Using Cross-Cultural Focus Groups as a Tool for Communication Campaign Design: An Example from Russia’s Forest Project

Focus groups can be a useful tool when working on a cross-cultural communication project in which the communication specialist may have a very different cultural background than that of the target audience. Ten focus groups were used as a part of a large crosscultural project to design a forest fire public awareness campaign for Russia’s Far East and Siberia. Three of the focus groups were used to gain an in-depth understanding of forest behaviors that might pose a risk for forest fires. These groups also probed what members of the target audience believe would be reasonably safe behaviors. The remaining seven focus groups were used to test prototype campaign materials. This article offers practical advice on effective use of focus groups for any communicator involved in cross-cultural communication activities

Student youth participation in the development of a comfortable urban environment

Currently, the problem of youth participation in the development of urban space is extremely relevant both from the perspective of transforming the living environment with the resources of local communities, and the socialization of urban youth itself, expanding opportunities for personal growth through involvement in socially useful activities. The purpose of the article is to identify the conditions and readiness to participate in the development of a comfortable urban environment for students. The study was conducted in Vologda, Russian Federation, through a quantitative methodological strategy (questionnaire survey among university students, n = 207). The paper presents theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding the urban environment and a comfortable urban environment. It is indicated that a comfortable urban environment is a socio-economic category, reflecting the interactions within the urban space, which is most comfortable for the life of citizens. It is concluded that the student youth expresses their willingness to actively participate in decision-making on the development and improvement of the urban environment. In conclusion, the directions of enhancing the civic participation of young people in the formation of a comfortable urban space on the basis of dialogue platforms are considered

Gut Microbiota Composition and Diversity Before, During, and Two Months After Rifamycin-Based Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy

Tuberculosis (TB) preventive therapy (TPT) is an effective strategy to eliminate TB in low-incidence settings. Shorter TPT regimens incorporating the antimicrobial class of rifamycins are designed to improve adherence and completion rates but carry the risk of modifications to the gut microbiota. We enrolled six subjects diagnosed with latent TB infection (LTBI) who accepted to initiate TPT. We also enrolled six healthy volunteers unexposed to the rifamycins. We profiled the gut microbiota using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (V1-V2 region) to document the immediate effect of rifamycin-based TPT on the gut microbiota composition and tracked recovery to baseline two months after TPT. Overall, TPT accounted for 17% of the variance in gut microbial community dissimilarity. This rifamycin-based TPT induced dysbiosis was characterized by a depletion of butyrate-producing taxa (Clostridium-XIVa and Roseburia) and expansion of potentially pathogenic taxa within the Firmicutes and Proteobacteria phyla. Recovery of the gut microbial composition was incomplete two months after TPT. Robust clinical studies are necessary to comprehensively catalogue TPT-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis to inform strategies to mitigate potential long-term sequelae of this important TB control intervention

Estimation of the Environment State and Ensuring Environmental Security in the Russian Arctic

Successful development of the whole country economy requires an increase in the rate of economic growth, including through the development and processing of natural resources of the Arctic, which can lead to negative effects on the environment. The Arctic macroregion plays an important role in protective the ecological balance of the planet. The sensitivity of Arctic ecosystems increases the likelihood of regional environmental problems becoming global. Therefore, ensuring environmental safety in the Arctic should be scientifically constructed and implemented on the basis of systematic measurements of a set of indicators of the environment state. The purpose of this study is the selection, justification and analysis of indicators in accordance with the goals to preserve the environment and ensuring environmental safety of the Arctic macroregion.Five main tasks aimed at improving the state of atmospheric air, water resources, preserving biodiversity, developing and implementing environmental innovations and neutralizing production and consumption wastes were identified on the base of analysis of strategic planning documents in the sphere of environmental protection of the Russian Federation. The most fully characterizing indicators were substantiated for each task.Analysis of a dynamic series of data on the proposed indicators made it possible to identify a number of environmental features in the regions of the Russian Arctic. Among them are a high level of atmospheric air pollution; insufficient wastewater treatment and weak savings in fresh water intake by enterprises; low supply of high-quality drinking water; a high level of waste generation from industry and consumption; a small proportion of protected areas in the total area in the Russian Arctic; a low level of introduction of environmental innovations. The obtained results can be used as a basis for developing recommendations for improving the efficiency of state policy in the Arctic in the sphere of ecology.The proposed balanced system of indicators allows not only to assess the state of the environment and ensure environmental safety in the Arctic, but also to characterize the effectiveness of implementing the main objectives of environmental policy in relation to the macroregion

System of Models of Forecasting of Social and Economic Development of Regions of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation

Currently, the role of forecasting and modeling is increasing significantly, due to the introduction of project management. Forecasts are developed at different levels of governance, are the basis for compiling regional budgets, allow the variable to anticipate future developments and to timely mitigate negative effects on the territory. Despite this, some areas of our country still do not have forecasts and models of socio-economic development. One of the strategic priorities of the Russian Federation is the development and development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation for the balanced regional development of the country. For three groups of the selected Arctic regions developed their own indicators to build the most reliable and high-quality forecasts of socio-economic development. The indicators of development of the Arctic socio-ecological and economic systems are determined: real GRP (in prices of one year), average annual population and emissions of pollutants into the air from stationary sources. The paper proposes a system of forecasting models of socio-economic development of the regions of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, which will build the most reliable and high-quality forecasts, which in turn can significantly improve the efficiency of public administration and spending of funds

Топливноэнергетические ресурсы на базе энергоэкономных технологий и технических средств в сельском хозяйстве

The state and efficiency of the use of the energy supply systems in agriculture were analyzed. It is demonstrated that grids and power equipment deterioration exceeds 30 percent, and fuel volume-efficiency ratio is not more than 35 percent in this sector. A considerable part of the country territory (mainly the northern one) does not have centralized power supply. Decentralized cogeneration systems with extensive use of renewable energy sources and local energy recourses are highly efficient for this part. A necessity of development of methodology and recommendations for the selection of efficient systems and technical means of power supply to agricultural enterprises was substantiated with due consideration of their location, load intensity and distance from centralized grids. The most important indication of energy efficiency is energy intensity of products and energy inputs share in the production cost. Reserves for energy saving including the development of energy-efficient technologies and technical means, some of which have already been developed (equipment for lighting, microclimate, primary treatment and storage of products, disinfection) or are at the completion stage were presented. Their implementation in agricultural production will make it possible to raise considerably the efficiency of the use of fuel and power resources and to reduce energy consumption. The conditions in which the use of decentralized power supply systems is most efficient were educed. The characteristics of related equipment and the specifics of its use at agricultural enterprises are described. The proposal and priority actions for the development and upgrading of power supply systems for agriculture have been elaborated.Представили анализ состояния и эффективности использования систем энергообеспечения в сельском хозяйстве. Показали, что износ сетей и энергооборудования превышает 30 процентов, а коэффициент полезного использования топлива составляет не более 35 процентов. Отметили, что значительная часть территории страны (в основном северная) не имеет централизованного энергоснабжения. Для нее в большей степени эффективны децентрализованные комбинированные системы с широким использованием возобновляемых источников энергии и местных энергоресурсов. Обосновали необходимость разработки методологии и рекомендаций по выбору эффективных систем и технических средств энергообеспечения сельских объектов с учетом их места расположения, величины нагрузки, удаленности от централизованных сетей. Важнейший показатель энергоэффективности - энергоемкость продукции и доля энергозатрат в себестоимости. Показали резервы энергосбережения, включающие разработку энергоэффективных технологий и технических средств, ряд из которых уже разработан (оборудование для освещения, микроклимата, первичной обработки и хранения продукции, обеззараживания) или находится в стадии завершения. Их реализация в сельхозпроизводстве позволит значительно повысить эффективность использования топливно-энергетических ресурсов и снизить энергозатраты. Выявили условия, при которых важно наиболее эффективно использовать децентрализованные системы энергоснабжения. Привели характеристики оборудования и особенности его использования в сельхозпредприятиях. Разработали предложения и первоочередные мероприятия по совершенствованию и модернизации систем энергообеспечения на селе

Prevalent Multimorbidity Combinations Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults Seen in Community Health Centers

BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity (≥ 2 chronic diseases) is associated with greater disability and higher treatment burden, as well as difficulty coordinating self-management tasks for adults with complex multimorbidity patterns. Comparatively little work has focused on assessing multimorbidity patterns among patients seeking care in community health centers (CHCs). OBJECTIVE: To identify and characterize prevalent multimorbidity patterns in a multi-state network of CHCs over a 5-year period. DESIGN: A cohort study of the 2014-2019 ADVANCE multi-state CHC clinical data network. We identified the most prevalent multimorbidity combination patterns and assessed the frequency of patterns throughout a 5-year period as well as the demographic characteristics of patient panels by prevalent patterns. PARTICIPANTS: The study included data from 838,642 patients aged ≥ 45 years who were seen in 337 CHCs across 22 states between 2014 and 2019. MAIN MEASURES: Prevalent multimorbidity patterns of somatic, mental health, and mental-somatic combinations of 22 chronic diseases based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Multiple Chronic Conditions framework: anxiety, arthritis, asthma, autism, cancer, cardiac arrhythmia, chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, dementia, depression, diabetes, hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hyperlipidemia, hypertension, osteoporosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, substance use disorder, and stroke. KEY RESULTS: Multimorbidity is common among middle-aged and older patients seen in CHCs: 40% have somatic, 6% have mental health, and 24% have mental-somatic multimorbidity patterns. The most frequently occurring pattern across all years is hyperlipidemia-hypertension. The three most frequent patterns are various iterations of hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes and are consistent in rank of occurrence across all years. CKD-hyperlipidemia-hypertension and anxiety-depression are both more frequent in later study years. CONCLUSIONS: CHCs are increasingly seeing more complex multimorbidity patterns over time; these most often involve mental health morbidity and advanced cardiometabolic-renal morbidity

Assessing the Impact of EEE Standard on Energy Consumed by Commercial Grade Network Switches

This book chapter is adapted from [1] and it is closely linked to work published in [2] and [3]. Reducing power consumption of network equipment has been both driven by a need to reduce the ecological footprint of the cloud as well as the im-mense power costs of data centers. As data centers, core networks and conse-quently, the cloud, constantly increase in size, their power consumption should be mitigated. Ethernet, the most widely used access network still remains the biggest communication technology used in core networks and cloud infrastructures. The Energy-Efficient Ethernet or EEE standard introduced by IEEE in 2010, aims to reduce the power consumption of EEE ports by transitioning Ethernet ports into a low power mode when traffic is not present. As statistics show that the average utilization rate of ethernet links is 5 percent on desktops and 30 percent in data centers, the power saving potential of EEE could be immense. This research aims to assess the benefits of deploying EEE and create a power consumption model for network switches with and without EEE. Our measurements show that an EEE port runs at 12-15% of its total power when in low power mode. Therefore, the power savings can exceed 80% when there is no traffic. However, our measure-ments equally show that the power consumption of a single port represents less than 1% of the total power consumption of the switch. The base power consumed by the switch without any port is still significantly high and is not affected by EEE. Experiment results also show that the base power consumption of switches does not significantly increase with the size of the switches. Doubling the size of the switch between 24 and 48 ports increases power consumption by 35.39%. EEE has a greater effect on bigger switches, with a power (or energy) gain on the EEE-enabled 48-port switch compared to 2 x EEE-enabled 24-port switch. On the other hand, it seems to be more energy efficient to use 2 separate 24-port switches (NO EEE) than 2 separate 24-port switches (With EEE)

Fecal Microbiota in Premature Infants Prior to Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Intestinal luminal microbiota likely contribute to the etiology of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a common disease in preterm infants. Microbiota development, a cascade of initial colonization events leading to the establishment of a diverse commensal microbiota, can now be studied in preterm infants using powerful molecular tools. Starting with the first stool and continuing until discharge, weekly stool specimens were collected prospectively from infants with gestational ages ≤32 completed weeks or birth weights≤1250 g. High throughput 16S rRNA sequencing was used to compare the diversity of microbiota and the prevalence of specific bacterial signatures in nine NEC infants and in nine matched controls. After removal of short and low quality reads we retained a total of 110,021 sequences. Microbiota composition differed in the matched samples collected 1 week but not <72 hours prior to NEC diagnosis. We detected a bloom (34% increase) of Proteobacteria and a decrease (32%) in Firmicutes in NEC cases between the 1 week and <72 hour samples. No significant change was identified in the controls. At both time points, molecular signatures were identified that were increased in NEC cases. One of the bacterial signatures detected more frequently in NEC cases (p<0.01) matched closest to γ-Proteobacteria. Although this sequence grouped to the well-studied Enterobacteriaceae family, it did not match any sequence in Genbank by more than 97%. Our observations suggest that abnormal patterns of microbiota and potentially a novel pathogen contribute to the etiology of NEC