Measurement of Photon Statistics with Live Photoreceptor Cells

We analyzed the electrophysiological response of an isolated rod photoreceptor of Xenopus laevis under stimulation by coherent and pseudo-thermal light sources. Using the suction electrode technique for single cell recordings and a fiber optics setup for light delivery allowed measurements of the major statistical characteristics of the rod response. The results indicate differences in average responses of rod cells to coherent and pseudo-thermal light of the same intensity and also differences in signal-to-noise ratios and second order intensity correlation functions. These findings should be relevant for interdisciplinary studies seeking applications of quantum optics in biology.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

ДИСТАНЦІЙНЕ НАВЧАННЯ В СИСТЕМІ МЕДИЧНОЇ ОСВІТИ (ПЕРШИЙ ДОСВІД КАФЕДРИ НОРМАЛЬНОЇ ФІЗІОЛОГІЇ ЗДМУ)

The aim of the work – to investigate the feasibility of massive open online courses introducing into the higher medical education system.The main body. The issue of higher education institutions of Ukraine transition from traditional distance learning to massive electronic education on the basis of the online open courses is considered, its relevance is proved. Analysis of the major prerequisites for transition success is carried out (a demand for the educational Internet resources from mobile devices; existence of a large number of various electronic resources which are successfully used in practice by higher education institutions in remote educational technologies; maintaining experience for electronic magazines of students’ progress for planning and estimation of training results; essential growth of material costs in the world online training market). Key issues of transition are defined and the basic principles of electronic online courses development are formulated a technique for electronic online course development aimed as the result is given. The technique contains the following four stages: planning of expected training results, course electronic content structuring and training scenarios creation, development of the tests plan and electronic estimated means for automatic control of the planned training results, course realization by means of game mechanics and technologies of network communication between students. Requirements to various forms of control planned in the course of learning results are defined. Finally, the actual tasks of mass open education development in the leading higher education institutions of Ukraine are set forth.Conclusions. The introduction of massive open online courses allows:1) diversifying the methods of presentation of information, namely the use of text, graphic, illustrated and video materials, which allows the teacher to increase the level of information accessibility to students’ perceptions;2) simplifying the process of control of the final level of knowledge through the system of test control Ratos;3) carrying out differentiation and individualization of training, to provide the choice of an individual trajectory of training;4) providing free access to a large number of visual and teaching materials, which contributes to raising the level of interest in the subject and level of knowledge in general;5) using of modern means of communication between teachers and students allows to diversify forms of education.Мета роботи – дослідження доцільності впровадження масових відкритих онлайн-курсів у систему вищої медичної освіти.Основна частина. У даній статті поставлена проблема переходу вузів України від традиційного дистанційного навчання до масового електронного навчання на основі відкритих онлайн-курсів, обґрунтована її актуальність. Проведено аналіз найважливіших передумов для успішного переходу на даний вид навчання (затребуваність освітніх інтернет-ресурсів, які використовуються з мобільних пристроїв; наявність великої кількості різних електронних ресурсів, які успішно використовуються вузами на практиці в дистанційних освітніх технологіях; наявність досвіду ведення електронних журналів успішності студентів для планування й оцінювання результатів навчання). Визначені ключові завдання переходу до розробки онлайн-курсів.Висновки. Впровадження масових відкритих онлайн-курсів дозволяє:1) урізноманітнити методи подання інформації, а саме використання текстових, графічних, ілюстрованих та відеоматеріалів, що дозволяє викладачеві підвищити рівень доступності інформації до сприйняття студентами;2) спростити процес контролю кінцевого рівня знань за допомогою системи тестового контролю Ратос;3) здійснити диференціацію та індивідуалізацію навчання, забезпечити вибір індивідуальної траєкторії навчання;4) надати вільний доступ до значної кількості наочних та дидактичних матеріалів, що сприяє підвищенню рівня зацікавленості предметом і рівня знань взагалі;5) використання сучасних засобів комунікації між викладачами та студентами дозволяє урізноманітнити форми навчання

Exploration of the beliefs and experiences of Aboriginal people with cancer in Western Australia: a methodology to acknowledge cultural difference and build understanding

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aboriginal Australians experience poorer outcomes, and are 2.5 times more likely to die from cancer than non-Aboriginal people, even after adjustment for stage of diagnosis, cancer treatment and comorbidities. They are also less likely to present early as a result of symptoms and to access treatment. Psycho-social factors affect Aboriginal people's willingness and ability to participate in cancer-related screening and treatment services, but little exploration of this has occurred within Australia to date. The current research adopted a phenomenological qualitative approach to understand and explore the lived experiences of Aboriginal Australians with cancer and their beliefs and understanding around this disease in Western Australia (WA). This paper details considerations in the design and process of conducting the research.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines for ethical conduct of Aboriginal research were followed. Researchers acknowledged the past negative experiences of Aboriginal people with research and were keen to build trust and relationships prior to conducting research with them. Thirty in-depth interviews with Aboriginal people affected by cancer and twenty with health service providers were carried out in urban, rural and remote areas of WA. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded independently by two researchers. NVivo7 software was used to assist data management and analysis. Participants' narratives were divided into broad categories to allow identification of key themes and discussed by the research team.</p> <p>Discussion and conclusion</p> <p>Key issues specific to Aboriginal research include the need for the research process to be relationship-based, respectful, culturally appropriate and inclusive of Aboriginal people. Researchers are accountable to both participants and the wider community for reporting their findings and for research translation so that the research outcomes benefit the Aboriginal community. There are a number of factors that influence whether the desired level of engagement can be achieved in practice. These include the level of resourcing for the project and the researchers' efforts to ensure dissemination and research translation; and the capacity of the Aboriginal community to engage with research given other demands upon their time.</p

Embracing plurality through oral language

The transmission and dissemination of knowledge in Aboriginal societies for the most part occurs orally in an Aboriginal language or in Aboriginal English. However, whilst support is given to speaking skills in Indigenous communities, in our education system less emphasis is given to developing equivalent oral communicative competence in Standard Australian English (SAE). Instead the focus is given to the ongoing assessment of reading and writing skills and grammatical knowledge – this is in direct contrast to the existing language experience of Aboriginal students. Therefore, for Aboriginal students to participate in mainstream society, we suggest that there is a need to nurture oral language skills in SAE and provide learners with the experience to develop their code-switching ability to maintain continuity with their first language or dialect. Drawing on previous research that we and others have undertaken at several schools, this paper highlights the need for three fundamental changes to take place within language education: (1) school policies to change and explicitly accept and support Aboriginal English in code-switching situations; (2) familiarity among school staff about the major differences between Aboriginal English and SAE; and (3) tasks that focus on developing and practising the ‘when, why and how’ of code-switching

Diversity, Phylogeny and Expression Patterns of Pou and Six Homeodomain Transcription Factors in Hydrozoan Jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbyi

Formation of all metazoan bodies is controlled by a group of selector genes including homeobox genes, highly conserved across the entire animal kingdom. The homeobox genes from Pou and Six classes are key members of the regulation cascades determining development of sensory organs, nervous system, gonads and muscles. Besides using common bilaterian models, more attention has recently been targeted at the identification and characterization of these genes within the basal metazoan phyla. Cnidaria as a diploblastic sister group to bilateria with simple and yet specialized organs are suitable models for studies on the sensory organ origin and the associated role of homeobox genes. In this work, Pou and Six homeobox genes, together with a broad range of other sensory-specific transcription factors, were identified in the transcriptome of hydrozoan jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbyi. Phylogenetic analyses of Pou and Six proteins revealed cnidarian-specific sequence motifs and contributed to the classification of individual factors. The majority of the Craspedacusta sowerbyi Pou and Six homeobox genes are predominantly expressed in statocysts, manubrium and nerve ring, the tissues with sensory and nervous activities. The described diversity and expression patterns of Pou and Six factors in hydrozoan jellyfish highlight their evolutionarily conserved functions. This study extends the knowledge of the cnidarian genome complexity and shows that the transcriptome of hydrozoan jellyfish is generally rich in homeodomain transcription factors employed in the regulation of sensory and nervous functions

Menstrual health and hygiene among Indigenous Australian girls and women: barriers and opportunities

Health inequities inhibit global development and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. One gendered health area, Menstrual Health & Hygiene (MHH), has received increasing attention in Low- and Middle-Income Countries as a barrier to health, wellbeing, and gender equity. Recent anecdotal evidence in Australia highlights that MHH also present challenges to High Income Countries, particularly among underrepresented populations, such as Indigenous Australian peoples, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, or communities that are remotely located. In this article, we chart the emergence of attention to MHH in the Australian context and highlight key considerations for the conduct of research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples within the culturally- and gender-sensitive area of MHH. Further we draw on insights offered by a partnership between female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, NGO stakeholders, and non-Indigenous researchers. Through a convening (yarning circle) held in March 2018, the group identified multiple socioecological considerations for MHH research and practice, including: affordability and access to menstrual products, barriers to knowledge and culturally sensitive education, infrastructure and supply chain challenges, and the necessity of Indigenous-led research and community-driven data collection methods in addressing the sensitive topic. We draw together these insights to develop recommendations for future research, advocacy, and action in Australia

Особливості виховання міжкультурної толерантності у молодших школярів

The article analyzes the features of upbringing children of primary school age in the context of raising intercultural tolerance, gaining experience in solving complex social and ethical tasks related to the problem of the ability to engage in dialogue with peers. The main directions of regulation of the moral behavior of younger students, the presence of a positive emotional attitude of the child to the corresponding patterns of activity and the level of development of moral self-consciousness are determined. It is concluded that an important factor influencing the development of tolerance among younger schoolchildren is their inclusion in the educational environment, as a special social space characterized by social and cultural structure, the presence of key persons (teachers, educators), a significant increase in information flows of cognitive and general cultural character According to the results of studying the scientific works of Ukrainian and foreign scientists and their theoretical analysis, an assumption was made that the younger school age, due to the age and psychological characteristics in the process of the child’s general development, is a favorable period in the development of an interculturally tolerant personality. Knowledge ofintercultural tolerance, acquired by students of primary school age, helps to convince them of the expediency of making decisions and tolerant actions for another person, as well asconsciously manage their own emotions. As a result, the child’s tolerant consciousness should be formed in the process of mastering the subjects' ability to adapt to the social environment and understanding, and successful socialization begins developing the skills of intercultural tolerance. For the upbringing of the younger generation, which should be universal human thinking, it is necessary to consider the cultures of not one, but many nations for comparison and awareness of their values and norms.У статті проаналізовано особливості виховання учнів молодшого шкільного віку у контексті виховання міжкультурної толерантності, набуття досвіду вирішення складних соціально-етичних завдань, повязаних з проблемою уміння вести діалог з однолітками. Визначені головні напрями регуляції моральної поведінки молодших школярів, наявність позитивного емоційного ставлення дитини до відповідних зразків діяльності та рівень розвитку моральної самосвідомості. Зроблено висновок, що важливим чинником, який впливає на розвиток толерантності молодших учнів, є їх включення в освітнє середовище, як особливого соціального простору, для якого характерним є соціальна й культурна структурованість, наявність ключових осіб (педагогів, вихователів), значне зростання інформаційних потоків пізнавального й загальнокультурного характеру. За результатами вивчення наукових праць українських і зарубіжних учених та їх теоретичного аналізу зроблено припущення, що молодший шкільний вік, зумовлений віковими і психологічними особливостями у процесі загального розвитку дитини, є сприятливим періодом у розвитку міжкультурно толерантної особистості. Знання про міжкультурну толерантність, набуті учнями молодшого шкільного віку, допомагають переконувати їх у доцільності прийняття рішень і толерантних учинків щодо іншої особистості, а також усвідомлено управляти власними емоціями. Внаслідок цього толерантна свідомість у дитини має формуватись у процесі оволодіння суб’єктами здібності пристосовуватися до соціального середовища та розуміння його, а успішна соціалізація започатковує розвиток навичок міжкультурної толерантності. Для виховання молодого покоління, яке б мало загальнолюдське мислення, небхідно розглянути культури не одного, а багатьох народів для зіставлення та усвідомлення їхніх цінностей інорм