Abstract: Described is an oxygen permeable layer for detection of molecular oxygen, wherein the layer has a carrier material in which at least one particle is comprised, wherein the carrier material is polyvinylidene fluoride or a copolymer of polyvinylidene fluoride, and the particle comprises a polymer or a copolymer, wherein the polymer or copolymer of the particle has a chemically covalently bonded indicator compound for detection of molecular oxygen. In addition, a multilayer system for detection of molecular oxygen is described. Also described are a method for producing the layer, and the use of the layer or of the multilayer system for detection of molecular oxygen.

Abstract: A cabinet x-ray device for imaging seeds includes an x-ray source configured to transmit an x-ray beam along a beam path. A seed holder is configured to hold seeds and be selectively positioned in the x-ray device such that the beam path crosses the seed holder and the x-ray beam passes through at least some of the seeds. An x-ray detector is configured to detect the x-ray beam after passing through the seeds such that one or more x-ray images of the seeds can be formed. Self-supporting x-ray shielding can extend circumferentially around the x-ray beam to mitigate x-ray transmission outside the device. A drive mechanism can automatically move the seed holder so that discrete x-ray images of subsets of seeds are taken in an automatic seed imaging operation. Various seed evaluations and seed process evaluations can be made using the device.

Abstract: pa In one embodiment, a method of monitoring fluid flow includes mounting at least one probe including at least two electrodes to a conduit having a mixture including at least oil and water flowing therethrough and exciting the at least two electrodes with an AC voltage and a predetermined frequency. The method also includes measuring an impedance between the at least two electrodes and detecting a water layer based on the measured impedance. The mixture may also include gas. In another embodiment, a method of detecting phase wetting in a pipe includes measuring a high frequency impedance response of a two concentric electrode probe flush mounted in the pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a quantitative evaluation method for concrete workability based on bottom resistance, including the following steps: step 1, carrying out a test for bottom resistance of fresh concrete; step 2, drawing a curve of inserting velocity of steel sheet over time; and step 3, quantitatively evaluating a concrete workability based on conditions of the bottom resistance. This method can quantitatively characterize the sinking condition of aggregate of the fresh concrete by effectively carrying out the test for bottom resistance of fresh concrete, calculating the inserting velocity of concrete and drawing the curves of displacement and velocity over time, so as to achieve the quantitative evaluation for concrete workability and overcome the defects of conventional methods that it is difficult to quantitatively characterize the segregation degree of concrete.

Abstract: A single molecule sensing or detecting device includes a first electrode and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by a gap. The first electrode and the second electrode have an opening formed therethrough. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is functionalized with a recognition molecule. The recognition molecule has an effective length LI and is configured to selectively bind to a target molecule having an effective length L2. The size of the gap is configured to be greater than L2, but less than or equal to the sum of LI and L2.

Abstract: There is provided a blood condition analyzing device including: an extraction unit configured to use temporal change data of an electrical characteristic of blood at an arbitrary frequency to extract a feature of the data; and a blood condition evaluation unit configured to evaluate a condition change of blood from a feature extracted in the extraction unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing anomalies in the coagulation of blood, comprising the following successive steps: a) placing a sample of total blood in a holder containing two pairs of electrodes connected to an apparatus generating an electrical current; b) incubating this sample for 60 to 180 seconds in the presence of calcium; c) adding to this sample tissue factor in a concentration high enough to trigger the coagulation of the blood; d) measuring the impedance variation between the electrodes as a function of time, for a period comprised between 10 and 30 minutes from step (c), and generating a curve of the impedance values as a function of time; e) comparing the value of the area under the curve generated in step (d) with the value of an area under a reference curve.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting an overactive fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) in a cell by contacting the cell with a composition that contains an effective amount of Pheophorbide a, Pyropheophorbide a, or an active derivative thereof. Also disclosed is a method for treating a disorder associated with an overactive FGFR3 with a composition containing an effective amount of Pheophorbide a, Pyropheophorbide a, or an active derivative thereof. Further, a composition for treating a disorder associated with an overactive FGFR3 is described. The composition contains an ethanol extract of Amaranthus viridis.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated immune cells, immune cell populations and compositions, as well as markers, marker signatures and molecular targets characterising the immune cells. The cell products, substances, compositions, markers, marker signatures, molecular targets, kits of parts and methods of the present invention provide for new ways to characterise, evaluate and modulate the immune system and immune responses.

Abstract: Processes and compositions are described for preparing new, colloidally stable, coated nanomagnetic particles useful for both in-vitro and in-vivo biomedical applications, including cell targeting and capturing cells, microorganisms, and cellular organelles or entities such as exosomes. These nanomagnetic particles can also be used as imaging contrast agents due to their small size and high magnetic moment. The nanomagnetic particles include a series of sequentially added, stabilizing surface coatings rendered onto nano-sized magnetic crystal clusters (e.g., magnetite particles) to impart colloidal stability in complex biological samples with minimal leaching of the coating materials, high binding capacity, and low non-specific binding. Another benefit of this invention is the ability to utilize both external and internal magnetic field-generating separation devices to effect separation of the magnetic nanoparticles.

Abstract: A self-heating biosensor based on lossy mode resonance (LMR) includes a waveguide unit and a lossy mode resonance layer. The waveguide unit is a flat plate, including two planes and at least two sets of opposite sides. One set of the opposite sides of the waveguide unit has a light input end and a light output end. The lossy mode resonance layer is disposed on one of the planes of the waveguide unit. Two heating electrodes are formed at two positions of the lossy mode resonance layer, and the two positions are relevant to one set of the opposite sides of the waveguide unit. A biomaterial sensing region having bioprobes are formed between the two heating electrodes. The present disclosure further includes a using method relevant to the self-heating biosensor based on lossy mode resonance.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a device for determining the smoking status of a subject, wherein said device comprises a plurality of different specific binding molecules deposited to a solid phase to detect specifically the presence of two or three tobacco smoke exposure biomarkers in a biological sample, said biomarkers consisting of: (i) cotinine and total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-, pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL); (ii) cotinine and N-acetyl-S-[2-carboxyethyl]-L-cysteine (CEMA); or (iii) cotinine and NNAL and CEMA.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting a target component by using a mobile terminal, and a detection method for simultaneously screening multiple target objects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising magnetic particles, the methods of using these compositions in processing animal sperm, the resulting sperm and embryo products, and the methods of use of these compositions to increase the efficiency, efficacy and/or speed of cell processing and artificial insemination techniques.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising chimeric polypeptides that bind to free ubiquitin proteins or free ubiquitin-like proteins with high affinity, as well as chimeric polypeptides that bind to both free and conjugated ubiquitin proteins or free and conjugated ubiquitin-like proteins, and methods of using the chimeric polypeptides to determine the amount of free or total ubiquitin or free or total ubiquitin-like proteins in various types of samples.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods for identifying a protein interaction between one or more first proteins and one or more further proteins comprising the steps of: exposing one or more samples comprising the proteins to at least one preselected condition for at least one preselected duration; isolating and separating at least one soluble fraction from an insoluble fraction of said one or more samples; and analyzing the at least one soluble fraction or the insoluble fraction to identify said protein interaction between one or more first proteins and one or more further proteins. Use of the method of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for quantifying an anti-TNF antibody in a sample of a human individual comprising a step of adding to a test sample which may contain therapeutic anti-TNF antibodies a known amount of two or more labeled forms of said anti-TNF antibodies.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated sample preparation and processing of protein corona are described herein, as well as its application in the discovery of advanced diagnostic tools as well as therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A method for assigning an antibody standard and determining a minimum detection limit of an antibody detection reagent specifically includes the following steps: S1, determination of a neutralized antigen equivalent of an antibody standard or a sample: an antigen with a known purity and concentration is subjected to a gradient dilution using a matrix, an equal amount of an antibody standard or antibody-containing sample is added to each of the gradient diluents with different concentrations respectively, and after a reaction, each mixture is subjected to an antibody detection using a first antibody detection reagent, to determine the neutralized antigen equivalent of the antibody standard or sample; S2, determination of an antibody titer of the sample; and S3, acquisition of the minimum detection limit of an antibody detection reagent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for quantitative measurement of catechol estrogen bound protein in blood sample. By detecting adduction levels of binding sites of the catechol estrogen on the protein in blood sample, the catechol estrogen bound protein in the blood sample can be detected quantitatively and a limit of quantitation can be decreased.

Abstract: A sample testing system comprising: a transporting apparatus; a testing apparatus for obtain a sample and performing testing on the obtained sample; and a controller. The controller executes operation of: controlling the transporting apparatus so as to transport the sample rack in first direction, such that each sample container held in a sample rack is transported to a obtaining position on which the testing apparatus obtains a sample and then the sample rack is transported toward the second position; changing, when retesting of a sample contained in a sample container is necessary, the transporting direction from the first direction to second direction, and then controlling the transporting apparatus so as to transport the sample container accommodating the sample, for which retesting is necessary, to the obtaining position again. Sample testing method and a computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: An automated method for determining a coagulation result of a biological sample is presented. The method includes obtaining a time series representing measurement data of a sample. The time series spans a period in which a clotting reaction is supposed to take place. The method includes obtaining a global model function configured to model measurement data of a sample in which a clotting reaction takes place. The global model function is configured to model the measurement data as a sigmoidal shape with at least one inflection point. The absolute value of the maximum curvature of the sigmoidal shape is larger on one side of the at least one inflection point than on the other side. The method includes fitting the model function to the time series representing measurement data to obtain a fitted model function and determining a coagulation result of the sample based on the fitted model function.

Abstract: A laboratory automation device (10) includes a plurality of device components (14, 16), which are controlled by digital control commands (26). The digital control commands (26) are generated by a controller (20) of the laboratory automation device (10) from assay definition data (38) defining an assay procedure for the laboratory automation device (10).

Abstract: A system for determining the number of revolutions of a cardan shaft, having at least a magnet and at least a hall sensor is positioned to provide magnetic interaction between them, characterized by connecting one of the magnet and hall sensor onto either the rotating elements of the cardan shaft and the other to a fixed point and including a detection element for detecting the revolution rate by correlating to the revolution and the pulse created by the hall sensor as a result of interaction between the magnet and the hall sensor, when the cardan shaft rotates.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in determining a device's speed. The system uses a plate having a front side that is perpendicular to the device's direction of travel. The airflow caused by the device's motion causes the plate to deflect from a resting position and the amount of deflection of the plate is proportional to the speed of the device. The amount of deflection is measured by a rotary encoder coupled to the plate. By properly calibrating the system, the system can determine the device's velocity simply from the airflow caused by the device's motion.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus (12) that samples a signal obtained or derived from an accelerometer, filters the samples, accumulates the filtered samples, and determines which limb the apparatus is associated with based on a comparison of the filtered accumulated samples and a threshold set.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a first detection element, and a processing part. The first detection element includes a base body, a first supporter fixed to the base body, a first movable part, first and second counter conductive parts. The first movable part is supported by the first supporter and separated from the base body. The first movable part includes a first movable base part supported by the first supporter, a second movable base part connected with the first movable base part, a first movable beam including a first beam, and a second movable beam including a second beam. The first beam includes a first end portion and a first other end portion. The second beam includes a second end portion and a second other end portion. The first counter conductive part faces the first movable beam. The second counter conductive part faces the second movable beam.

Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes a base, at least two arms, a movable plate, a hinge, and a physical quantity measurement element. Four quadrants of the sensor are defined by first and second orthogonal lines. The first line passes through the center of the sensor and crosses the hinge. The second line extends along the hinge. Fixed regions of the sensor are located in the first and second quadrants. No fixed regions are located in at least one of the third and fourth quadrants. The third and fourth quadrants are closer to the base than the first and second quadrants in a plan view.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for determining an acceleration. For example, an accelerometer system includes a resonator and a light-emitting device configured to generate, based on an error signal, an optical signal. Additionally, the accelerometer includes a modulator configured to receive the optical signal, generate a modulated optical signal responsive to receiving the optical signal, and output the modulated optical signal to the resonator. A photoreceiver receives a passed optical signal from the resonator, where the passed optical signal indicates a resonance frequency of the resonator. Additionally, the photoreceiver receives a reflected optical signal from the resonator. The photoreceiver generates one or more electrical signals based on the passed optical signal and the reflected optical signal. Processing circuitry generates the error signal and determines the acceleration based on the one or more electrical signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for operating at least one bending beam in at least one closed control loop, wherein the device has: (a) at least one first interface designed to receive at least one controlled variable of the at least one control loop; (b) at least one programmable logic circuit designed to process a control error of the at least one control loop using a bit depth greater than the bit depth of the controlled variable; and (c) at least one second interface designed to provide a manipulated variable of the at least one control loop.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adapter device (10, 110, 210) for positioning at least one conductor (68), such as a conductor pair, for example, of a cable (70) to be measured, which adapter device comprises a receiving device (12) and a holding clamp (14) which can be attached to the receiving device (12). Attaching the holding clamp (14) to the receiving device (12) fixes the holding clamp (14) in position and alignment relative to the receiving device (12). The holding clamp (14) is designed to receive and clamp the at least one conductor (68) of the cable (70) to be measured in sections in order to fix said cable in the position and alignment thereof relative to the holding clamp (14), such that an end section of the at least one conductor (68) extends beyond the holding clamp (14).

Abstract: The present invention is related to a clipped testing device, comprising a first clamping member, a second clamping member, a shaft, and a conducting member. The first clamping member has a first pin joint member and a first substrate, the second clamping member has a second pin joint member and a second substrate. The shaft detachably pivoted to a first pin joint member and a second pin joint member. The conducting member is disposed on the first clamping member and is located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The conducting member has an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface of the conducting member faces toward the first substrate, and at least a part of the conducting member is wavy-shaped and has a first scraping structure on the upper surface thereof.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for forming structures or devices (e.g. microprobes for use in die level testing of semiconductor devices) from a core material and a shell or coating material that partially coats the surface of the structure. Other embodiments are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for producing structures or devices (e.g. microprobes) from a core material and a shell or coating material that completely coats the surface of each layer from which the probe is formed including interlayer regions. Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for forming structures or devices (e.g. microprobes) from a core material and a shell or coating material wherein the coating material is located around each layer of the structure without locating the coating material in inter-layer regions.

Abstract: A probe pin is proposed. The probe pin includes a first plunger configured to come in contact with a testing target contact point of a testing object and a second plunger configured to come in contact with a testing contact point of a testing circuit, in which the first plunge or the second plunger has a stem extending with a predetermined cross-sectional area and a contact portion extending from the stem such that a cross-sectional area decreases, and having first second tips, which are configured to come in contact with the testing target contact point or the testing contact point, at a front end; and the first and second tips are formed in symmetric shapes at positions that are symmetric with a central axis of the stem therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed is a probe card for testing a wafer. The probe card includes a substrate and a block including an insulation portion and a conducting portion disposed on the insulation portion. Here, the insulation portion includes a via and a probe pin which comes into contact with an object to be tested. The conducting portion includes a contact point electrically connected to the substrate and a conducting pattern passing through the via and electrically connecting the contact point to the probe pin. A pitch between a plurality of such probe pins is smaller than a pitch between a plurality of such contact points. The block includes a plurality of unit blocks. The plurality of unit blocks each include the insulation portion and the conducting portion, and at least parts of the insulation portions of the unit blocks are arranged while being spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: A sensor includes: a reference magnetic field generator configured to generate a reference magnetic field that is modulated at a first frequency, a first magnetic field sensing element that is configured to generate a first internal signal that is modulated at a second frequency, and a second magnetic field sensing element that is configured to generate a second internal signal that is modulated at the second frequency. A first amplifier is configured to receive the first internal signal and output a first amplified signal; and a second amplifier is configured to receive the second internal signal and output a second amplified signal. A gain adjustment circuit is configured to produce a gain adjustment signal and adjust a gain of at least one of the first amplifier and the second amplifier based on the gain adjustment signal.

Abstract: Novel electrically-isolated high-voltage sensors are provided which have low power dissipation. The sensors are formed of a circuit comprising first and second portions separated by an electrical isolation boundary with the first portion used for high-voltage, and the second portion for low-voltage. While they are decoupled electrically, they are coupled both optically and magnetically. The first portion comprises an LED which generates an optical signal corresponding to a high-voltage signal across the electrical-isolation boundary. The second portion comprises a photodiode which receives the optical signal emitted from the LED and outputs a corresponding low-voltage electrical signal.

Abstract: A Fast Faraday Cup includes a group of electrodes including a grounded electrode having a through hole and a collector electrode configured with a blind hole that functions a collector hole. The electrodes are configured to allow a beam (e.g., a non-relativistic beam) to fall onto the grounded electrode so that the through hole cuts a beamlet that flies into the collector hole and facilitates measurement of the longitudinal distribution of particle charge density in the beam. The diameters, depths, spacing and alignment of the collector hole and the through hole are controllable to enable the Fast Faraday day cup to operate with a fast response time (e.g., fine time resolution) and capture secondary particles.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a voltage fluctuation detection circuit, which includes a rising edge trigger circuit and a detection and output circuit connected to an output terminal of the rising edge trigger circuit. When a change of the operating voltage within a preset clock period is greater than a preset bias voltage, an output signal of the output terminal undergoes at least one target flip between a high level and a low level. When the output signal of the rising edge trigger circuit always undergoes the target flips in N consecutive preset clock periods, and the operating voltage is always not less than a starting threshold value in each target flip of all the target flips in the N consecutive clock periods, the detection and output circuit generates an first signal, where N is a natural number not less than 2.

Abstract: A rapid sensing value estimation circuit and a method thereof are provided. The circuit includes a first sensing unit, an integration sensing circuit and a rapid estimation circuit. The rapid estimation circuit includes a clock generator, a second counter, a first digital comparator, an arithmetic module and a remainder calculation module. The clock generator generates a clock signal with a first frequency. The second counter counts the clock signal within the integration time to generate a second count value. The first digital comparator determines whether the second count value exceeds a first predetermined count value when the first count value increases. The arithmetic module calculates an estimated count value result and a remainder, and the remainder calculation module can further calculate and estimate values of decimal places of this signal based on the remainder.

Abstract: Systems and methods for non-intrusive program tracing of a device are disclosed. The methods involve generating a program trace signal from at least one of power consumption and electromagnetic emission of the device; digitizing and decomposing the program trace signal into at least two digital program trace component signals including a low frequency program trace component and one or more high frequency program trace component signals; classifying fragments of the at least two digital program trace component signals of the program trace signal as at least one of a known portion of program code and an observed behavior of the device. Each of the at least two digital program trace component signals have different frequency bands and the bandwidth of each program trace component signal is smaller than the bandwidth of the program trace signal. Each of the high frequency program trace component signals include an envelope.

Abstract: A measuring device for measuring current effective power in a circuit of a transmission system, including an evaluation device and a calibration device, the evaluation device having a connection for measuring current, voltage, and phase shift between the current and the voltage in the circuit, wherein the evaluation device and the calibration device are connected to one another, the evaluation device configured to measure power by evaluating measured current and measured voltage, the calibration device configured to correct the measured current and/or the measured voltage via a cos ( ) value of a measured phase shift between the measured current and the measured voltage and/or via a holding time, the evaluation device configured to calculate a power value with a corrected value of the measured current and/or a corrected value of the measured voltage, and the calibration device configured to make available the calculated power as the current effective power.

Abstract: A baseboard management controller (BMC) installed in a server or other hardware device may perform operations to monitor and safeguard metering data for one or more hardware component of a server that includes the BMC. The BMC may periodically transmit a metering data message over a network to an event destination, where the metering data message includes the utilization levels of the hardware component during a period of operation. In response to detecting a loss of communication with the event destination, the BMC may perform lossy compression of the monitored utilization levels for the hardware component, wherein the lossy compression produces a utilization value that is representative of the monitored utilization levels, but uses less data storage capacity. The utilization value may be transmitted to the event destination instead of the monitored utilization levels in response to determining that communication with the event destination has been reestablished.

Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer program for executing high resolution spectrum monitoring. A sensor receives an input signal having a varying frequency content over time. One or more samples of the received input signal are sampled. The samples of the received input signal include one or more swept signal samples generated by sweeping, using a center frequency of the sensor, the received input signal across an entire frequency spectrum associated with the received input signal. Sampling of the samples of the received signal is performed while performing the sweeping. The signal samples are processed.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and method for determining a joint space-time spectral estimate (P) for a wideband spectrum are generally described herein. To determine a joint space-time spectral estimate (P) for a wideband spectrum, a random time delay may be applied to received signals for each channel of a plurality of receive channels to generate time-delayed signals for each receive channel. The time-delayed signals may be sampled for each receive channel to generate time-delayed samples and form array manifold vectors based on the random time delays and position of each antenna element in an array of antenna elements. An inverse (Q) of the joint-space time spectral estimate (P) may be determined by projecting the array manifold vectors through a mixing matrix (M). The mixing matrix (M) may be based on the time-delayed samples. The joint space-time spectral estimate (P) may comprise spatial and temporal properties of the wideband spectrum.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the health of a heater connected to a power supply by first and second power leads which conduct an inlet and outlet current, respectively. The system includes an injection transformer with a number of primary turns that are inductively coupled to the first power lead, a signal generator configured to generate and supply a time-varying injection signal to the primary turns thereby imposing the time-varying injection signal on the inlet current, and a signal reader configured to receive a diagnostic signal from the heater, filter the diagnostic signal to pass a frequency associated with the time-varying injection signal, and produce a heater capacitance signal that is indicative of a capacitance value of the heater, where the heater capacitance signal is indicative of the health of the heater.

Abstract: A vector network analyzer is provided which includes a first measuring port, a digital interface connected to the first measuring port, a second measuring port adapted to be connected to a radio frequency (RF) input or output of a device under test (DUT), and a processor. The digital interface is adapted to be connected to a digital input or output of the DUT. The processor is adapted to determine scattering parameters (S-parameters) of the DUT based on measuring signals transmitted to the DUT and received from the DUT by the first measuring port and the second measuring port.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating and/or mapping buried utilities are disclosed. In one embodiment, one or more magnetic field sensing locating devices include antenna node(s) to sense magnetic field signals emitted from a buried utility and a processing unit to receive the sensed magnetic field signals may be mounted on a vehicle. The received magnetic field signals may be processed in conjunction with sensed vehicle velocity data to determine information associated with location of the buried utility such as depth and position.

Abstract: A microwave sensor determines an electric-field strength of a microwave field populated by quantum particles in an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) cell. A probe laser beam and a coupling laser beam are directed into the UHV cell so that they are generally orthogonal to each other and intersect to define a “Rydberg” intersection, so-called as the quantum particles within the Rydberg intersection transition to a pair of Rydberg states. The frequency of the probe laser beam is swept so that a frequency spectrum of the probe laser beam can be captured. The frequency spectrum is analyzed to determine a frequency difference between Autler-Townes peaks. The electric-field strength of the microwave field within the Rydberg intersection is then determined based on this frequency difference.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an in-situ monitoring method and apparatus for a power electronic device explosion. A power electronic device is excited to produce an explosion failure by using a fault excitation module. An electrical signal of the power electronic device is monitored in real time by using an electrical signal monitoring module. Gas information of a test cavity is monitored in real time by using a gas monitoring module. External pictures of the power electronic device are captured by using a high-speed image capturing module. Internal pictures of the power electronic device are captured by using a high-speed X-ray imaging module. Each module in the apparatus is triggered to work according to a predetermined time sequence and time interval by using a time sequence control module. The entire apparatus is controlled and data is acquired, stored, and displayed by using a main control module.