Smartphone-based vase design: a developing creative practice

peer-reviewedThis article describes a developing creative practice whereby digital creative processes adapted from mobile music making are used in the data driven design and subsequent digital instantiation of ceramic vessels. First, related work in mobile music creation and recent developments in the digital design and fabrication of ceramics frames the research and puts it in a broad context. A pilot study is then detailed, concluding that although largely successful, a number of areas of the process needed to be improved and refined. The results of a further iteration of the process, consisting of the digital creation and instantiation of location-specific vessels is presented, before the current state of the research, where ceramic vessels are 3D printed, is outlined. We show that mobile phones can become integral to a practical design process that allows the digital forms it creates to be instantiated using 3D printing, and that these become high-quality, end-use artefacts. The final section discusses what has been learned and contemplates how the described practice will be developed yet further

Observation of thundercloud-related gamma rays and neutrons in Tibet

During the 2010 rainy season in Yangbajing (4300 m above sea level) in Tibet, China, a long-duration count enhancement associated with thunderclouds was detected by a solar-neutron telescope and neutron monitors installed at the Yangbajing Comic Ray Observatory. The event, lasting for ∼40  min, was observed on July 22, 2010. The solar-neutron telescope detected significant γ-ray signals with energies >40  MeV in the event. Such a prolonged high-energy event has never been observed in association with thunderclouds, clearly suggesting that electron acceleration lasts for 40 min in thunderclouds. In addition, Monte Carlo simulations showed that >10  MeV γ rays largely contribute to the neutron monitor signals, while >1  keV neutrons produced via a photonuclear reaction contribute relatively less to the signals. This result suggests that enhancements of neutron monitors during thunderstorms are not necessarily clear evidence for neutron production, as previously thought

Examining the types and payments of the disabilities of the insurants in the national farmers' health insurance program in Taiwan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In contrast to the considerable body of literature concerning the disabilities of the general population, little information exists pertaining to the disabilities of the farm population. Focusing on the disability issue to the insurants in the Farmers' Health Insurance (FHI) program in Taiwan, this paper examines the associations among socio-demographic characteristics, insured factors, and the introduction of the national health insurance program, as well as the types and payments of disabilities among the insurants.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A unique dataset containing 1,594,439 insurants in 2008 was used in this research. A logistic regression model was estimated for the likelihood of received disability payments. By focusing on the recipients, a disability payment and a disability type equation were estimated using the ordinary least squares method and a multinomial logistic model, respectively, to investigate the effects of the exogenous factors on their received payments and the likelihood of having different types of disabilities.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Age and different job categories are significantly associated with the likelihood of receiving disability payments. Compared to those under age 45, the likelihood is higher among recipients aged 85 and above (the odds ratio is 8.04). Compared to hired workers, the odds ratios for self-employed and spouses of farm operators who were not members of farmers' associations are 0.97 and 0.85, respectively. In addition, older insurants are more likely to have eye problems; few differences in disability types are related to insured job categories.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Results indicate that older farmers are more likely to receive disability payments, but the likelihood is not much different among insurants of various job categories. Among all of the selected types of disability, a highest likelihood is found for eye disability. In addition, the introduction of the national health insurance program decreases the likelihood of receiving disability payments. The experience in Taiwan can be valuable for other countries that are in an initial stage to implement a universal health insurance program.</p

Riding over the Kuroshio from the South to the East China Sea: Mixing and transport of DIC

Export of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) to adjoining oceans enhances the potential of CO2 sequestration in marginal seas. By using a series of measured DIC depth profiles and reported flow transports, we estimated that the intermediate outflow (100-600 m) from the South China Sea is capable of transporting 6.5 +/- 4.1 Tg (1 Tg = 10(12) g) of biologically mediated carbon (DICbio) annually to the East China Sea (ECS) via the northwardly flowing Kuroshio current. The mixing and transport of these DIC-rich waters would raise 3% and 16% of DIC/TA ratio and the Revelle factor of the adjoining seawaters, respectively. Upon upwelling onto the ECS shelf, these DIC-rich waters would counteract the potential of CO2 uptake of shelf waters that might have been enhanced by the accompanying increase in nutrient inputs, thus complicating assessment of the ECS as a net CO2 source or sink. Citation: Sheu, D. D., W.-C. Chou, C. T. A. Chen, C.-L. Wei, H.-L. Hsieh, W.-P. Hou, and M. Dai (2009), Riding over the Kuroshio from the South to the East China Sea: Mixing and transport of DIC, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L07603, doi:10.1029/2008GL037017.National Science Council (Taiwan) [NSC-95-2611-M-110-003, NSC-96-2611-M-110-004

Techniques of the FLASH Thin Target Experiment

The fluorescence yield in air is reported for wavelength and pressure ranges of interest to ultra-high energy cosmic ray detectors. A 28.5 GeV electron beam was used to excite the fluorescence. Central to the approach was the system calibration, using Rayleigh scattering of a nitrogen laser beam. In atmospheric pressure dry air, at 304 K the yield is 20.8 {+-} 1.6 photons per MeV

Utilization patterns of Chinese medicine and Western medicine under the National Health Insurance Program in Taiwan, a population-based study from 1997 to 2003

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 1995, Taiwan has launched a national health-care system (the National Health Insurance Program, NHI) covering the use of both Western medicine (WM) and Chinese medicine (CM). This population-based study was conducted to understand the role of CM in this dual medical system by determining the utilization patterns of CM and WM and to analyze the demographic characteristics and primary indications influencing the choice of the medical services for the development of strategies to enhance the appropriate use and reduce unnecessary use of CM.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study used the NHI sample files from 1997 to 2003 consisting of comprehensive utilization and enrolment information for a random sample of 200,432 NHI beneficiaries of the total enrolees from 1995 to 2000. A total of 136,720 subjects with valid and complete enrolment and utilization data were included in this study. The logistic regression method was employed to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for utilization of CM and WM. The usage, frequency of services, and primary indications for CM and WM were evaluated. A significance level of α = 0.05 was selected.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared with WM, the odds of CM increased from 1997 to 2003. The odds of using CM (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.45–1.50; p < 0.001) and WM (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.72–1.77; p < 0.001) were higher in females and that of CM increased with age to a peak in the 45–54-year-group (OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.68–1.82; p < 0.001) and WM (OR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.05–1.13; p < 0.001) in the elderly subjects (≥ 65 years). The odds of CM and WM were similar in all income groups. However, those of CM were higher in Central (OR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.56–1.74; p < 0.001) and Southern Taiwan (OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.12–1.25; p < 0.001) and lower in the remote areas (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.52–0.63; p < 0.001). Most of the patients had one ambulatory visit of both medical services annually. However, the utilization of WM predominated over CM. Over 90% of CM service was provided by clinics, whereas over 60% of WM service by hospitals. Diseases of the respiratory system was the most frequent primary indication in CM and WM. Herbal medication was the most commonly used form of CM (68.4–72.7%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In recent years, there is an increasing trend in the utilization of CM in Taiwan. This increasing trend may be due to the covering of CM in the national health insurance system.</p