Different approaches in sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) conductivity measurements

Ion conductivity of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membranes with various degree of sulfonation (DS) was investigated using impedance analysis with different measuring cell configuration and ion conductivity was calculated from resistances of polymer membranes. SPEEK was synthesized from poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) via sulfonation reaction in concentrated sulfuric acid (95-98%). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of membrane surface was performed to determine possible mechanical damage to the membrane during resistance measurements.Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program project No 768789; Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART

THE CHALLENGES, RISKS AND PROSPECTS OF THE REALISATION OF THE MUSIC METHODOLOGY MODULE OF ONE – YEAR EDUCATION PROGRAMME

The reform of teachers’ education commenced by the Ministry of Education and Science provides an opportunity to obtain a qualification as a teacher within one year, encompassing studies based in a working environment for those who already have higher education. The goal of the research is to identify the challenges, risks and perspectives of the realization of the module “Music methodology” of the study course “Integrated methods in Teaching Culture Understanding and Self-expression in Art” within the one-year study programme “Skolotājs”. The research compared study course plans in music teaching and choir work methodology at two Latvian higher education institutions, as well as at two foreign higher education institution, where a qualification as a music teacher at a comprehensive school can be attained. The research was undertaken based on an analysis of theoretical sources, providing an understanding about a synthesis of varying contemporary methodological approaches. It encompasses the acquisition of a knowledge of cultural history and the history of music, the style and future directions of popular music, desirably not just theoretically but practically as well, in the education of the students. The actualization of such study courses as music teaching methodology, the research process in music teaching, music history and stylistics, the psychology of music, conducting, choir/vocal ensemble work, methodology and music project management are important for the high quality and integrated acquisition of music teaching methodology

Composite membranes of sulfonated poly (Ether ether ketone) with active carbon: Composite preparation and investigation of their properties for potential application for co2 electrochemical reduction

Authors of this work acknowledge funding from European Union`s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program project under grant agreement No 768789.In this study, synthesis of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) was performed using sulfonation method with concentrated sulfuric acid. Polymer with three degrees of sulfonation was obtained: 0.87; 0.82 and 0.74. Composite membranes were synthesized with an activated carbon. Ultrasonication method was used in order to achieve homogeneity of distribution of the additive in polymer solution and then in polymer membranes. Membranes with various content of the additive were made: 0; 0.15; 0.3; 0.5; 0.6; 0.8; 1.0; 2.0 and 3.0 %. Swelling degree, water uptake, proton conductivity, isoelectric point, thermal properties and surface morphology of the membranes were analyzed. Proton conductivity was determined using impedance analysis with two electrode system and through-plane configuration. Two methods were used: differential and single membrane method. Differential method is proposed to have significant advantage as it reduces contact resistance, which otherwise is difficult to control and evaluate. Surface zeta potential of membrane surface was investigated, and membranes have shown variation of the potential. Isoelectric point was determined for the membranes with DS 0.82 and carbon content 0 % and 0.5 %, and it was found to be at pH 4. Water uptake and swelling degree of the membranes was studied, and active carbon content was found to not have major influence on those properties, but higher content of sulfonic groups leads to increased water uptake and swelling degree. Thermogravimetric analysis showed slightly better thermal properties of membranes with the additive, compared to the blank membranes, which can be related to differences in the water uptake. Surface of the membrane was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, and no considerable defects were observed.Horizon 2020 No 768789; Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART

Vitamin B and zinc supplements and capsaicin oral rinse treatment options for burning mouth syndrome

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Background and Objectives: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is an enigmatic, idiopathic, chronic, often painful clinical entity, where patients experience oral burning without clear clinical changes on the oral mucosa. There are yet to be well established standardized and validated definitions, diagnostic criteria or classifications for burning mouth syndrome. The aim of this study is to determine whether vitamin B complex and zinc supplements or 0.02% topical capsaicin rinse, can help alleviate BMS pain/burning levels. The objectives: (1) Gather data before and after treatment with vitamin B complex and zinc supplements (2) After the vitamin B complex and zinc protocol gather data before and after treatment with 0.02% topical capsaicin rinse (3) Data analysis and assessment for both treatment methods. Materials and Methods: 89 patients took part in the vitamin B and zinc supplement treatment regimen, out of those 20 patients took part in the capsaicin rinse treatment regimen. Before and after each treatment pain/burning levels were determined using the Visual analogue scale, salivary flow was also determined. Results: Both treatment methods showed statistically significant data in reducing pain/burning levels. There were no statistically significant changes in the salivary flow after any treatment. Conclusion: vitamin B and zinc supplement therapy and topical capsaicin rinse therapy can be an effective way to decrease pain/burning sensation levels in patients with BMS. More research should be conducted to determine the benefit of either vitamin B and zinc supplement therapy or topical capsaicin rinse therapy, so that BMS patients have treatment options, that have as few side-effects as possible.Peer reviewe

Pre-School Children's Possibility of Enhancing Learning Motivation in the Process of Learning Violin

Motivation has always been an essence of human actions derived from each individual’s goals, needs , interests, abilities, etc. Motivation formes from an early age, when a child starts to unerstand that something is necessary, important, and that he has to act to satisfy the need. Pre-school age group children are interested in surrounding world regarding new knowledge and skills which can be obtained and developed, therefore, by observating this age group, parent’s and/or teacher’s first steps in cognition and promotion of child’s learning motivation are taken.Promoting children’s motivation to learn during educational process is one of the most pressing pedagogical issues, especially nowadays when child loses primary desire to learn and explore under the influence of tehnology and widely available information resources. Therefore the issue of promoting learning motivation in pre-school age was designated to reasearch, because this is the period when the foundation of the whole future life is laid – considering learning, defining objectives and achieving goals.The objective of this research to explore pre-school children's possibility of enhancing learning motivation in the process of learning violin.

Candidiasis and Other Bacterial Infections among Patients Diagnosed with Burning Mouth Syndrome

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.Background and Objectives: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a state in which a patient experiences intraoral burning or a dysesthetic sensation without clinically evident causative lesions in the oropharyngeal area. The disorder is linked to a variety of conditions, including dry mouth, Candida, and bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of oral Candida and/or bacterial infections among patients with BMS and whether they have an effect on pain/burning and salivary flow levels. Objectives: (1) Gather patient data regarding the presence of oral infections, dry mouth, and pain levels in the morning, afternoon, and evening periods; (2) data analysis and assessment to determine medians, means, frequencies, correlations, and statistically significant differences between patient groups. Materials and Methods: Overall, 173 patients (23 males and 150 females) with BMS and 13 controls (five males and eight females) took part in the study. We measured pain/burning levels, unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow, the percentage of patients infected with Candida species and/or bacterial species, and the said species growth in Petri dishes. Results: Candida albicans was the most commonly found infection among patients with BMS (n = 28, 16.2%). Overall, 21.4% patients with BMS were diagnosed with either C. albicans or another Candida species. Enterobacter had the richest growth among patients with BMS (7.5% out of the infected 10.4% BMS patients). No statistical significance could be noted between the existence of either Candida species or bacterial species infections and changes in pain/burning and salivary flow levels. Negative correlations were noted between age and unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow, and positive correlations were noted between age and Candida andspecific bacteria species’ growth levels. Conclusions: Although patients with present bacterial or Candida infections showed a marginal increase in pain/burning levels, no direct statistically significant associations could be made between the presence of Candida species or other bacteria and the symptoms among patients with BMS.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Relational Database information availability to Semantic Web technologies

Thesis is about possible ways to connect semantic web technologies and relational databases. RDB2OWL language is developed that enable to define mappings between elements of OWL ontology and relational database schema in a concise and human readable form. The language is aimed to get ontology class instances and property values from relational database data, e.g, to generate RDF from relational table data. Promocijas darbā apskatītas Semantiskā tīmekļa tehnoloģiju un relāciju datu bāzu sasaistes iespējas. Izstrādāta valoda RDB2OWL, kas ļauj īsi un cilvēkam lasāmā formā nodibināt atbilstību starp OWL ontoloģijas un relāciju datu bāzes shēmas elementiem ar mērķi iegūt ontoloģijas klašu instances un īpašību vērtības no relāciju datiem, t.i., iegūt RDF trijniekus no tabulu rakstiem.This work has been supported by the European Social Fund within the project «Support for Doctoral Studies at University of Latvia