Towards evaluating the impact of recommender systems on visitor experience in physical museums

Recommender systems have been used in physical museums to improve visitor experience; yet to assess their impact empirically, researchers often rely on the user experience criteria alone. In this paper, we examine the multidimensionality of visitor experience, specifically the components and factors that shape it. We present a framework that is built on existing bodies of knowledge about visitor experience and that serves as a starting point to further evaluate the transformations caused by the integration of recommender systems in museums. We then conclude that current approaches to testing the impact of recommender systems on visitor experience should be expanded beyond evaluations of user satisfaction level to include the demonstrated aspects of visitor experience. This research aims to contribute to a more in-depth understanding of the differences between visitor and user experience types as well as to address the need for a more comprehensive set of guidelines to evaluate how recommender systems enhance visitor experience in physical museums

Thermography of flame during diesel fuel combustion with steam gasification

The paper represents a study concerning the combustion of liquid hydrocarbon fuel in a perspective burner device with the controlled forced supply of overheated steam into the combustion zone, using diesel fuel. The thermal imaging measurements are conducted for the outer flame of the burner device in the wide range of regime parameters (flow rate and temperature of steam). A thermal imaging camera (FLIR, JADE J530SB) is used in the experiments. The effective emissivity coefficient of flame is obtained versus the flow rate of steam supplied. The steam parameters are found to influence on the temperature in the outer flame of the burner device

Вплив нового комбінованого крему на білково-синтетичну активність клітин на моделі термічних пошкоджень шкіри у щурів

Aim. To study the mechanisms of the reparative action of a new combined cream on the model of thermal burn injury in rats.Materials and methods. On the model of thermal burn in rats the reparative properties of the new combined cream under the conditional name “Dermalipoin” containing α-lipoic acid, urea, olive oil, tea tree oil, PEG-400 were studied. To determine the level of the protein synthetic activity of cells (epitheliocytes of the stratified squamous epithelium in the epidermis and cells of the fibroblast cell in the edges of healing of thermal damage) the content of ribonucleoproteins (RNP) in the cytoplasm and deoxyribonucleoproteins (DNP) in the nuclei of the cells was assessed by the cytometric method.Results and discussion. On the model of thermal burn in rats “Dermalipoin” cream showed a more active effect on reparative processes compared to the reference drugs – methyluracil ointment and “Titriol” gel. It indicates a significant increase in the protein synthetic function of epitheliocytes of the stratified squamous epithelium in the epidermis and cells of the fibroblastic series at the healing edges. The reparative activity of the cream was, first of all, provided by the presence of thiol (sulfhydryl) groups in the molecule of lipoic acid, giving it the properties of an antioxidant. The antioxidant effect of lipoic acid promotes more efficient DNA molecule reparation after damage as a result of the oxidative stress.Conclusions. “Dermalipoin” cream shows a marked reparative effect due to the increase of the protein synthetic activity and acceleration of reparation of DNA molecules of epithelial cells after damage; as a result, the process of healing burns accelerates.Цель – исследование механизмов репаративного действия нового комбинированного крема на модели термической ожоговой травмы у крыс.Материалы и методы. На модели термического ожога у крыс изучены репаративные свойства нового комбинированного крема, условно названного «Дермалипоин», в состав которого вошли: α-липоевая кислота, мочевина, оливкове масло, масло чайного дерева, ПЭГ-400. Для определения уровня белково-синтетической активности клеток (эпителиоцитов многослойного плоского эпителия в зоне эпидермизации и клеток фибробластического ряда в краях заживления термического повреждения) проводили оценку содержания рибонуклеопротеидов в цитоплазме и дезоксирибонуклеопротеидов в ядрах клеток методом цитофотометрии.Результаты и их обсуждение. На модели термического ожога у крыс крем Дермалипоин по сравнению с препаратами сравнения мазью метилурациловой и гелем Титриол проявил более активное воздействие на репаративные процессы, о чем свидетельствовало достоверное увеличение белково-синтетической функции эпителиоцитов многослойного плоского эпителия в зоне эпидермизации и клеток фибробластического ряда в краях заживления. Репаративную активность крема прежде всего обеспечило наличие тиоловых (сульфгидрильных) групп в молекуле липоевой кислоты, что обеспечивает ей свойства антиоксиданта. Антиоксидантный эффект липоевой кислоты способствует более эффективной репарации молекул ДНК после повреждения в результате «окислительного стресса».Выводы. Крем Дермалипоин проявляет выраженное репаративное действие за счет увеличения белково-синтетической активности и ускорения репарации молекул ДНК эпителиоцитов после повреждения, что проявляется ускорением процесса заживления ожогов.Мета – дослідження механізмів репаративної дії нового комбінованого крему на моделі термічної опікової травми у щурів. Матеріали та методи. На моделі термічного опіку у щурів досліджені репаративні властивості нового комбінованого крему, умовно названого «Дермаліпоїн», до складу якого увійшли: α-ліпоєва кислота, сечовина, оливкова олія, олія чайного дерева, ПЕГ-400. Для визначення рівня білково-синтетичної активності клітин (епітеліоцитів багатошарового плоского епітелію в зоні епідермізації і клітин фібробластичного ряду в краях загоєння термічного пошкодження) проводили оцінку вмісту рибонуклеопротеїдів у цитоплазмі і дезоксирибонуклеопротеїдів у ядрах клітин методом цитофотометрії.Результати та їх обговорення. На моделі термічного опіку у щурів крем Дермаліпоїн порівняно з препаратами порівняння – маззю метилурациловою та гелем Тітріол виявив більш активний вплив на репаративні процеси, про що свідчило вірогідне збільшення  білково-синтетичної функції епітеліоцитів багатошарового плоского епітелію в зоні епідермізації і клітин фібробластичного ряду в краях загоєння. Репаративну активність крему, насамперед, забезпечила наявність тіолових (сульфгідрильних) груп у молекулі ліпоєвої кислоти, що надає їй властивості антиоксиданта. Антиоксидантний ефект ліпоєвої кислоти сприяє більш ефективній репарації молекул ДНК після пошкодження в результаті «окисного стресу». Висновки. Крем Дермаліпоїн чинить виразну репаративну дію за рахунок збільшення білково-синтетичної активності та прискорення репарації молекул ДНК епітеліоцитів після пошкодження, що проявляється прискоренням процесу загоєння опіків

Optimization of the sintering parameters for materials manufactured by powder injection molding

Translated from Poroshkova Metallurgiya, Vol. 59, Nos. 1–2 (531), pp. 32–41, 2020. Original article submitted September 13, 2019.The properties of sintered and heat-treated steels produced from the Catamold 8740 material by powder injection molding were examined. Parts made of the Catamold 8740 low-alloy mild carbon steel are used in the military, automotive, and other industries where high reliability and resistance to dynamic loads are required. The Catamold 8740 chemical homogeneity was studied as a function of powder injection molding parameters: heating rate, sintering temperature, holding time, and subsequent heat treatment. Microscopic analysis showed that Catamold 8740 was a mechanical mixture of powders in various sizes (carbonyl iron, nickel, Fe–Mo, Fe–Cr, Fe–Si-Mo, Fe–Si). When the heating rate of the Catamold 8740 powder mixture increased from 2 to 5 °C/min, the microstructural heterogeneity caused by uneven compaction decreased and the alloy formation process activated at 900–1340°C. The impact strength of Charpy V-notch test samples changed from 10.39 to 11.52 J/cm2 with higher sintering temperature and heating rate increasing from 2 °C/min (1270°C) to 5 °C/min (1340°C). When holding time increased from 30 to 90 min at a sintering temperature of 1340°C, the material became denser, the pores rounded, and the ferrite matrix homogeneous. However, the impact strength decreased by a factor of 1.4 because of coarser grain sizes and brittle fracture. Heat treatment processes reduced the impact strength after sintering. The results obtained were used to optimize the powder injection molding parameters. The influence of chemical and dimensional inhomogeneity of the starting Catamold 8740 powders and sintering kinetics on the structure and mechanical properties of parts operating under impact loads was established

Macro- and microelements determination in children with rotavirus infection

The purpose of this study was to determine serum zinc, iron, magnesium, copper, potassium, calcium, and sodium levels in acute rotavirus infection and convalescence period in children. Materials and methods. We examined 86 patients aged from 4 months to 5 years with clinical and laboratory signs of rotavirus infection. The I group – 43 children with RVI in acute period. The II group – 43 children with RVI in convalescence period. The control group included 14 healthy children at the same age. The content of macro- and microelements (zinc, iron, magnesium, copper, potassium, calcium and sodium) in blood serum was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Feces samples were used for Cito Test Rota (Pharmasco). Cito test was used for rotavirus antigen detection in feces. Statistical analysis was performed by Excel. Student’s t-test was used to evaluate differences between study groups. Results. The acute period of the disease in children with rotavirus infection was characterized by a significant increase of copper in blood serum compared with the control group. At the same time, a significant decrease of iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, calcium, sodium were determined in patients with rotavirus infection, compared with apparently healthy children. After standard treatment only the indicators of magnesium, potassium and sodium reached the same indices of control group children. Conclusions. The detected changes in the mineral status of patients with rotavirus infection suggest the need for treatment correction. Correction of micro- and macroelements imbalances in patients with rotavirus infection possibly should be aimed at the metallo-drugs inclusion in complex treatment as well as medicines which improve absorption of the latter in the intestine

Recommendations of the Ukrainian Renal Disaster Relief Committee of the Ukrainian Association of Nephrologists and Kidney Transplant Specialists regarding medical care to kidney disease patients during the war

Abstract. The occurrence of an emergency situation (ES) forced international (ISN, EDTA/ERA) and national (Turkey) nephrological associations to establish the Renal Disaster Relief Task Force, which is primarily concerned with the treatment of patients with acute kidney injury and end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis. The war started by the RF is putting the Ukrainian state, Ukrainian society, and the healthcare system in the catastrophic ES. Under these circumstances, all nephrological patients became one of the most vulnerable categories of patients. To provide immediate support in solving problems within the Ukrainian Association of Nephrologists and Kidney Transplant Specialists (UAN&KTS), the Ukrainian Renal Disaster Relief Committee (URDRC) has been established. One of the most important tasks was to form a group of experts to develop recommendations for specialized medical care for kidney patients in wartime.  According to the experts, the key person for this type of medical care is the leading nephrologist in the region or city. He/she establishes a local Renal Disaster Relief Committee (LRDRC) and decides through horizontal (with other LRDRC) or vertical (with UAN &KTS) collaboration, using available communication tools, on the problems that arise; the most appropriate tool is the Viber platform "Nephrology. Dialysis. Transplantation". In this way, a network without administrative subordination and a non-hierarchical functional system was created, which, on the one hand, functions according to similar working principles, but, on the other hand, may differ in terms of LRDRC composition, communication methods, and more. The LRDRC divides all patients into three groups and provides work preparation measures before, during and after the cancellation of ES

Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI): facing the challenges and pathways of global change in the twenty-first century

© 2017, The Author(s). During the past several decades, the Earth system has changed significantly, especially across Northern Eurasia. Changes in the socio-economic conditions of the larger countries in the region have also resulted in a variety of regional environmental changes that can have global consequences. The Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI) has been designed as an essential continuation of the Northern Eurasia Earth Science Partnership Initiative (NEESPI), which was launched in 2004. NEESPI sought to elucidate all aspects of ongoing environmental change, to inform societies and, thus, to better prepare societies for future developments. A key principle of NEFI is that these developments must now be secured through science-based strategies co-designed with regional decision-makers to lead their societies to prosperity in the face of environmental and institutional challenges. NEESPI scientific research, data, and models have created a solid knowledge base to support the NEFI program. This paper presents the NEFI research vision consensus based on that knowledge. It provides the reader with samples of recent accomplishments in regional studies and formulates new NEFI science questions. To address these questions, nine research foci are identified and their selections are briefly justified. These foci include warming of the Arctic; changing frequency, pattern, and intensity of extreme and inclement environmental conditions; retreat of the cryosphere; changes in terrestrial water cycles; changes in the biosphere; pressures on land use; changes in infrastructure; societal actions in response to environmental change; and quantification of Northern Eurasia’s role in the global Earth system. Powerful feedbacks between the Earth and human systems in Northern Eurasia (e.g., mega-fires, droughts, depletion of the cryosphere essential for water supply, retreat of sea ice) result from past and current human activities (e.g., large-scale water withdrawals, land use, and governance change) and potentially restrict or provide new opportunities for future human activities. Therefore, we propose that integrated assessment models are needed as the final stage of global change assessment. The overarching goal of this NEFI modeling effort will enable evaluation of economic decisions in response to changing environmental conditions and justification of mitigation and adaptation efforts