area concept development in the 2022 Curriculum were proposed.

Reducing CO[formula omitted] emissions, energy consumption, and decarbonization costs in manganese production by integrating fuel-assisted solid oxide electrolysis cells in two-stage oxide reduction

Manganese is one of the most consumed metals due to its use in iron and steel making, which generates between 7%–9% of all CO2 emissions produced globally per annum. For the first time, this work explores the potential of a novel process concept to reduce CO2 emissions, energy consumption, and decarbonization costs in manganese production, which involves integrating fuel-assisted solid oxide electrolysis cells (FASOECs) in a two-stage scheme for the reduction of raw manganese ores. In this scheme, higher oxides that are present in raw manganese ores (MnO2, Mn2O3, Mn3O4) are pre-reduced using CO, yielding manganese monoxide (MnO) that is further reduced to Mn in a submerged arc furnace (SAF) using coke and electricity. In the proposed FASOEC integration concept, off-gas from the manganese ores after pre-reduction (a mixture of H2, CO, and CO2) is supplied to the FASOECs’ anode as fuel, in order to produce high-purity H2 in the cathode that is directed to the first stage of manganese reduction. H2 has enhanced reaction kinetics for reducing higher manganese oxides in comparison to CO; therefore, integrating FASOECs can improve manganese oxide conversion rates during pre-reduction, resulting in lower consumption rates of coke and energy in the SAF. The off-gas supplied to the FASOECs’ anode also lowers the amount of energy required for H2 production in the cathode (can also generate electricity, simultaneously) and produces anode exhaust gas containing only CO2 and steam. Since steam can be easily condensed from this stream, the integration of FASOECs also enables efficient decarbonization of the manganese production process, thus eliminating the need for a designated CO2 capture system. The techno-economic analysis performed herein demonstrates that directing the full supply of off-gas produced by the SAF to the FASOECs’ anode at 800 °C reduces the overall energy consumption of manganese production by up to 18% in comparison to conventional processes. This results in decarbonization cost reductions by as much as 3%–15% and a corresponding decarbonization price range of $4-32 per ton of manganese product for plant capacities of 50 and 200 kt, respectively.

Constitutionalization of Arbitration

The number of arbitration cases handled by the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation has steadily increased over the years. The evolution of social practices and judicial approaches to arbitration procedures has prompted the supreme body for judicial protection of the Russian Constitution to repeatedly review whether the legal concepts used to resolve civil disputes by arbitration courts and international commercial arbitrations align with the nation’s basic law. The outcome of this process is a set of legal principles that define the constitutional and judicial foundations of arbitration in Russia. The above trends have facilitated the use of the integrative concept of constitutionalism in arbitration. This study highlights the constitutionalization of both arbitration and its social application. From a standalone perspective, the problems of enhancing the constitutional and legal principles of arbitration were discussed, and the further progress of constitutionalism in Russian arbitration was predicted.

Estimation of the ecological integrity of the Guadiana River using Partial Least Squares Path Modelling and simulation scenarios

Ecological integrity is fundamental to human life and ecosystems, so its assessment and management are crucial. This concept assesses ecosystem health by examining physico-chemical and biological characteristics, riparian vegetation and macroinvertebrate communities. In recent decades, water resources have undergone significant changes due to various factors that have contributed to the physical, chemical and biological pollution of water. To address this problem, a specific model has been developed using the Partial Least Squares Path Modelling methodology to analyse and quantify the main factors affecting the ecological integrity of the Spanish part of the Guadiana River (Spain). The variables analysed at the different sampling points in the catchment include forest cover, anthropogenic pressure, water quality and biological integrity. Water quality and biological integrity, in turn, constitute the concept of ecological integrity. The model predicts 60.3 % of the physico-chemical water quality and 56.6 % of the biological integrity, showing that ¨Forest cover¨ negatively impacts water quality (W = −0.476) by reducing pollution, while ¨Anthropogenic Pressure¨ positively impacts it (W = 0.680) by increasing pollution. Based on the modelling, three future scenarios were designed, from the lowest to the highest pressure considering changes in riparian forest quality based on QBR and changes in the number of reservoirs: a favourable scenario with high riparian forest quality and no reservoirs; an intermediate scenario with good riparian forest quality and no change in the number of reservoirs; and an unfavourable scenario, characterised by very poor riparian forest quality and an increase in the number of reservoirs. In this context, the importance of the conservation and enhancement of riparian vegetation as a nature-based solution is highlighted, as well as the pressure generated by industrial activity and agricultural practices on the ecological integrity of the study area. The favourable scenario, with very good quality riparian vegetation, improves water quality by up to 85 %, positively impacting the ecological integrity of the river. In contrast, the unfavourable scenario, with extremely degraded riparian forest, would decrease water quality by up to 62 %, negatively affecting ecological integrity. Modelling and future scenarios is an essential tool in the decision-making process to improve environmental governance and water security. In addition, the PLS-PM methodology allows the identification and quantification of relationships between complex variables, providing a solid basis for the design of effective environmental management strategies.

Additive manufacturing by the selective paste intrusion: Effect of the distance of the print nozzle to the particle bed on the print quality

Selective Paste Intrusion (SPI) is an additive manufacturing (AM) process in which thin layers of aggregates are selectively bonded by cement paste only where the structure is to be produced. In this way, concrete elements with complex geometries and structures can be created. Reinforcement is required to increase the flexural strength of the concrete elements and, thus, enable their applicability in practice. Integrating the reinforcement is a difficult task, particularly in the case of SPI, due to the layerwise printing method. Especially with respect to possible complex structures, the production of the reinforcement needs to be adapted to SPI, thereby offering a high degree of freedom. One concept for reinforcement integration is combining the two additive manufacturing processes, SPI and Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM). However, since the two processes serve different fields of application, their compatibility is not necessarily given. Ongoing investigations show that the temperatures caused by WAAM adversely affect both the cement paste rheology required for sufficient paste penetration into the particle bed and the overall concrete strength. This paper provides an overview of ongoing research focusing on different cooling strategies and their effects on the compressive strength of SPI-printed concrete parts.

The trading house: A relational and configurational insight into family businesses

What analytical framework can we employ to conduct ethnographic investigation into family businesses? As sociological and anthropological perspectives increasingly extend their gaze beyond the legal confines of firms to include the kinship groups (household, business family) behind them, no existing integrative concept examines the sui generis organizations formed by these overlapping institutions. Based on fieldwork conducted among shopkeepers in rural France, this article proposes a relational and configurational approach to family business by developing an overarching category: the ‘trading house’. Combining Claude Lévi-Strauss’ analysis of the aristocratic house with feminist-inspired perspectives on domestic economy, the trading house refers to an interdependent group of (re)productive cooperation—comprising, at least, a business and a household—that, directly or indirectly, ensures the management of a transferable symbolic and material estate centered around a market activity. The relational perspective examines boundaries, resources, and interpersonal ties within the house as outcomes of an ongoing relational work, which delineates, blurs, and (dis)connects domestic, business and family spheres, all the while ensuring the historical continuity of the estate beyond its living representatives. The configurational perspective simultaneously draws attention to the (re)productive, monetary, and reputational interdependencies that bind and unite the members of the house across these shifting boundaries. This framework is particularly well-suited for understanding traditional small businesses in rural areas.

Custom RISC-V architecture incorporating memristive in-memory computing

Due to the rise in data-intensive applications, the von Neumann bottleneck is increasingly restricting modern computer architectures, resulting to latency and energy consumption. Addressing this challenge necessitates a CMOS-compatible solution with high energy efficiency and significant parallelism. Utilizing resistive switching components within a 1T1R crossbar array and the application of Stanford RRAM model, this paper suggests an original method for in-memory computing. Moreover, this work shows a new way to advance the popular RISC-V architecture by including memristive crossbar array. It does this by adding a custom instruction set, special hardware blocks, and the Scouting Logic Scheme. These modifications serve both as a comprehensive testbed for the memory system and a proof of concept for the future integration of memristors in computing architectures. The proposed design undergoes extensive testing and power analysis to validate its functionality and performance under various conditions. The results demonstrate significant improvements in computational efficiency and energy savings, highlighting the potential of memristor-based in-memory computing systems to overcome current architectural limitations.

An integrative approach to the delineation of locally endemic species: A case study of Vitis baihuashanensis (Vitaceae) and its implication for conservation management

Species definition and classification have long been the subject of controversy, and name changes can often be a source of frustration for both conservationists and the public. Vitis baihuashanensis is a critically endangered grapevine endemic to Beijing with only two remaining wild individuals. Although formerly treated as a synonym of V. amurensis, it was later listed in the List of National Key Protected Wild Plants (LNKPWP) in 2021. Here, we evaluated the taxonomic identity of V. baihuashanensis based on phylogenomic inference and population genetic analysis, and tested the species boundaries under various major species concepts (biological, morphological, ecological, phylogenetic, and integrative species concepts). Phylogenetic inference revealed that the amurensis-baihuashanensis clade was monophyletic, samples of V. baihuashanensis nested within the V. amurensis node. Population genetic analysis demonstrated that V. baihuashanensis samples clustered with V. amurensis. Our findings from field observations, morphological comparisons, pollination experiments, and genetic analyses indicate that V. baihuashanensis and V. amurensis are the same species under the integrative species concept, and support the synonymy of V. baihuashanensis under V. amurensis. Given that V. baihuashanensis was listed in the LNKPWP, we suggest that it be removed in the next update of the list because of limited financial resources. Nevertheless, the two wild individuals deserve conservation attention because of their distinct leaf characteristics and potential of cold tolerance, which could have important applications in the horticulture and grape industries. Our study provides multiple lines of evidence for clarifying the identity of a taxonomically questionable species, as well as valuable suggestion with conservation and management implications.

Understanding policy integration through an integrative capacity framework

Abstract An important aspect of policy integration is the need for policymakers to establish integrative capacity. However, very few scholars who refer to this concept have explained what integrative capacity is and what aspects of the policy process policymakers need to focus on to establish that capacity. In this paper, we define integrative capacity and introduce an “integrative capacity framework” that outlines key components required by public agencies to progress policy integration. Drawing on existing literature, we apply three dimensions of policy—the policy process, program, and politics—to identify where integrative capacity can occur. Within those dimensions, we identify four conditions that can impact integration: coordination and coherence; accountability, transparency, and legitimacy; resourcing and adequate institutional architecture. We argue that by unpacking the integrative capacity concept, scholars and policymakers can utilize the framework to identify what elements of the policy process need to be addressed to increase the likelihood of integrative policy success.

Comparing Electrode Overpotential Contributions in Vrfbs Amongst Multiple Techniques

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) offer a potential remedy for the escalating need for energy storage amid the ongoing transition from carbon-intensive fossil energy to renewable energy sources. Yet, many RFB chemistries are shown to have low energy efficiencies which can be attributed, in part, to ineffective electrode materials. Identifying overpotential contributions from electrodes under operating conditions is a key step in understanding how to design better RFB electrodes Previously, three-electrode setups using rotating disk electrodes (RDE) were the effective technique at isolating overpotentials; however, this can only be accomplished by looking at one side of the RFB at a time. RDEs do not easily replicate the operational conditions of a power cell or the porous nature of carbon electrodes used in RFBs. Alongside the normal operation of an RFB, symmetry cells are another approach that can be utilized in quantifying the performance of electrodes. The advantage of a symmetrical cell setup allows us to monitor the overpotential contributions of two different electrodes in the same electrolyte concurrently. Membrane-based reference electrodes (MBRE), and other reference electrode integration concepts, allow us to use three-electrode techniques in operational RFB power cells. As a case study, we examined the effect of oxidative electrode treatments on the positive and negative side of the VRFB using multiple methods. While other studies have shown that an untreated negative electrode may be the key inhibitor in VRFB performance, we have quantified the overpotential at 50% state of charge to be 194 mV when 50 mA cm-2 is applied. After an oxidative treatment is applied to the negative electrode, the overpotential is reduced to 111 mV. Applying this to other techniques, we can compare the effectiveness of a non-symmetry cell setup vs. a symmetry cell setup, which displayed that oxidative treatment techniques appear to have an opposite effect on the positive electrode. A treated-positive electrode shows an overpotential of around 100 mV whereas an untreated-positive electrode only contributes 15 mV less of overpotential. These findings are further compared using common reference electrodes placed in the electrolyte tank, providing insights into the effectiveness of power cell techniques in improving RFB electrode performance.

On probiotic integration in the management of inflammation and the maintenance of the intestinal epithelial barrier’s integrity

Inflammatory bowel disease epidemiology has grown dramatically in recent years, particularly in developed and developing Western countries. Many factors, including stress, diet, and medications, cause and exacerbate inflammatory conditions. Inflammation is closely related to the concept of intestinal barrier integrity. When integrity is compromised, toxins and pathogens can enter the bloodstream. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using probiotic bacteria to prevent or treat a variety of pathologies, including inflammatory bowel disease. Some studies have looked at the effectiveness of multi-strain probiotic supplements in preventing intestinal barrier dysfunction in in vitro models of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation. To mimic the intestinal barrier, human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines were established in Transwell co-culture models. The epithelium permeability was assessed by measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance. The expression of individual proteins involved in barrier function was assessed. The immunomodulatory effects of probiotic formulations were studied in both human macrophage cell lines and ex vivo human peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived macrophages. The intestinal epithelial layer was also interfaced with a human mast cell line. Selected probiotics have demonstrated high potential for use in maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and possessing anti-inflammatory properties.

Characteristics of palliative care in the elderly

Palliative care for elderly, mostly multimorbid people is an integrative concept that is included at an early stage of illness in addition to curative and rehabilitative treatments. Goals of treatment and in the rest of life are regularly discussed during the course in order to set individual priorities and to plan or question clarifications, treatments and nursing measures. The prognosis, the patient's wishes and values, the possible benefits and burdens of an intervention play a central role in the decision-making process. Advance care planning makes it easier to make decisions at a later stage, especially in the case of dementia, which increasingly impairs the ability to make judgments. Older people suffer not only from destressing symptoms such as pain, but also from functional limitations that affect their quality of life. In addition to symptom-alleviating interventions, rehabilitative measures are also part of the palliative concept. In pain treatment, age-adapted adjustments to the medication are to be considered and the multidimensionality of the pain experience must be taken into account. In the case of cognitive impairment, appropriate observation tools help to identify possible pain. In the context of dementia, palliative treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms should be considered if the patient suffers from them.

Integrative Concept of the Low-Carbon Cities with the Maqasid Syariah: A Comprehensive Review

Integrative Concept of the Low-Carbon Cities with the Maqasid Syariah: A Comprehensive Review

Flexible cellulose paper-based biosensor from inkjet printing for non-invasive glucose monitoring

Wearable glucose sensors have attracted significant attention for enabling non-invasive blood glucose measurement without discomfort and risk of infection. However, it is a challenge to simultaneously realize wearable adaptability, biodegradability, and excellent sensing performance. Herein, a cellulose paper-based non-invasive biosensor relying on reverse iontophoresis was designed to detect glucose in interstitial fluid (ISF), and two different enzyme immobilization strategies have been compared. The results showed inkjet-printed cellulose paper-based biosensor (IPB) performances better than the drop-coated cellulose paper-based biosensor (DPB). IPB has twice response current more than DPB in detection range (0–10 mM). In sensitivity, IPB is 1.170 μA/mM three times higher than the DPB (0.376 μA/mM). Besides, IPB's electron-transfer resistance (Rct) is 7.27 kΩ smaller than DPB (Rct = 10.51 kΩ) about 30 %. More importantly, IPB exhibited a good reproducibility (RSD, 4.82 %), which was much less than DPB (RSD, 18.35 %). Furthermore, the IPB realizes noninvasive continuous glucose monitoring over 6 h in volunteer experiments with great analytical performance comparable to commercial devices (Pearson correlation 0.732). Cellulose paper-based glucose sensors with inkjet printing provide non-invasive access to statistically significant diagnostic information, simple and cost-effective, which promotes the application of flexible, wearable, degradable bioelectrodes in continuous glucose monitoring at home, providing a concept for full integration in a compact and portable way in the future.