Addictive links: The motivational value of adaptive link annotation

Adaptive link annotation is a popular adaptive navigation support technology. Empirical studies of adaptive annotation in the educational context have demonstrated that it can help students to acquire knowledge faster, improve learning outcomes, reduce navigational overhead, and encourage non-sequential navigation. In this paper, we present our exploration of a lesser known effect of adaptive annotation, its ability to significantly increase students' motivation to work with non-mandatory educational content. We explored this effect and confirmed its significance in the context of two different adaptive hypermedia systems. The paper presents and discusses the results of our work

HYGIENIC ASSESSMENT OF JOINT ACTION OF DEFICIENCY OF IODINE AND FLUORIC POLLUTION ON THE CONDITION OF THE THYROID GLAND IN CHILDREN

The content of fluorine in atmospheric air, in soil, and in system of centralized household-drinking water supply of city of Bratsk are studied, data of branch of Federal Budgetary Healthcare Institution «The Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology of Irkutsk Region» in Bratsk and region of Bratsk, data of Bratsk branch of state institution «Irkutsk CGMS - P» are used. The assessment of prevalence of iodine deficiency of children in two ecologically various districts of city of Bratsk is given. Results of obtained data are turned into practical recommendations on prevention of iodine deficiency in conditions of industrial influence of fluorine. In chosen areas examination of children of preschool age is provided. The number of surveyed made 98 persons including 49 girls and 49 boys. Iodine and fluorine excretion with urine, and also content of fluorine in teeth were defined. Iodine in urine was determined with a spectrophotocolorimetry method. The content of fluorine in urine was determined by an electrometric method with the use of fluoride selective electrode complete with pH in meter according to TORMENTS 4.1.773 - 99. Approved, certified methods of definition of fluorine in teeth do not exist in Russian Federation. Fluorine definition in teeth is based on reaction with alizarin complexon and cerium nitrate with formation of the painted connection. Now it is the only reaction used for direct photometric definition of fluorine. We came to conclusion that contents of fluorine in such biosubstrates as urine and teeth in children of the Central district, though doesn>t exceed admissible level, is significantly above the one of children living in settlement Energetic. This results from the fact that atmospheric air in the Central district is more polluted by fluoric connections. It is known that iodine and fluorine are halogens, and the second one possesses more expressed biological activity and can replace the first in the competitive way. Thus, in this research we tried to prove experimentally that urinary iodine indicators directly depend on industrial influence of fluorine

Approbation of techniques of time-management in the practice of the assistant physician

The Department of Public Health and Healthcare of the Federal State Budget Educational Institution of Higher Education "USMU" of the Ministry of Health of Russian Federation during the therapeutic, surgical and obstetric practical training organized a pilot project "The health care delivery organization in the therapeutic (surgical, obstetric) hospital departments" for the fourth-year students of the general health faculty. The project implies an assessment of students' selfmanagement techniques in the formation of professional competences in organizational and management activities.Кафедрой общественного здоровья и здравоохранения ФГБОУ ВО «УГМУ» Минздрава России во время производственной практики помощника врача терапевтического, хирургического и акушерскогинекологического стационара для студентов 4 курса лечебнопрофилактического факультета был организован пилотный проект «Оценка организации оказания медицинской помощи в терапевтическом (хирургическом, акушерском) отделении стационара». Во время выполнения заданий проекта проводилась оценка применения приемов самоменеджмента при формировании профессиональных компетенций студентов в организационно-управленческой деятельности

Geo-neutrinos: A systematic approach to uncertainties and correlations

Geo-neutrinos emitted by heat-producing elements (U, Th and K) represent a unique probe of the Earth interior. The characterization of their fluxes is subject, however, to rather large and highly correlated uncertainties. The geochemical covariance of the U, Th and K abundances in various Earth reservoirs induces positive correlations among the associated geo-neutrino fluxes, and between these and the radiogenic heat. Mass-balance constraints in the Bulk Silicate Earth (BSE) tend instead to anti-correlate the radiogenic element abundances in complementary reservoirs. Experimental geo-neutrino observables may be further (anti)correlated by instrumental effects. In this context, we propose a systematic approach to covariance matrices, based on the fact that all the relevant geo-neutrino observables and constraints can be expressed as linear functions of the U, Th and K abundances in the Earth's reservoirs (with relatively well-known coefficients). We briefly discuss here the construction of a tentative "geo-neutrino source model" (GNSM) for the U, Th, and K abundances in the main Earth reservoirs, based on selected geophysical and geochemical data and models (when available), on plausible hypotheses (when possible), and admittedly on arbitrary assumptions (when unavoidable). We use then the GNSM to make predictions about several experiments ("forward approach"), and to show how future data can constrain - a posteriori - the error matrix of the model itself ("backward approach"). The method may provide a useful statistical framework for evaluating the impact and the global consistency of prospective geo-neutrino measurements and Earth models.Comment: 17 pages, including 4 figures. To appear on "Earth, Moon, and Planets," Special Issue on "Neutrino Geophysics," Proceedings of Neutrino Science 2005 (Honolulu, Hawaii, Dec. 2005

Paediatric Home Artificial Nutrition in Italy: Report from 2016 Survey on Behalf of Artificial Nutrition Network of Italian Society for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (SIGENP)

Home Artificial Nutrition (HAN) is a safe and efficacious technique that insures children's reintegration into the family, society and school. Epidemiological data on paediatric HAN in Italy are not available. Aim: to detect the prevalence and incidence of Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) and Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN), either via tube or mouth, in Italy in 2016. Materials and methods: a specific form was sent to all registered SIGENP members and investigators of local HAN centres, inviting them to provide the requested centre's data and demographics, underlying diseases and HAN characteristics of the patients. Results: we recorded 3403 Italian patients on HAN aged 0 to 19 years from 22 centres: 2277 HEN, 950 Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) and 179 HPN programs. The prevalence of HEN (205 pts/million inhabitants) and HPN (16 pts/million inhabitants) has dramatically increased in Italy in the last 9 years. Neurodisabling conditions were the first indication for HEN by tube or mouth while HPN is mainly requested in digestive disorders. Conclusions: HAN is a widespread and rapidly growing treatment in Italy, as well as in other European countries. Awareness of its extent and characteristics helps improving HAN service and patients' quality of life

Seeking Signs of Life on Mars: the Importance of Sedimentary Suites as Part of a Mars Sample Return Campaign

Seeking the signs of life on Mars is often considered the "first among equal" objectives for any potential Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign. Among the geological settings considered to have the greatest potential for recording evidence of ancient life or its pre-biotic chemistry on Mars are lacustrine (and marine, if ever present) sedimentary depositional environments. This potential, and the possibility of returning samples that could meaningfully address this objective, have been greatly enhanced by investigations of an ancient redox stratified lake system in Gale crater by the Curiosity rover

Seeking Signs of Life on Mars: A Strategy for Selecting and Analyzing Returned Samples from Hydrothermal Deposits

Highly promising locales for biosignature prospecting on Mars are ancient hydrothermal deposits, formed by the interaction of surface water with heat from volcanism or impacts. On Earth, they occur throughout the geological record (to at least approx. 3.5 Ga), preserving robust mineralogical, textural and compositional evidence of thermophilic microbial activity. Hydrothermal systems were likely present early in Mars' history, including at two of the three finalist candidate landing sites for M2020, Columbia Hills and NE Syrtis Major. Hydrothermal environments on Earth's surface are varied, constituting subaerial hot spring aprons, mounds and fumaroles; shallow to deep-sea hydrothermal vents (black and white smokers); and vent mounds and hot-spring discharges in lacustrine and fluvial settings. Biological information can be preserved by rapid, spring-sourced mineral precipitation, but also could be altered or destroyed by postdepositional events. Thus, field observations need to be followed by detailed laboratory analysis to verify potential biosignatures. See Attachmen

Biocompatibility of Polyhydroxybutyrate Microspheres: in vitro and in vivo Evaluation

Microspheres have been prepared from the resorbable linear polyester of β-hydroxybutyric acid (polyhydroxybutyrate, PHB) by the solvent evaporation technique and investigated in vitro and in vivo. Biocompatibility of the microspheres has been proved in tests in the culture of mouse fibroblast cell line NIH 3Т3 and in experiments on intramuscular implantation of the microspheres to Wistar rats for 3 months. Tissue response to the implantation of polymeric microspheres has been found to consist in a mild inflammatory reaction, pronounced macrophage infiltration that increases over time, involving mono- and poly-nuclear foreign body giant cells that resorb the polymeric matrix. No fibrous capsules were formed around polymeric microparticles; neither necrosis nor any other adverse morphological changes and tissue transformation in response to the implantation of the PHB microparticles were recorded. The results of the study suggest that polyhydroxybutyrate is a good candidate for fabricating prolonged-action drugs in the form of microparticles intended for intramuscular injection

On the biostratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy of the Moscovian Stage in the type area

Volume: 19Start Page: 235End Page: 24