Problems and Tasks of Higher Pedagogical Education at the Present Stage of Country’s Development

The analysis of the reasons why numerous attempts to update the Russian education system do not lead to the desired result and cause increasing criticism is carried out. One of the main reasons is seen in the violation of the systematic approach in solving the issues of the development of education in modern conditions. It is pointed out that the educational sphere, in fact, is always based on solving three problems: “what to teach”, “how to teach”, “why to teach”.The key question, that illuminates everything else, is the main question – in what social, economic and technological structure of society a person who receives education at any level, from preschool to university, has to live and work. Violation of the sequence of solving these problems, their inconsistency and the lack of a scientific justification ahead of the decisions made, inevitably lead to internal contradictions in the system being built and reduce its effectiveness.The analysis of why the Bologna system, which is widespread in a large number of countries with different levels of socio-economic status, turned out to be ineffective in Russia was made. It is shown that this system in its origin is a system of general higher non-professional education and an attempt to adapt it for receiving professional education in our country cannot be successful by its definition. It is said about the need of building a domestic multi-level system of professional higher education in modern conditions

Feasibility Study of the Effects of Water Quality on Soil Properties in the Red River Valley

The suitability of water for irrigation depends upon many factors, of primary concern is the quantity and quality of salts present in the water Ayers and Wescot1. If total dissolved solids in the irrigation water are too high, salts accumulate in the crop root zone to the extent that yields are reduced. Excessive soil salinity means the crops have difficulty extracting water from the soil solution. The other problems with respect to salinity are concerned with the effects of water quality on permeability of soil to water. The effects of specific ions such as Na or lack of salts in the water can reduce permeability to the extent that crops are not adequately supplied with water and yields are reduced. As pointed out by Rhoades and Ingvalson > and Frenkel, Goertzen and Rhoades2 one of the major factors affecting the suitability of water for irrigation is its sodicity hazard usually expressed as SAR. According to these investigators, our greatest limitation in assessing the sodium hazard is our inability to predict how the water will affect soil structure and permeability. This may be because soil structural stability or instability is a function of many factors. The effect of Na on soil structure can be modified by other soil properties such as texture, organic matter, etc. In Texas, Naghshineh-Pour, Kunze and Carson (6) stated that sodium absorption ratio (SAR), exchangeable Na percentage (ESP), electrolyte concentration, clay content, free iron oxides and clay mineral species are important factors involved in permeability of selected soils. Saffaf (9) noted the decrease of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity with decreasing electrolyte concentrations and increasing the SAR (sodium absorption ratio) of the soil solution was especially pronounced for swelling clay soils. Water in the Red River Basin is often high in salinity and in sodium concentrations (high SAR). Studies evaluated the influences of present and "predicted after reclamation" dissolved solids (TDS) and SAR on permeability of different soils in the Red River Basin. These studies should give some insight as to the effect of present levels of SAR on soil structure and permeability. It was also the purpose of this investigation to evaluate the effects of reduced SAR and total dissolved solids(TDS) on soil permeability. The permeability to rainfall (low TDS) of soils leached with different levels of SAR and salinity was simulated and determined in the laboratory. 1 Contributions of Texas AGM Research and Extension Center at Chillicothe-Vernon, Dallas, Munday and Texas A&M Water Resources Institute; College Station and supported in part by the Tulsa District, U.S. Corps of Engineers. 2 Professor, Chillicothe-Vernon; Associate Professor, Dallas; Director, Water Resources Institute, College Station; Research Engineer, Munday; and formerly Professor, Chillicothe-Vernon

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction: etiology, clinical features, diagnosis

Introduction. The present study analyzed the possibility of using neuropsychological tests to assess postoperative cognitive dysfunction. New data were obtained: in the postoperative period, hippocampal memory impairments predominate in patients, which makes it expedient to use methods for diagnosing primary modal-nonspecific memory disorders in patients who are to undergo neurosurgical intervention on the spinal cord.The aim of the study to evaluate the influence of surgery with anesthesia on the cognitive functions of middle-age patients.Materials and methods. The study included 20 middle-aged patients. All patients had to undergo spinal surgery. Patients received total intravenous anesthesia with propofol induction (4–12 mg/kg/hr). Cognitive functions before and after the operation were made with the use of the MoCA, TMT A and B, FCSRT, state-trait anxiety inventory test (STAI).Results. The development of POCD was noted in 15% of cases. The patients showed a decrease in the FCSRT prompt index (1st day = 87 ± 9.0; 2nd day = 83 ± 15; p = 0,0005), while the overall severity of cognitive impairments (total score of MoCA) did not change significantly (standard deviation according to MoCA: 24.25 ± 2.86 on day 1 and 24 ± 3.24 on the second day, p = 0.61). The RT level decreased by day 2: 44.65 ± 7.4 versus 41.1 ± 8.2 (p = 0.001). Correlation analysis did not show the relationship between the age of patients, education level, comorbidity and development of POCD; however, the duration of anesthesia was associated with a decrease in MoCA scores (Pearson’s correlation coefficient r = –0.44; p = 0.050).Conclusion. Thus, our study shows that the study of hippocampal memory impairments is important in patients with POCD. These data differ from the data of researchers presented earlier, where the most important clinical manifestations of POCD are considered to be a decrease in attention and speed of mental processes. Of course, the small sample size dictates the need for additional research

Fully three-dimensional sound speed-corrected multi-wavelength photoacoustic breast tomography

Photoacoustic tomography is a contrast agent-free imaging technique capable of visualizing blood vessels and tumor-associated vascularization in breast tissue. While sophisticated breast imaging systems have been recently developed, there is yet much to be gained in imaging depth, image quality and tissue characterization capability before clinical translation is possible. In response, we have developed a hybrid photoacoustic and ultrasound-transmission tomographic system PAM3. The photoacoustic component has for the first time three-dimensional multi-wavelength imaging capability, and implements substantial technical advancements in critical hardware and software sub-systems. The ultrasound component enables for the first time, a three-dimensional sound speed map of the breast to be incorporated in photoacoustic reconstruction to correct for inhomogeneities, enabling accurate target recovery. The results demonstrate the deepest photoacoustic breast imaging to date namely 48 mm, with a more uniform field of view than hitherto, and an isotropic spatial resolution that rivals that of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The in vivo performance achieved, and the diagnostic value of interrogating angiogenesis-driven optical contrast as well as tumor mass sound speed contrast, gives confidence in the system's clinical potential.Comment: 33 pages Main Body, 9 pages Supplementary Materia

A comparison of irrigation timing techniques on high density cotton

Due to the character of the original source materials and the nature of batch digitization, quality control issues may be present in this document. Please report any quality issues you encounter to [email protected], referencing the URI of the item.Not availabl

Subsurface drip irrigation: status of the technology in 2010

Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), although a much smaller fraction of the microirrigated land area than surface drip irrigation, is growing at a much faster rate and is the subject of considerable research and educational efforts in the U.S. This article discusses the growth of SDI, highlights some of the research and extension efforts, and points out some of the challenges to SDI adoption and some of the future opportunities for SDI

The Real Picture of Professional Multidimensionality

Professional multidimensionality is ability of a specialist to correlate the directions, approaches (integrity) and/or to combine performance of several functions (multifunctionality), to conjoin the simultaneous solution of several tasks (multitasking). The empirical research on identification of a real picture of professional multidimensionality of specialists in three fields of activity was performed by research associates group of the Nizhnekamsk office of UNESCO department at A.I. Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University under the leadership of the authors of this article. In their professional activity specialists most often apply such basic multidimensional competences as multifunctionality, multitasking and integrity. Empirical experiment covered 180 representatives of different spheres of professional activity. On the basis of experimental studies we received the following results. Rather high level of professional multidimensionality is shown by research associates – 27,9% of them possess multifunctionality, 23,3% – multitasking, 18,6% – integrity, 13,8% – the combined multidimensional competences. Among elementary school teachers professional multidimensionality is demonstrated thus: 21,1 % of them show multifunctionality, 24,7% – multitasking, 15,3% – integrity, 7.2% – the combined multidimensional competences. Professional multidimensionality among drivers of buses is demonstrated thus: 15,4 % of them possess multifunctionality, 13,5% – multitasking. Drivers of buses show absence of integrity and the combined multidimensional competences