Towards realistic laparoscopic image generation using image-domain translation

none5openMarzullo, Aldo; Moccia, Sara; Catellani, Michele; Calimeri, Francesco; Momi, Elena DeMarzullo, Aldo; Moccia, Sara; Catellani, Michele; Calimeri, Francesco; Momi, Elena D

The Geopolitical Context of Chamorro Cultural Preservation in Guam, U.S.A.

An unincorporated Pacific Island territory of the United States, Guam has been under American rule since 1 898. While proudly Chamorro, the descendants of indigenous islanders have been American citizens since 1 950. U.S. foreign policy, Americanization of island institutions, immigration flows from Asia and Micronesia, and economic uncertainty present challenges to the perpetuation of Chamorro culture-a syncretic blend of indigenous, Spanish, and American influences that has endured through centuries of foreign domination. As a gateway from the East to the United States and a frequent destination for Micronesian immigrants from the Compacts of Free Association, Guam regularly receives immigrants from Asia and other Micronesian islands. Many immigrants arrive on Guam to fill labor shortages as professionals or construction workers, while others arrive with limited resources and skills that don\u27t easily transfer across cultures. Adding to this mix, a major U.S. military build-up is underway to transform Guam into a forward base in the Pacific. This article provides a case study of Guam through an overview of historical influences on Chamorro culture, a description of the island\u27s contemporary multicultural society, and a discussion of current geopolitical and social forces impacting Chamorro culture in the land where America\u27s day begins. Keywords: Chamorro studies, ethnic studies, cultural preservation, ethnic stratification, indigenous studies, colonialis

Design and feasibility testing of a novel group intervention for young women who binge drink in groups

BackgroundYoung women frequently drink alcohol in groups and binge drinking within these natural drinking groups is common. This study describes the design of a theoretically and empirically based group intervention to reduce binge drinking among young women. It also evaluates their engagement with the intervention and the acceptability of the study methods.MethodsFriendship groups of women aged 18–35 years, who had two or more episodes of binge drinking (>6 UK units on one occasion; 48g of alcohol) in the previous 30 days, were recruited from the community. A face-to-face group intervention, based on the Health Action Process Approach, was delivered over three sessions. Components of the intervention were woven around fun activities, such as making alcohol free cocktails. Women were followed up four months after the intervention was delivered. Results The target of 24 groups (comprising 97 women) was recruited. The common pattern of drinking was infrequent, heavy drinking (mean consumption on the heaviest drinking day was UK 18.1 units). Process evaluation revealed that the intervention was delivered with high fidelity and acceptability of the study methods was high. The women engaged positively with intervention components and made group decisions about cutting down. Twenty two groups set goals to reduce their drinking, and these were translated into action plans. Retention of individuals at follow up was 87%.ConclusionsThis study successfully recruited groups of young women whose patterns of drinking place them at high risk of acute harm. This novel approach to delivering an alcohol intervention has potential to reduce binge drinking among young women. The high levels of engagement with key steps in the behavior change process suggests that the group intervention should be tested in a full randomised controlled trial

The problem of formalization of some nonstandard semantics

I shall propose the formalization of some nonstandard semantics in sequential form

МОТИВАЦИЯ ИЗБИРАТЕЛЬНОГО ОТНОШЕНИЯ ШКОЛЬНИКОВ К УЧЕБНЫМ ПРЕДМЕТАМ

This article analyses selective attitude of teenage students towards school subjects. Selectivity in the attitude to the World is found in any living or acting agent. We consider selectivity regarding school subjects to be a manifestation of the learning agent’s position. Children were found to significantly differ in their attitudes regarding social value (importance for a present-day educated person), interestingness (ability to interest), and direct appeal (regarding as favorite) of subjects. Although, objectively, these criteria may be in harmony with each other, assessments of one and the same subject against them may show statistically significant fluctuations. The direct cognitive motive, i.e. interest in the subject, shows lower results than assessment of its social value, the direct appeal (regarding a subject as favorite) being even lower. As for the general attitude towards learning, the cognitive motive also demonstrates lower results in general. Selectivity regarding schools subjects in relation to age shows stagnancy from the 5th to 10th grade. A change is observed only in the final grade (11), when the motivational landscape for learning remarkably shrinks due to focus on career in the nearest future.Este artículo analiza la actitud selectiva de los adolescentes hacia las asignaturas escolares. La selectividad en la actitud hacia el mundo se encuentra en cualquier agente vivo o actuante. Consideramos que la selectividad con respecto a las materias escolares es una manifestación de la posición del agente de aprendizaje. Se encontró que los niños diferían significativamente en sus actitudes con respecto al valor social (importancia para una persona educada en la actualidad), interés (capacidad de interés) y atractivo directo (como favorito) de los sujetos. Aunque, objetivamente, estos criterios pueden estar en armonía unos con otros, las evaluaciones de uno y el mismo tema en su contra pueden mostrar fluctuaciones estadísticamente significativas. El motivo cognitivo directo, es decir, el interés en el sujeto, muestra resultados más bajos que la evaluación de su valor social, siendo aún más bajo el atractivo directo (en relación con un sujeto como favorito). En cuanto a la actitud general hacia el aprendizaje, el motivo cognitivo también muestra resultados más bajos en general. La selectividad con respecto a las asignaturas escolares en relación con la edad muestra estancamiento desde el quinto al décimo grado. Solo se observa un cambio en la calificación final (11), cuando el panorama motivacional para el aprendizaje se reduce notablemente debido al enfoque en la carrera en el futuro más cercano.В статье анализируется избирательное отношение школьников-подростков к учебным предметам. Избирательность в отношении к Миру – это одно из проявлений субъекта жизни и любой деятельности. Избирательность в отношении учебных предметов рассматривается нами как как одно из проявлений позиции субъекта учения. Установлено, что у детей существенно расходятся оценки предметов по их социальной значимости (важности для современного образованного человека), интересности и непосредственной привлекательности (отнесенности предмета к числу любимых). Хотя объективно эти параметры могут находиться в гармоничном соотношении, оценки по ним одного и того же предмета в ряде случаев статистически значимо различаются. Непосредственный познавательный мотив - интерес к предмету - представлен более низкими показателями, чем оценка его социальной значимости, а непосредственная привлекательность (обозначение предмета как любимого) еще ниже. По общему отношению к учению познавательный мотив в целом также имеет невысокие показатели. Возрастная динамика избирательности в отношении учебных предметов характеризуется стагнацией с V поX класс. Определенный сдвиг наблюдается только в выпускном XI классе, когда мотивационный план учения заметно сужается в связи с профессиональной ориентацией на ближайшую перспективу