Students’ Participation in the Contests of Philosophy

Рассматривается вопрос об участии студентов в различных конкурсах с философской тематикой. Отмечается положительное значение участия студентов в таких конкурсах. Приводятся примеры конкурсов по философии, которые могут быть организованы преподавателем.The question of participation of students in various contests with philosophical subjects is considered. Positive importance of participation of students in such contests is noted. Examples of contests in philosophy which can be organized by the teacher are given

Virtual and Artistic Realities

В статье рассматривается виртуальная реальность компьютерной игры, которая конструируется в соответствии с художественной реальностью литературного произведения. Виртуальная и художественная реальности являются реальностями культуры. В виртуальной реальности игры образы художественной реальности представляются наглядно. Виртуальная реальность игры предоставляет человеку возможность действовать в художественном мире.The article considers the virtual reality of a computer game that is constructed in accordance with the artistic reality of a literary work. Virtual and artistic realities are the realities of the culture. In the virtual reality of the game, images of artistic reality are presented visually. The virtual reality of the game gives a person the opportunity to act in the artistic world

Diversity in action: Exchange of perspectives and reflections on taxonomies of individual differences

Throughout the last 2500 years, the classification of individual differences in healthy people and their extreme expressions in mental disorders has remained one of the most difficult challenges in science that affects our ability to explore individuals' functioning, underlying psychobiological processes and pathways of development. To facilitate analyses of the principles required for studying individual differences, this theme issue brought together prominent scholars from diverse backgrounds of which many bring unique combinations of cross-disciplinary experiences and perspectives that help establish connections and promote exchange across disciplines. This final paper presents brief commentaries of some of our authors and further scholars exchanging perspectives and reflecting on the contributions of this theme issue

Topography of associations between cardiovascular risk factors and myelin loss in the ageing human brain.

Our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the vulnerability of the brain's white matter microstructure to cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) is still limited. We used a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol in a single centre setting to investigate the cross-sectional association between CVRFs and brain tissue properties of white matter tracts in a large community-dwelling cohort (n = 1104, age range 46-87 years). Arterial hypertension was associated with lower myelin and axonal density MRI indices, paralleled by higher extracellular water content. Obesity showed similar associations, though with myelin difference only in male participants. Associations between CVRFs and white matter microstructure were observed predominantly in limbic and prefrontal tracts. Additional genetic, lifestyle and psychiatric factors did not modulate these results, but moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was linked to higher myelin content independently of CVRFs. Our findings complement previously described CVRF-related changes in brain water diffusion properties pointing towards myelin loss and neuroinflammation rather than neurodegeneration

Model for initiation of quality factor degradation at high accelerating fields in superconducting radio-frequency cavities

A model for the onset of the reduction in SRF cavity quality factor, the so-called Q-drop, at high accelerating electric fields is presented. Breakdown of the surface barrier against magnetic flux penetration at the cavity equator is considered to be the critical event that determines the onset of Q-drop. The worst case of triangular grooves with low field of first flux penetration Hp, as analyzed previously by Buzdin and Daumens, [1998 Physica C 294: 257], was adapted. This approach incorporates both the geometry of the groove and local contamination via the Ginzburg-Landau parameter kappa, so the proposed model allows new comparisons of one effect in relation to the other. The model predicts equivalent reduction of Hp when either roughness or contamination were varied alone, so smooth but dirty surfaces limit cavity performance about as much as rough but clean surfaces do. When in combination, contamination exacerbates the negative effects of roughness and vice-versa. To test the model with actual data, coupons were prepared by buffered chemical polishing and electropolishing, and stylus profilometry was used to obtain distributions of angles. From these data, curves for surface resistance generated by simple flux flow as a function of magnetic field were generated by integrating over the distribution of angles for reasonable values of kappa. This showed that combined effects of roughness and contamination indeed reduce the Q-drop onset field by ~30%, and that that contamination contributes to Q-drop as much as roughness. The latter point may be overlooked by SRF cavity research, since access to the cavity interior by spectroscopy tools is very difficult, whereas optical images have become commonplace. The model was extended to fit cavity test data, which indicated that reduction of the superconducting gap by contaminants may also play a role in Q-drop.Comment: 15 pages with 7 figure

SARS‐CoV‐2 testing, positivity, and factors associated with COVID‐19 among people with HIV across Europe in the multinational EuroSIDA cohort

Background: Although people with HIV might be at risk of severe outcomes from infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus 2019 [COVID-19]), regional and temporal differences in SARS-CoV-2 testing in people with HIV across Europe have not been previously described. Methods: We described the proportions of testing, positive test results, and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021 in the EuroSIDA cohort and the factors associated with being tested for SARS-CoV-2 and with ever testing positive. Results: Of 9012 participants, 2270 (25.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 24.3-26.1) had a SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test during the study period (range: 38.3% in Northern to 14.6% in Central-Eastern Europe). People from Northern Europe, women, those aged <40 years, those with CD4 cell count <350 cells/mm3 , and those with previous cardiovascular disease or malignancy were significantly more likely to have been tested, as were people with HIV in 2021 compared with those in 2020. Overall, 390 people with HIV (4.3%, 95% CI 3.9-4.8) tested positive (range: 2.6% in Northern to 7.1% in Southern Europe), and the odds of testing positive were higher in all regions than in Northern Europe and in 2021 than in 2020. In total, 64 people with HIV (0.7%, 95% CI 0.6-0.9) were hospitalized, of whom 12 died. Compared with 2020, the odds of positive testing decreased in all regions in 2021, and the associations with cardiovascular disease, malignancy, and use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate disappeared in 2021. Among study participants, 58.9% received a COVID-19 vaccine (range: 72.0% in Southern to 14.8% in Eastern Europe). Conclusions: We observed large heterogeneity in SARS-CoV-2 testing and positivity and a low proportion of hospital admissions and deaths across the regions of Europe

ПРИНЦИПЫ ГРУППИРОВКИ ДАННЫХ ПРИ ОЦЕНКЕ РЕЗУЛЬТАТОВ МНОГОВОКСЕЛЬНОГО СПЕКТРОСКОПИЧЕСКОГО ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ ГОЛОВНОГО МОЗГА

Interest to the clinical use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) increased significantly over the last years due to equipment enhancement of the modern MR-scanners as well as broadening the options of the MRS method. In particular the multivoxel spectroscopy is becoming widely used where is of great importance not only interpretation of the magnetic resonance spectra, but also correct grouping of voxels for the accurate evaluation of metabolites abnormalities and estimation of the regional metabolic differences. Respectively, authors present their recommendations for the voxel grouping in the multivoxel spectroscopic magnetic resonance examination. The variants of grouping are presented based on the example of one-slice brain multivoxel spectroscopy. The article can be useful for the medical researchers and MRI practitioners who use MRS in clinical practice.В последние годы сильно возрос интерес к использованию протонной магнитно-резонансной спектроскопии (МРС) в клинической практике. Это связано как с расширением комплектаций вновь установленных магнитно-резонансных томографов, так и с возможностями метода МРС. В частности, все шире применяется многовокселная спектроскопия, при которой важна не только интерпретация данных, но и рациональная группировка этих данных для точной оценки отклонений метаболизма и, при необходимости, регионарных различий метаболизма. В этой связи, коллектив авторов приводит свои рекомендации по группировке данных при многовокселном спектроскопическом исследовании. Варианты группировки рассмотрены на примере односрезовой многовокселной спектроскопии головного мозга. Статья может быть полезна врачам-исследователям, а также практикующим врачам кабинетов МРТ, сталкивающимся в своей практике с применением МРС

Clinical Outcomes in Persons Coinfected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus: Impact of Hepatitis C Virus Treatment

Background: A hepatitis C (HCV) cure is associated with changes in lipids and inflammatory biomarkers, but its impact on clinical endpoints among treated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV coinfected persons is unclear. / Methods: People living with HIV from EuroSIDA with a known HCV status after January 2001 were classified into strata based on time-updated HCV RNA measurements and HCV treatment, as either HCV antibody–negative; spontaneously resolved HCV; chronic, untreated HCV; cured HCV (HCV RNA–negative); or HCV treatment failures (HCV RNA–positive). Poisson regression was used to compare incidence rates between HCV groups for end-stage liver disease (ESLD; including hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]), non–acquired immunodeficiency virus defining malignancy (NADM; excluding HCC), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). / Results: There were 16 618 persons included (median follow-up 8.3 years, interquartile range 3.1–13.7). There were 887 CVD, 902 NADM, and 436 ESLD events; crude incidence rates/1000 person-years follow-up were 6.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.0–6.9) for CVD, 6.5 (95% CI 6.1–6.9) for NADM, and 3.1 (95% CI 2.8–3.4) for ESLD. After adjustment, there were no differences in incidence rates of NADM or CVD across the 5 groups. HCV-negative individuals (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 0.22, 95% CI 0.14–0.34) and those with spontaneous clearance (aIRR 0.61, 95% CI 0.36–1.02) had reduced rates of ESLD compared to cured individuals. Persons with chronic, untreated HCV infections (aIRR 1.47, 95% CI 1.02–2.13) or treatment failure (aIRR 1.80, 95% CI 1.22–2.66) had significantly raised rates of ESLD, compared to those who were cured. / Conclusions: Incidences of NADM or CVD were independent of HCV group, whereas those cured had substantially lower incidences of ESLD, underlining the importance of successful HCV treatment for reducing ESLD

Strategic Sensemaking and Political Connections in Unstable Institutional Contexts

Emerging economies are often characterized by pervasive institutional changes and resultant institutional voids. In the absence of strong formal institutions, firms rely on informal institutions to fill these voids. This article argues that the process of sensemaking for firms in turbulent environments is continuous and dependent on cyclical adjustments connecting performance via a feedback loop to scanning and interpretation. Far from being a one-time occurrence, environmental sensemaking is a process operating in accord with continuous environmental changes. This study’s findings derive from an in-depth analysis of a Russian pharmaceutical firm and an Indian telecommunications firm, and demonstrate that entrepreneurs make sense and gain legitimacy through political connections. The study further finds that improvements in institutional environments reduce the salience of political networks, thereby creating a choice for firms to rely on formed market mechanisms or continue along the path of political connections that evolve to public–private partnerships