Assessment of engineering mathematics in the context of distance learning

Mathematics is a crucial component of programmes on engineering, science and technology. In the context of computerised distance learning education, the subject of engineering mathematics is often delivered and assessed through a digital learning environment. This paper gives an overview of the history of distance learning education and its mathematics component. It also discusses the most popular on-line automated technologies applied to the assessment and evaluation of engineering mathematics including problems of the on-line representation of mathematical graphs and equations in the assessment material

Deadly Disinformation: Viral Conspiracy Theories as a Radicalization Mechanism

Viral online disinformation is misleading content that is generated to manipulate public opinion and to circulate rapidly in the digital space. Although viral disinformation has become an instrument for radicalization, the specific psychological mechanisms by which disinformation can be weaponized––wielded as mobilizing and radicalizing political tools––are not yet well-understood. In this paper, we establish the potential of concerted disinformation efforts to impact mass radicalization and political violence, first through historical precedents of deadly disinformation campaigns, then in modern-day examples from the USA and Russia. Comparing and contrasting political effects of two recent disinformation campaigns, QAnon’s #SaveTheChildren campaign in the USA, and anti-LGBTQ disinformation campaign in Russia, this paper highlights the significance of LGBTQ contagion threat—a notion that people can be “turned” into LGBTQ through deliberate outside influence. The psychological and political consequences of such messaging, its main target audience, and vulnerability factors rendering individuals especially susceptible to its radicalizing effects are discussed

Роль принципов уголовного права

Рахманова Е. Н. Роль принципов уголовного права / Е. Н. Рахманова // Про злочини та покарання: еволюція кримінально-правової доктрини : матеріали Міжнар. наук.-практ. конф., присвяченої 250-річчю трактату Чезаре Беккаріа (м. Одеса, 13 черв. 2014 р.) / редкол. : С. В. Ківалов (голов. ред.), В. О. Туляков (заст. голов ред.), Є. Л. Стрельцов (заст. голов ред.), Д. О. Балобанова ; МОН України, НУ ОЮА, ПРЦ НАПрН України, Одес. відділ. ГО «Всеукр. асоц. кримін. права». — Одеса : Юрид. л-ра, 2014. - С. 146-150

Eurasische Widersprüche: Die Eurasische Wirtschaftsunion zwischen Integration und Isolation

Während seine Beziehungen zum Westen immer frostiger werden, treibt Russland im postsowjetischen Raum die Institutionalisierung der Eurasischen Wirtschaftsunion (EAWU) voran. Obwohl die Ukrainekrise die innen-, wirtschafts- und geopolitischen Widersprüche zwischen den Ländern der EAWU offenlegt, sollten die EU-Mitgliedstaaten die EAWU nicht politisch ignorieren, sondern neben bilateralen Beziehungen zu ihren Mitgliedstaaten auch Beziehungen zu den EAWU-Institutionen aufbauen und diese anerkennen

Mechanical aspects of nonhomogeneous deformation of aluminum single crystals under compression along [100] and [110] directions

The deformation behavior of aluminum single crystals subjected to compression along the [100] and [110] directions is numerically examined in terms of crystal plasticity. A constitutive model taking into account slip geometry in face-centered cubic crystals is developed using experimental data for the single-crystal samples with lateral sides coplanar to certain crystal planes. Two sets of calculations are performed using ABAQUS/Explicit to examine the features of plastic strain evolution in perfectly plastic and strain-hardened crystals. Special attention is given to the discussion of mechanical aspects of crystal fragmentation. Several distinct deformation stages are revealed in the calculations. In the first stage, narrow solitary fronts of plastic deformation are alternately formed near the top or bottom surfaces and then propagate towards opposite ends to save the symmetry of the crystal shape. The strain rate within the fronts is an order of magnitude higher than the average strain rate. The first stage lasts longer in the strain-hardened crystals, eventually giving way to an intermediate stage of multiple slips in different crystal parts. Finally, the crystal shape becomes asymmetrical, but no pronounced macroscopic strain localization has been revealed at any deformation stage. The second stage in perfectly plastic crystals relates to abrupt strain localization within a through-thickness band-shaped region, accompanied by macroscale crystal fragmentation. Stress analysis has shown that pure compression took place only in the first deformation stage. Once the crystal shape has lost its symmetry, the compressive stress in some regions progressively decreases to zero and eventually turns tensile

A NUMERICAL STUDY OF THE MICROSCALE PLASTIC STRAIN LOCALIZATION IN FRICTION STIR WELD ZONES

A crystal plasticity approach was used to study the effects of grain shape and texture on the deformation behavior of friction stir weld (FSW) microregions. The explicit stress-strain analysis was performed for two representative grain structures with equiaxed and extended grains. Grain orientations were assigned to simulate no texture or a weak or strong cubic texture. Calculations have shown that the texture gave rise to earlier plastic strain localization on a larger scale. The highest stresses were found to develop in a non-textured specimen with equiaxed grains where the grain boundaries served as a barrier to dislocation motion. In both equiaxed and extended grain structures with a strong cubic texture no pronounced strain localization was seen on the grain scale but mesoscale shear bands appeared early in the deformation process. The calculations have shown that the microstructure-based simulation is a reasonable tool to study the deformation behavior of FSW materials, which is difficult to be predicted within macroscopic models alone

Pegvisomant and current approaches to the medical treatment of acromegaly (literature review and case report)

This review provides the main results of clinical trials and the literature on the experience of using pegvisomant, the first drug from the class of growth hormone receptor antagonists. The mechanism of action of the drug, its effectiveness with respect to disease control and its effect on complications, information on adverse events, and brief information on the experience of use during pregnancy are discussed in detail. In conclusion, a clinical observation of successful use of pegvisomant in resistant to standart treatment acromegaly is given. A discussion of the available literature data, the results of clinical studies and practical experience allows us to conclude that the drug is highly effective in terms of achieving biochemical remission of acromegaly, and also has a number of additional valuable properties: it is capable of improvement of patients’ glucose metabolism and quality of life and has a minimal amount of adverse events. Pegvisomant is currently registered in the Russian Federation only for use in monotherapy; the possibility of combination therapy with somatostatin analogues will additionally allow to reliably control the growth of the pituitary adenoma and significantly cut treatment costs by reducing the dose of pegvisomant. These features of the drug make it very relevant when discussing issues related to drug therapy of acromegaly, and suggest a good prospect for use in clinical practice