On the inapplicability of the Baldwin correlation for the determination of the causes of emergence of lunar craters

Inapplicability of Baldwin correlation for determining causes of lunar crater emergenc

A Macrokinetic Study of the High-Temperature Solid-Phase Titanium-Carbon Reaction

An experimental method, electro thermal explosion (ETE), is used to measure the macro kinetic parameters of the high-temperature titanium/carbon reaction. Different stages of the reaction have been identified, but the focus of this study is on the reaction between solid titanium and solid carbon, i.e., prior to the melting of titanium. The reaction has high activation energy, and an electric current is used to heat the cylindrically shaped sample to a specified temperature. The current is shut off at a temperature below the melting point of titanium; any further temperature rise is only due to reaction. The output of the ETE equipment is temperature time data that can be processed to recover the kinetic parameters. The activation energy and preexponential factor of the reaction rate constant are calculated and comprise 214 kJ mol-1 and (6.2 ( 1.5) _ 107 s-1, respectively. An important aspect of solid-phase reactions is the contact area between reactants. The contact area between titanium and carbon particles is calculated, and the reaction constant is corrected for this effect

Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of high porosity foam materials in microgravity

Ceramic and metalloceramic foam materials are important construction, building, and thermal insulation materials for space stations of the 21st century. Delivery of these materials from Earth to space using rockets is not profitable due to the low density of these materials. Production of foam materials in space using traditional methods requires large energy consumption. Using SHS in space solves this problem

Is bronchiectasis really a disease?

The definition of a disease requires that distinguishing signs and symptoms are present that are common, and that the constellation of signs and symptoms differentiate the condition from other causes. In bronchiectasis, anatomical changes, airways inflammation and airway infection are the distinguishing features that are common to this disease. However, bronchiectasis is a heterogenous disease: signs and symptoms are shared with other airway diseases, there are multiple aetiologies and certain phenotypes of bronchiectasis have distinct clinical and laboratory features that are not common to all people with bronchiectasis. Furthermore, response to therapeutic interventions in clinical trials is not uniform. The concept of bronchiectasis as a treatable trait has been suggested, but this may be too restrictive in view of the heterogeneity of bronchiectasis. It is our opinion that bronchiectasis should be defined as a disease in its own right, but one that shares several pathophysiological features and “treatable traits” with other airway diseases. These traits define the large heterogeneity in the pathogenesis and clinical features and suggest a more targeted approach to therapy

VISUAL DIDACTIC REGULATORS OF LOGICAL-SEMANTIC TYPE

Introduction. There is a growing recognition that information flows are developing at a geometric rate. These information flows require to be quickly and qualitatively processed for further sustainable development of scientific and production spheres. Thus, the education system requires the search of adequate means of consumption and broadcast of information, knowledge, data, actual material, etc., corresponding to psychological features of perception and thought processes. Visualization as the most convenient and compact form of different submission of data is becoming a key civilization trend of the information age. The aim of the publication is to justify the necessity of designing and applying new didactic means – visual didactic regulators of the logical-semantic type aimed at improving of teaching technologies. Methodology and research methods. The research methodology includes the concept of logical and semantic modeling of knowledge presented in natural language, and the concept of orienting bases of actions in teaching. The method of the present research is graphic visualization of logical and semantic modeling of knowledge.Results. The definition of the concept “visual didactic regulators of the logical-semantic type” is formulated; its characteristics, genesis, structure and functions, and the prospects for its application in teaching are presented. The solution of the problem of synthesizing the regulators in the form of the coordinate-matrix structure of the regulators is shown; the universal learning activities performed in the course of the regulators’ design are considered. The prospects for the application of visual didactic regulators are highlighted. Scientific novelty. The logic of the evolution of didactic visual aids is shown: from illustrative – through the support – to visual didactic regulators with extended didactic functions. The universal coordinate-matrix graphic realization of regulators is proved. While the amount of formal, inanimate innovations – standards, test methods of training and control, the Unified State Exam, etc., is being increased, visually presented regulators of the logical-semantic type make active impaired subject-subject interaction in educational process. Furthermore, visual didactic regulators stimulate a creative component of design and experimental activity of the teacher. It is suggested to use the concept “visual didactic regulators of the logical-semantic type” as a new unit of the terminological apparatus of Didactics. Practical significance. Practical constructions of visual didactic regulators of the logical-semantic type are proffered; possible areas of visual didactic regulators’ application in teaching technologies are revealed.Актуальность. Увеличивающиеся в геометрической прогрессии потоки информации, которую необходимо оперативно и качественно перерабатывать и рационально использовать для дальнейшего устойчивого развития научной, производственной сфер и системы образования, требуют поиска адекватных, сообразных психологическим особенностям восприятия и мыслительных процессов средств потребления и трансляции информационных массивов, знаний, сведений, фактического материала и пр. Ключевым цивилизационным трендом эпохи знаниевого уклада становится визуализация как наиболее удобная и компактная форма представления различного рода данных.Цель публикации состоит в обосновании необходимости проектирования и применения новых дидактических средств – визуальных дидактических регулятивов логико-смыслового типа, предназначенных для совершенствования технологий обучения.Методология и методики исследования. Методология исследования включает концепцию логико-смыслового моделирования знаний, представленных на естественном языке, и концепцию ориентировочных основ действий в обучении. Методикой исследования выступает графическая визуализация логико-смыслового моделирования знаний. Результаты. Сформулировано определение визуальных дидактических регулятивов логико-смыслового типа, представлены их характеристики, генезис, структура и функции применения в технологиях обучения. Показано решение задачи синтеза регулятивов в форме их координатно-матричной структуры, и рассмотрены универсальные учебные действия, выполняемые при их проектировании. Обозначены перспективы применения новых дидактических визуальных средств.Научная новизна. Описана логика эволюции дидактических наглядных средств: от иллюстративности – через опорность материала – к визуальным регулятивам с расширенными дидактическими функциями. Обоснована универсальная координатно-матричная графическая реализация регулятивов. Утверждается, что в условиях возрастающего количества формальных, неодушевленных новаций – стандартов, тестовых методов обучения и контроля, ЕГЭ и т. п. – наглядно представленные регулятивы логико-смыслового типа активизируют ослабленное субъект-субъектное взаимодействие в учебном процессе, стимулируют творческую составляющую проектной и экспериментальной деятельности педагога, чем отчасти компенсируют неизбежные потери в образовании при формальных подходах к его реализации. Понятие «визуальные дидактические регулятивы логико-смыслового типа» предлагается использовать как новую единицу терминологического аппарата дидактики. Практическая значимость. Предложены практические конструкции визуальных дидактических регулятивов логико-смыслового типа и показаны возможные области их применения в технологиях обучения

Respiratory healthcare professionals’ views on long-term recommendations of interventions to prevent acute respiratory illnesses after the COVID-19 pandemic

Respiratory professionals support the continuing use of protective measures for respiratory patients following the #COVID19 pandemic. The optimal use of these measures should be considered in clinical guidelines and public health recommendations. https://bit.ly/3IVL2p

Eradication treatment for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in adults with bronchiectasis:a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most commonly isolated pathogen in bronchiectasis and is associated with worse outcomes. Eradication treatment is recommended by guidelines, but the evidence base is limited. The expected success rate of eradication in clinical practice is not known.METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched for studies investigating P. aeruginosa eradication treatment using antibiotics (systemic or inhaled) in patients with bronchiectasis. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients negative for P. aeruginosa at 12 months after eradication treatment. Cystic fibrosis was excluded.RESULTS: Six observational studies including 289 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis found a 12-month P. aeruginosa eradication rate of 40% (95% CI 34-45%; p&lt;0.00001), with no significant heterogeneity (I2=0%). Combined systemic and inhaled antibiotic treatment was associated with a higher eradication rate (48%, 95% CI 41-55%) than systemic antibiotics alone (27%, 13-45%).CONCLUSION: Eradication treatment in bronchiectasis results in eradication of P. aeruginosa from sputum in ∼40% of cases at 12 months. Combined systemic and inhaled antibiotics achieve higher eradication rates than systemic antibiotics alone.</p

The association between obesity, mortality and filling pressures in pulmonary hypertension patients; the “obesity paradox”

SummaryBackgroundThe term “obesity paradox”, refers to lower mortality rates in obese patients, and is evident in various chronic cardiovascular disorders. There is however, only scarce data regarding the clinical implication of obesity and pulmonary hypertension (PH). Therefore, in the current study, we evaluated the possible prognostic implications of obesity in PH patients.MethodsWe assessed 105 consecutive PH patients for clinical and hemodynamic parameters, focusing on the possible association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and mortality. Follow-up period was 19 ± 13 months.ResultsSixty-one patients (58%) had pre-capillary PH and 39 patients (37%) out-of-proportion post-capillary PH. During follow-up period, 30 patients (29%) died. Death was associated with reduced functional-class, inverse-relation with BMI, higher pulmonary artery and right atrial pressures, pulmonary vascular resistance and signs of right ventricular failure. In multivariate analysis, obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²), was the variable most significantly correlated with improved survival [H.R 0.2, 95% C.I 0.1–0.6; p = 0.004], even after adjustment for baseline characteristics. Obese and very-obese (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) patients had significantly less mortality rates during follow-up (12% and 8%, respectively) than non-obese patients (41%), p = 0.01. The tendency of survival benefit for the obese vs. non-obese patients was maintained both in the pre-capillary (10% vs. 46% mortality, p = 0.008) and disproportional post-capillary PH patients (11% vs. 40% mortality, p = 0.04).ConclusionsObesity was significantly associated with lower mortality in both pre-capillary and disproportional post-capillary PH patients. It seems that in PH, similarly to other chronic clinical cardiovascular disease states, there may be a protective effect of obesity, compatible with the “obesity paradox”

What is important for people with nontuberculous mycobacterial disease? An EMBARC-ELF patient survey

Experiencias de los pacientes; Enfermedad pulmonarExperiències dels pacients; Malaltia pulmonarPatient experiences; Lung diseasePatients' experiences of NTM pulmonary disease highlight important and unmet needs for better pharmacological treatment and education of medical staffEuropean Respiratory Society (EMBARC Clinical Research Collaboration