The impact of mixing across the polar vortex edge on Match ozone loss estimates

The Match method for quantification of polar chemical ozone loss is investigated mainly with respect to the impact of mixing across the vortex edge onto this estimate. We show for the winter 2002/03 that significant mixing across the vortex edge occurred and was accurately modeled by the Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere. Observations of inert tracers and ozone in-situ from HAGAR on the Geophysica aircraft and sondes and also remote from MIPAS on ENVISAT were reproduced well. The model even reproduced a small vortex remnant that was isolated until June 2003 and was observed in-situ by a balloon-borne whole air sampler. We use this CLaMS simulation to quantify the impact of cross vortex edge mixing on the results of the Match method. It is shown that a time integration of the determined vortex average ozone loss rates as performed in Match results in larger ozone loss than the polar vortex average ozone loss in CLaMS. Also, the determination of the Match ozone loss rates can be influenced by mixing. This is especially important below 430 K, where ozone outside the vortex is lower than inside and the vortex boundary is not a strong transport barrier. This effect and further sampling effects cause an offset between vortex average ozone loss rates derived from Match and deduced from CLaMS with an even sampling for the entire vortex. Both, the time-integration of ozone loss and the determination of ozone loss rates for Match are evaluated using the winter 2002/03 CLaMS simulation. These impacts can explain the differences between CLaMS and Match column ozone loss. While the investigated effects somewhat reduce the apparent discrepancy in January ozone loss rates, a discrepancy between simulations and Match remains. However, its contribution to the accumulated ozone loss over the winter is not large

Educational profession-oriented propaedeutic Russian language course as a basis of coming of international students of pre-university training stage into the educational medium of the higher medical institution

Цель статьи - рассмотреть некоторые способы и методы (фреймовый подход) формирования лингвокультурологической медицинской компетенции иностранных учащихся предвузовского этапа на занятиях по русскому языку общелитературного стиля в соответствии со спецификой их будущего обучения в русскоязычной среде медицинского вуза. Актуальность исследования заключается в том, что учебный пропедевтический курс русского языка, ориентированный на изучение иностранными учащимися языка медицинской науки, является важнейшим и необходимым условием для их обучения в медицинском университете. Преподавание основывается на использовании общедидактических и методических принципов начального обучения русскому языку будущих студентов- медиков, которые способствуют дальнейшему усвоению и совершенствованию учебно- профессиональных знаний в условиях русской языковой среды медицинского вуза. В процессе исследования были использованы следующие методы: теоретический и практический анализ научной литературы по методике преподавания иностранного языка и русского как иностранного, аудиовизуальное наблюдение, беседы с иностранными студентами, пробное обучение. Результаты. В процессе изучения русского языка иностранные учащиеся приобретают новые знания, расширяется их эрудиция, кругозор. Иностранные учащиеся предвузовского этапа входят в мир языка медицинской науки, знакомясь с элементами её лингвистической, коммуникативной и культурологической базы. Выводы: пропедевтический курс русского языка закладывает основы знаний о специфике изучения медицины на русском языке, которые помогут иностранным учащимся предвузовского этапа подготовки спустя год войти в образовательную среду медицинского университета.The aim of the research is to consider some ways and methods (frame approach) of forming lingual- cultural medical competence of international students of pre-University training stage at the Russian Language classes in accordance with the specifics of their future learning in Russian-speaking medium of higher medical institution. Relevance of the study lies in the fact that educational propaedeutic course of the Russian Language, focused on training foreign students the language of medical science, is the most important and necessary condition for their studying in the medical university. Training is based on the usage of general didactic and methodical principles of elementary level of teaching Russian the future medical students, which promoting further learning and mastering the educational-professional knowledge in the conditions of Russian speaking environment of higher medical institution. The author has used the following methods: theoretical and practical analysis of scientific literature on methods of teaching foreign language and Russian as a foreign language, audio-visual monitoring, interviews with foreign students, experimental teaching. Results. When learning Russian the international students get knowledge, enlarge their erudition, the outlook. International students of pre-University training stage come into the world of the Language of medical science, becoming acquainted with the elements of its linguistic, communicative and cultural base. Conclusion. The propaedeutic course of Russian lays foundations of knowledge of specifics of learning medicine in Russian, which will help international students of pre-university training stage to be admitted to the educational environment of medical University after the first year of studying

Privacy and trust in the internet of vehicles

The Internet of Vehicles aims to fundamentally improve transportation by connecting vehicles, drivers, passengers, and service providers together. Several new services such as parking space identification, platooning and intersection control--to name just a few--are expected to improve traffic congestion, reduce pollution, and improve the efficiency, safety and logistics of transportation. Proposed end-user services, however, make extensive use of private information with little consideration for the impact on users and third parties (those individuals whose information is indirectly involved). This article provides the first comprehensive overview of privacy and trust issues in the Internet of Vehicles at the service level. Various concerns over privacy are formalised into four basic categories: personal information privacy, multi-party privacy, trust, and consent to share information. To help analyse services and to facilitate future research, the main relevant end-user services are taxonomised according to voluntary and involuntary information they require and produce. Finally, this work identifies several open research problems and highlights general approaches to address them. These especially relate to measuring the trade-off between privacy and service functionality, automated consent negotiation, trust towards the IoV and its individual services, and identifying and resolving multi-party privacy conflicts

Benchmark datasets for 3D MALDI- and DESI-imaging mass spectrometry

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) imaging mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical chemistry technique for the 3D molecular analysis of a tissue specimen, entire organ, or microbial colonies on an agar plate. 3D-imaging MS has unique advantages over existing 3D imaging techniques, offers novel perspectives for understanding the spatial organization of biological processes, and has growing potential to be introduced into routine use in both biology and medicine. Owing to the sheer quantity of data generated, the visualization, analysis, and interpretation of 3D imaging MS data remain a significant challenge. Bioinformatics research in this field is hampered by the lack of publicly available benchmark datasets needed to evaluate and compare algorithms. FINDINGS: High-quality 3D imaging MS datasets from different biological systems at several labs were acquired, supplied with overview images and scripts demonstrating how to read them, and deposited into MetaboLights, an open repository for metabolomics data. 3D imaging MS data were collected from five samples using two types of 3D imaging MS. 3D matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging (MALDI) MS data were collected from murine pancreas, murine kidney, human oral squamous cell carcinoma, and interacting microbial colonies cultured in Petri dishes. 3D desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) imaging MS data were collected from a human colorectal adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: With the aim to stimulate computational research in the field of computational 3D imaging MS, selected high-quality 3D imaging MS datasets are provided that could be used by algorithm developers as benchmark datasets

Stakeholder perspectives from 15 countries in Africa on barriers in snakebite envenoming research and the potential role of research hubs

Snakebite envenoming is a debilitating neglected tropical disease disproportionately affecting the rural poor in low and middle-income countries in the tropics and sub-tropics. Critical questions and gaps in public health and policy need to be addressed if major progress is to be made towards reducing the negative impact of snakebite, particularly in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa region. We engaged key stakeholders to identify barriers to evidence-based snakebite decision making and to explore how development of research and policy hubs could help to overcome these barriers. We conducted an electronic survey among 73 stakeholders from ministries of health, health facilities, academia and non-governmental organizations from 15 countries in the WHO Africa region. The primary barriers to snakebite research and subsequent policy translation were limited funds, lack of relevant data, and lack of interest from policy makers. Adequate funding commitment, strong political will, building expert networks and a demand for scientific evidence were all considered potential factors that could facilitate snakebite research. Participants rated availability of antivenoms, research skills training and disease surveillance as key research priorities. All participants indicated interest in the development of research and policy hubs and 78% indicated their organization would be willing to actively participate. In conclusion, our survey affirms that relevant stakeholders in the field of snakebite perceive research and policy hubs as a promising development, which could help overcome the barriers to pursuing the WHO goals and targets for reducing the burden of snakebite

‘The medicine is not for sale’: Practices of traditional healers in snakebite envenoming in Ghana

Background Snakebite envenoming is a medical emergency which is common in many tropical lower-and middle-income countries. Traditional healers are frequently consulted as primary care-givers for snakebite victims in distress. Traditional healers therefore present a valuable source of information about how snakebite is perceived and handled at the community level, an understanding of which is critical to improve and extend snakebite-related healthcare. Method The study was approached from the interpretive paradigm with phenomenology as a meth-odology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 traditional healers who treat snakebite patients in two rural settings in Ghana. From the Ashanti and Upper West regions respectively, 11 and 8 healers were purposively sampled. Interview data was coded, col-lated and analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti 8 software. Demographic statistics were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26. Findings Snakebite was reportedly a frequent occurrence, perceived as dangerous and often deadly by healers. Healers felt optimistic in establishing a diagnosis of snakebite using a multitude of methods, ranging from herbal applications to spiritual consultations. They were equally confident about their therapies; encompassing the administration of plant and animal-based concoctions and manipulations of bite wounds. Traditional healers were consulted for both physical and spiritual manifestations of snakebite or after insufficient pain control and lack of antivenom at hospitals; referrals by healers to hospitals were primarily done to receive anti-venom and care for wound complications. Most healers welcomed opportunities to engage more productively with hospitals and clinical staff. Conclusions The fact that traditional healers did sometimes refer victims to hospitals indicates that improvement of antivenom stocks, pain management and wound care can potentially improve health seeking at hospitals. Our results emphasize the need to explore future ave-nues for communication and collaboration with traditional healers to improve health seeking behaviour and the delivery of much-needed healthcare to snakebite victims