Promoting integrative teaching through interdisciplinary arts and crafts collaboration between after-school clubs

This article presents an art-teacher-researcher’s perspective on issues related to project-based integrative visual arts teaching to primary school students attending after-school activities. Based on the theoretical assumption that contemporary art forms are a suitable pedagogical solution for integrative visual arts teaching, the study explores the transformation and materialisation of a conceptual contemporary art installation into a performance. The described processes reveal the potential of contemporary art forms for encouraging integrative teaching through multiprofessional collaboration, which enhances the simultaneous application of the four integrative teaching styles as defined by Bresler (1995): subservient, co-equal, affective and social. The study demonstrates how artistic multiprofessional collaboration, triggered by the contemporary art expression can, in practice, extend the integrative learning opportunities by putting the students into authentic creative processes. The results of this action research confirm that after-school activities provide a favourable environment for quality integrative teaching as they give the freedom to plan educational thematic projects that allow active co-equal collaborations. Such projects unfold the possibilities for learning in collaboration through artistic expression and multidisciplinary discovery, which in turn fosters knowledge and skill transferability that go beyond the discipline-based school curriculum.Peer reviewe

Reliability of a Novel Model for Drug Release from 2D HPMC-Matrices

A novel model of drug release from 2D-HPMC matrices is considered. Detailed mathematical description of matrix swelling and the effect of the initial drug loading are introduced. A numerical approach to solution of the posed nonlinear 2D problem is used on the basis of finite element domain approximation and time difference method. The reliability of the model is investigated in two steps: numerical evaluation of the water uptake parameters; evaluation of drug release parameters under available experimental data. The proposed numerical procedure for fitting the model is validated performing different numerical examples of drug release in two cases (with and without taking into account initial drug loading). The goodness of fit evaluated by the coefficient of determination is presented to be very good with few exceptions. The obtained results show better model fitting when accounting the effect of initial drug loading (especially for larger values)

Materials impact on the EU’s competitiveness of the renewable energy, storage and e-mobility sectors: Wind power, solar photovoltaic and battery technologies

In the context of the decarbonisation of the European energy system and achieving the long-term climate change mitigation objectives, this study assesses the impact of materials on the competitiveness of the EU’s clean energy technology industry, taking into account several factors such as security and concentration of materials supply, price volatility, cost intensity in the technology, etc. These factors, together with the EU’s resilience to potential materials supply disruptions and mitigation possibilities, have been analysed for three technologies, namely wind turbines, solar PV panels and batteries. Wind power was found to be the most vulnerable technology in relation to materials supply, followed by solar PV and batteries. From the materials perspective, several opportunities have been identified to improve the EU’s industrial competitiveness with regard to the deployment of these technologies, such as boosting recycling businesses in the EU, promoting research and innovation, diversifying the supply and strengthening and increasing downstream manufacturing in the EU.JRC.C.7-Knowledge for the Energy Unio

Monolithic Controlled Delivery Systems: Part I. Basic Characteristics and Mechanisms

The article considers contemporary systems for controlled delivery of active agents, such as drugs, agricultural chemicals, pollutants and additives in the environment. A useful classification of the available controlled release systems (CRS) is proposed according to the type of control (passive, active or self-preprogrammed) and according to the main controlling mechanism (diffusion, swelling, dissolution or erosion). Special attention is given to some of the most used CRS - polymer monoliths. The structural and physical-chemical characteristics of CRS as well as the basic approaches to their production are examined. The basic mechanisms of controlled agent release are reviewed in detail and factors influencing the release kinetics are classified according to their importance. The present study can be helpful for understanding and applying the available mathematical models and for developing more comprehensive ones intended for design of new controlled delivery systems

Numerical Modelling of Drug Release from 2D HPMC-Matrices

The article considers numerical modelling of drug release from HPMC-matrices assuming the main controlling processes are diffusion of water and drug and swelling of the matrix. A detailed mathematical description of matrix swelling, connected with the free boundary conditions of the arisen model problem, is introduced. A numerical approach to solution of the posed nonlinear 2D problem is developed on the basis of finite element domain approximation and time difference method. It is implemented in noncommercial software which is used for numerical simulation of fractional drug release under various shapes and sizes of the tablets. This investigation of the effect of aspect ratio (radius/height) and sizes of HPMC tablets on drug release is an inexpensive and effective tool to modify the release kinetics. The proposed numerical approach enables further generalization of the model and performing more profound investigations of the effect of the initial drug loading, matrix erosion and type of release medium

Guest Artist Recital: Iktus Duo

Kemp Recital Hall January 18, 2018 Thursday Evening 7:30 p.m

Necessity of conducting osteoporosis prophylaxis in school

В статията се разглеждат въпроси, свързани със значението на профилактиката на остеопорозата в училищна възраст. Това заболяване е широко разпространено, особено в напреднала възраст, и е обявено за третото по социална значимост след сърдечно-съдовите и онкологичните заболявания.Остеопорозата е прогресиращо метаболитно заболяване на костите, което се обуславя от нарушено равновесие между процесите на изграждане и разграждaне на костната тъкан. Най-масово е разпространена първичната остеопороза. Тя засяга предимно жените в менопауза, тъй като организмът им не приема подхранващите костния скелет хормон-естрогени.Основно значение за лечението на остеопорозата има своевременното откриване и ранната профилактика на заболяването. Загубата на костна маса протича незабелязано и безсимптомно в продължение на години, докато не настъпят болки в кръста, намаляване на ръста, изкривяване на гръбначния стълб и фрактура.Медицинските сестри, работещи в училищата, имат важна роля в профилактиката на остеопорозата. Те трябва да участват активно в обучението на децата, като спомагат за изграждане на навици за здравословен начин на живот.The present paper discusses issues related to the importance of osteoporosis prophylaxis in school age. This disease is prevalent in elderly people and was announced to be the third most socially significant one after cardiovascular and oncologic diseases. Osteoporosis is a progressive metabolic bone disease, which is determined by the balance disorder between the processes of building and decrease of bone tissue. Primary osteoporosis is the most widely spread. It affects mainly menopausal women, since their body does not accept the skeleton maintaining hormone estrogen.Timely detection and early prevention are essential for the treatment of osteoporosis. Bone matter loss goes unnoticed and asymptomatic for years until the appearance of back pain, loss of height, curvature of the spine and fractures.The nurses working at schools have an important role in the prevention of osteoporosis. They should participate actively in the teaching of the children by helping to construct habits for a healthy lifestyle

Библиографска информационна система за българска лексикология, фразеология и лексикография

Abstrakt wystąpienia przygotowanego na konferencję "Nowoczesne systemy slawistycznej informacji bibliograficznej – dziś i jutro" (Warszawa, 8-9 października 2015 r.). Organizatorzy konferencji: Instytut Slawistyki PAN, Komisja Bibliograficzna przy Międzynarodowym Komitecie Slawistów