Biodigital publics: personal genomes as digital media artifacts

The recent proliferation of personal genomics and direct-to-consumer (DTC) genomics has attracted much attention and publicity. Concern around these developments has mainly focused on issues of biomedical regulation and hinged on questions of how people understand genomic information as biomedical and what meaning they make of it. However, this publicity amplifies genome sequences which are also made as internet texts and, as such, they generate new reading publics. The practices around the generation, circulation and reading of genome scans do not just raise questions about biomedical regulation, they also provide the focus for an exploration of how contemporary public participation in genomics works. These issues around the public features of DTC genomic testing can be pursued through a close examination of the modes of one of the best known providers—23andMe. In fact, genome sequences circulate as digital artefacts and, hence, people are addressed by them. They are read as texts, annotated and written about in browsers, blogs and wikis. This activity also yields content for media coverage which addresses an indefinite public in line with Michael Warner’s conceptualisation of publics. Digital genomic texts promise empowerment, personalisation and community, but this promise may obscure the compliance and proscription associated with these forms. The kinds of interaction here can be compared to those analysed by Andrew Barry. Direct-to-consumer genetics companies are part of a network providing an infrastructure for genomic reading publics and this network can be mapped and examined to demonstrate the ways in which this formation both exacerbates inequalities and offers possibilities for participation in biodigital culture

Phase formation processes and synthesis of solid solutions in Ca-R-Nb-M-O systems

During the study of the phase formation process in Ca-R-Nb-M-O systems (R=La, Bi, M=Mo, W), an attempt was made to obtain single-phase compounds of CaRNbMO8 composition by the standard ceramic technique. In addition, samples based on LaNbO4, CaWO4, BiNbO4 were also synthesized by the standard ceramic technique. The phase composition of the samples was studied by XRD analysis. The electrical conductivity of the obtained solid solutions and potential composite materials was investigated by impedance spectroscopy

Формирование конкурентных преимуществ компаниями высокотехнологичных отраслей: модель и ее основные компоненты

Research objective — to create model of obtaining competitive advantages the hi-tech companies. The method of the qualitative and comparative analysis which allows to receive a set of successful and unsuccessful configurations – combinations of factors which bring is chosen or don't lead to desirable result. The model is urged to promote formation of steady competitive advantage — a stable fast conclusion of a large number of qualitative and demanded innovations to the world market. Two successful scenarios for the sector companies "Electronics and technical providing" are revealed. If the company functions in various branches, it needs to concentrate on increase of liquidity and business combination by acquisition affiliated and creations of joint ventures in the macroregion. Managers of the hi-tech companies of the developed countries can use the developed model during the developing and correction of strategy, and also at adoption of administrative decisions. The separate specified factors and were considered earlier in literature, their association in the specified scenario models for obtaining competitive advantages is new development.Цель исследования – создать модель получения конкурентных преимуществ высокотехнологичными компаниями. Выбран метод качественно-сравнительного анализа, который позволяет получить набор успешных и неуспешных конфигураций – комбинации факторов, которые приводят или не приводят к желаемому результату. Модель призвана содействовать формированию устойчивого конкурентного преимущества – стабильного быстрого вывода большого числа качественных и востребованных инноваций на мировой рынок. Выявлено два успешных сценария для компаний сектора «Электроника и техническое обеспечение». Если компания функционирует в различных отраслях, то ей необходимо сконцентрироваться на повышении ликвидности и объединении бизнеса путем приобретения дочерних и создания совместных предприятий в своем макрорегионе. Разработанную модель могут использовать менеджеры высокотехнологичных компаний развитых стран при разработке и корректировке стратегии, а также при принятии управленческих решений. Отдельные указанные факторы и ранее рассматривались в литературе, их объединение в указанные сценарные модели для получения конкурентных преимуществ является новой разработкой

THE ROLE OF COLOR IN OPTIMIZATION EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN WITH ASD

Статья посвящена малоизученной проблеме оптимизации образовательной среды для детей с расстройством аутистического спектра (РАС). На основе изучения теоретических источников обосновываются пути и условия оптимизации образовательной среды. Связь между аутизмом и цветами изучается давно, причем различные цвета оказывают особое влияние на людей с этим заболеванием. Раскрывается роль цвета в оптимизации образовательной среды.The article is devoted to the little-studied problem of optimizing the educational environment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Based on the study of theoretical sources, the ways and conditions of optimizing the educational environment are substantiated. The connection between autism and colors has been studied for a long time, and diff erent colors have a special eff ect on people with this disease. The role of color in the optimization of the educational environment is revealed

Влияние функциональной взаимосвязи понятия, образа и действия на процесс решения междисциплинарных технологически ориентированных задач

This article studies the influence of the methods used by students to solve tasks on the effectiveness of the learning process based on their analysis. The study has revealed that mastering the combined method based on the functional relationship between concept, image and action in the process of solving interdisciplinary technological tasks is one of the mechanisms of effective preparation of students for professional activity in the labour market of related professions.En este artículo, basado en un análisis de los métodos utilizados por los estudiantes para resolver problemas, se investiga su influencia en la efectividad del proceso de aprendizaje. En el curso del estudio, se reveló que el dominio del método combinado, basado en la relación funcional del concepto, la imagen y la acción, en el proceso de resolución de problemas tecnológicos interdisciplinarios es uno de los mecanismos para la preparación efectiva de los estudiantes para actividades profesionales en el contexto de la aparición de profesiones relacionadas en el mercado laboral.В данной статье на основе анализа используемых обучающимися способов решения задач исследуется их влияние на результативность процесса обучения. В процессе исследования выявлено, что владение комбинированным способом, основанном на функциональной взаимосвязи понятия, образа и действия, в процессе решения междисциплинарных технологических задач выступает одним из механизмов эффективной подготовки обучающихся к профессиональной деятельности в условиях появления на рынке труда смежных профессий

Fine Structure of Avalanches in the Abelian Sandpile Model

We study the two-dimensional Abelian Sandpile Model on a square lattice of linear size L. We introduce the notion of avalanche's fine structure and compare the behavior of avalanches and waves of toppling. We show that according to the degree of complexity in the fine structure of avalanches, which is a direct consequence of the intricate superposition of the boundaries of successive waves, avalanches fall into two different categories. We propose scaling ans\"{a}tz for these avalanche types and verify them numerically. We find that while the first type of avalanches has a simple scaling behavior, the second (complex) type is characterized by an avalanche-size dependent scaling exponent. This provides a framework within which one can understand the failure of a consistent scaling behavior in this model.Comment: 10 page

Differences in risk behaviours and HIV status between primary amphetamines and opioid injectors in Estonia and Russia

Background and objective People who inject drugs (PWID) account for over half of new HIV infections in Eastern Europe and central Asia, where opioids continue to be the dominant illicit drugs injected. Stimulants including amphetamines (ATS) have been associated with HIV infection risk in several settings. We sought to examine whether primary ATS injection was associated with greater HIV risk, compared to opioid injection in two European locales with significant HIV epidemics. Methods PWID in Kohtla-Järve and St. Petersburg were recruited using respondent-driven sampling in 2012–2013. Survey data on demographic characteristics, service use, injecting and sexual risk behaviours and HIV-status (and HCV in Kohtla-Järve) were compared between primary opioid and ATS injectors using logistic regression models. Results Of 591 injectors recruited in Kohtla-Järve and 811 in St. Petersburg, 195 (33%) and 27 (4%) primarily injected ATS in each city. In both cities, ATS injectors were younger than opioid injectors, initiated injection later, injected less frequently and were more likely to have been paid for sex. In both cities, PWID had high levels of multiple sex partners. In Kohtla-Järve, ATS-injectors had lower odds of back-loading and greater odds of polydrug use than opioid-injectors. In St. Petersburg, where over half of PWID reported unsafe sharing practices, ATS-injectors were less likely to report these practices. ATS-injection was negatively associated with being HIV positive in Kohtla-Järve (aOR = 0.6; 95%CI: 0.5–0.8) and St. Petersburg (aOR = 0.3; 95%CI: 0.1–0.7). ATS-injection was negatively associated with HCV-reactivity in Kohtla-Järve (aOR = 0.5; 95%CI: 0.3–0.6). Conclusions In both locations, primary ATS injection was associated with lower injecting risk behaviours, lower odds of HIV and being paid for sex compared to opioid injection. Interventions targeting the characteristics and needs of ATS injectors are needed to increase contact with services and reduce sexual and injecting risk. Harm reduction services, including sexual risk reduction, need to be expanded for all PWID in St. Petersburg

Self-organization without conservation: Are neuronal avalanches generically critical?

Recent experiments on cortical neural networks have revealed the existence of well-defined avalanches of electrical activity. Such avalanches have been claimed to be generically scale-invariant -- i.e. power-law distributed -- with many exciting implications in Neuroscience. Recently, a self-organized model has been proposed by Levina, Herrmann and Geisel to justify such an empirical finding. Given that (i) neural dynamics is dissipative and (ii) there is a loading mechanism "charging" progressively the background synaptic strength, this model/dynamics is very similar in spirit to forest-fire and earthquake models, archetypical examples of non-conserving self-organization, which have been recently shown to lack true criticality. Here we show that cortical neural networks obeying (i) and (ii) are not generically critical; unless parameters are fine tuned, their dynamics is either sub- or super-critical, even if the pseudo-critical region is relatively broad. This conclusion seems to be in agreement with the most recent experimental observations. The main implication of our work is that, if future experimental research on cortical networks were to support that truly critical avalanches are the norm and not the exception, then one should look for more elaborate (adaptive/evolutionary) explanations, beyond simple self-organization, to account for this.Comment: 28 pages, 11 figures, regular pape

Avalanches in self-organized critical neural networks: A minimal model for the neural SOC universality class

The brain keeps its overall dynamics in a corridor of intermediate activity and it has been a long standing question what possible mechanism could achieve this task. Mechanisms from the field of statistical physics have long been suggesting that this homeostasis of brain activity could occur even without a central regulator, via self-organization on the level of neurons and their interactions, alone. Such physical mechanisms from the class of self-organized criticality exhibit characteristic dynamical signatures, similar to seismic activity related to earthquakes. Measurements of cortex rest activity showed first signs of dynamical signatures potentially pointing to self-organized critical dynamics in the brain. Indeed, recent more accurate measurements allowed for a detailed comparison with scaling theory of non-equilibrium critical phenomena, proving the existence of criticality in cortex dynamics. We here compare this new evaluation of cortex activity data to the predictions of the earliest physics spin model of self-organized critical neural networks. We find that the model matches with the recent experimental data and its interpretation in terms of dynamical signatures for criticality in the brain. The combination of signatures for criticality, power law distributions of avalanche sizes and durations, as well as a specific scaling relationship between anomalous exponents, defines a universality class characteristic of the particular critical phenomenon observed in the neural experiments. The spin model is a candidate for a minimal model of a self-organized critical adaptive network for the universality class of neural criticality. As a prototype model, it provides the background for models that include more biological details, yet share the same universality class characteristic of the homeostasis of activity in the brain.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figure