Analysis of teachers' ideas about the impact of digital educational products on the cognitive-personal and activity sphere of students

Introduction. The processes of digitalization of all spheres of society, including education, require a detailed analysis of their impact on the development of the personality of students. Practice shows the ambiguity of the impact of digital educational products on the development of the student: they are both a resource, a means of development, and at the same time, they are risky in nature for various spheres of personality: cognitive, emotional-volitional, value, communicative and educational activities. The purpose of the study is to analyze the parameters of the cognitive-personal and activity spheres of students, which are influenced by digital educational products. Materials and methods. The study involved 243 teachers of secondary schools in Moscow, Moscow region, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara (Russian Federation). To determine the risks and benefits of using digital educational products for the cognitive-personal and activity spheres of students, an author's questionnaire was used, with the help of which an anonymous online survey was conducted (using a google-form). Research results. Statistical analysis revealed correlations between the parameters "development" and "deformation" of the cognitive qualities of students "Attention" (rs = -0.905; p≤0.01) and "Memory" (rs = -0.833; p≤0.01), which indicates a significant discrepancy in the assessments of teachers. For most of the characteristics of the personal sphere and educational motivation, the correspondence in the assessments was determined between what “develops” and what “deforms” in students when learning with the help of digital educational products. Conclusion. The novelty of the study lies in identifying the ambiguity of the impact of the digital educational products used on the development of the personality of modern schoolchildren and in determining the areas of greatest risk. The obtained results can be used as recommendations for teachers and leaders of educational institutions in the development of digital educational products for secondary schools.

Ethnic categorization practices and boundary (re)making in a multiethnic borderland of Ukraine

Multiethnic borderlands, like Transcarpathia in Western Ukraine, are characterized by ethnic-linguistic-confessional complexity where ethnic boundary-making and ethnic categorization are constructed and rooted in politics. The present study aims to analyze how the mechanisms of ethnic categorization and boundary-making play out on a local level. Based on data analysis and fieldwork conducted in Hudya/Gődényháza in Transcarpathia, a village with ethnically, linguistically, and denominationally diverse population, we describe how “ethnicity” is getting blurred and reconstructed in the narrative strategies of residents. We examine the characteristics of the various classification systems (external classification, self-reporting) and their relation to each other. It is found that the ethnic, linguistic, and denominational affiliations in the village (and its wider region) are often divergent, which is reflected in the significant discrepancy between the data gathered in various ethnic classification systems. We argue that denomination is the prime factor of both self-identification and external classification, obscuring the boundaries between religious and standard ethnic terms. We further point to the formation of new boundaries between autochthonous and allochthonous populations. Although this cleavage emerged a few decades ago and has been transgressed by dozens of marriages among autochthonous and newcomers, it can easily get ethnicized, thus it adds an extra layer to the existing distinctions.

On-Site Identification of Pottery with pXRF: An Example of European and Chinese Red Stonewares

The invention of European hard porcelain, which aims at imitating kaolin-containing white paste of Chinese porcelain, had been started by the development of the technology of “red porcelain”, so-called “Jaspisporzellan” by Johann Friedrich Böttger in the early-eighteenth century at Meissen (Saxony). The visual features of the earlier Böttger red stoneware were rather similar to the one produced in Yixing, China. The prominence of Böttger productions allowed the manufacturing to be expanded across Europe to different countries (Holland, England, France, etc.). In this study, the chemical characteristics of nine European unglazed objects produced in England, France, Russia, and Holland from the 17th to 19th century and 10 Chinese (unglazed or enameled) red stoneware have been studied by using an on-site characterization technique pXRF. The results were compared with the previous studies carried out on 25 unglazed, polished, and non-polished Böttger artefacts. This non-invasive, speedy technique allows a methodology to be created for distinguishing the technological differences related to the provenance and authenticity of the artefacts. The elemental measurements explicitly show the significant discrepancy of Dutch objects from the main group, which involves other European and Chinese ones. Both a Lambertus van Eenhoorn (Delft) statue and an Ary de Milde (Delft) teapot are distinguishable from other European red stoneware by the high content of iron and calcium and high content of titanium and potassium, respectively, found in their body compositions. An overall comparison was made between the measurements made at different times in order to evaluate the error range arising from the measurement procedure (e.g., energy resolution of other series of the same instrument model).

Analysis of state of public financing of environmental protection

The main task of this study consists in evaluating the state of funding for environmental protection measures and substantiating the ability of the state and local communities to increase investments in environmental protection. To this end, the following was studied from 2010 through 2020: 1) mechanisms of filling and using funds of the Environmental Protection Fund of state and local budgets; 2) proportions of distribution of environmental revenues and expenditures between levels of the budget system. The analysis results showed that opportunities of the public economy sector in terms of environmental investment are reduced because of imperfect distributing mechanisms: ‒ the budgetary expenditures for environmental protection measures; ‒ the environmental tax revenues to the budget funds. It was established that a significant part (about 70 %) of the "environmental" funds of the public economy sector is directed to non-priority goals and measures. Less than half of the amount of environmental tax revenues is allocated for financing environmental activities. This does little to address pressing environmental issues and hinders the sustainable development of the country. There was a significant discrepancy between the tax burden on "polluters" of water bodies (3 % of the total amount of environmental tax) and the levels of their polluting activities (30‒40 % of all costs of the national economy to eliminate the effects of pollution). In order to increase public investments in the reproduction of the environmental and natural resource potential: 1) ways to improve the mechanism of using the Fund of Environmental Protection were proposed; 2) reserves for increasing capital environmental investments from the budget have been identified.

ASPECTS OF BRAKING EFFICIENCY CRITERIA FOR FREIGHT WAGONS UNDER THE LATEST RULES OF HOST 34434-18

The paper deals with the analysis of the braking efficiency criteria for freight trains formed with wagons that have increased axle load up to 294.3 kN (30 ts) when moving at speeds up to 120 km/h inclusive. Increasing the efficiency of freight trains by increasing the technical and economic performance of cars by increasing the axial load to 294.3 kN (30 ts) and train speeds up to 160 km/h led to the development of technical requirements and rules for braking systems set out in HOST 34434-18. According to the new rules and requirements, the following are accepted as criteria for the braking efficiency of freight wagons, that is, up to the maximum values of the braking distances of the freight train on the site in the specified intervals of speeds of axial loads; calculated coefficients of force of pressing of composite blocks on wheels at braking; the pressing force of the composite pads on the axis in terms of cast iron pads. The calculation of the maximum allowable value of the braking distance of the freight train is performed based on the actual pressing forces and the actual friction coefficients. The paper shows that the specific braking forces obtained using the actual pressing forces exceed the calculated specific braking forces using the calculated coefficients. Based on the above-mentioned, it is concluded that the braking efficiency criteria with reference to the maximum allowable values of the braking distances and the calculated coefficients of the pressing force have a significant discrepancy between each other. It is proposed to use the actual pressure force coefficients instead of the calculated coefficients to assess the braking efficiency of the freight train. The paper presents the permissible values of the actual force values of pressing the pads on the wheels for wagons with axial load (230.5 - 294.3) kN at speeds up to 120 km/h inclusive, for which the braking distance criterion of the freight train is observed. Key words: criterion, braking efficiency, freight train, axial load, braking distance, specific braking force, calculated coefficients, actual coefficient.

Few-Shot Wideband Tympanometry Classification in Otosclerosis via Domain Adaptation with Gaussian Processes

Otosclerosis is a common middle ear disease that requires a combination of examinations for its diagnosis in routine. In a previous study, we showed that this disease could be potentially diagnosed by wideband tympanometry (WBT) coupled with a convolutional neural network (CNN) in a rapid and non-invasive manner. We showed that deep transfer learning with data augmentation could be applied successfully on such a task. However, the involved synthetic and realistic data have a significant discrepancy that impedes the performance of transfer learning. To address this issue, a Gaussian processes-guided domain adaptation (GPGDA) algorithm was developed. It leveraged both the loss about the distribution distance calculated by the Gaussian processes and the loss of conventional cross entropy during the transferring. On a WBT dataset including 80 otosclerosis and 55 control samples, it achieved an area-under-the-curve of 97.9±1.1 percent after receiver operating characteristic analysis and an F1-score of 95.7±0.9 percent that were superior to the baseline methods (r=10, p<0.05, ANOVA). To understand the algorithm’s behavior, the role of each component in the GPGDA was experimentally explored on the dataset. In conclusion, our GPGDA algorithm appears to be an effective tool to enhance CNN-based WBT classification in otosclerosis using just a limited number of realistic data samples.

Results of a study of remote reporting over virtual applications and using visually calibrated monitors

Background and Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine differences in image quality, discrepancy rates, productivity and user experience between remote reporting over Virtual Application (VA) using visually calibrated monitors, and reporting using diagnostic grade workstations in hospital premises. Methods Three specialist accredited radiologists examined and provisionally reported outpatient CT and MR studies over PACS delivered as a VA, using visually calibrated monitors from their homes. They then proceeded to view the same studies within hospital premises and issue a final report. Surveys were filled out for each imaging study. Discrepancies were reviewed and assigned RADPEER scores. Results A total of 51 outpatient CT and MRIs were read. Relative to hospital premise reporting, on a Likert scale of 5 (the higher the better), average image quality was 3.9, speed of loading and image manipulation was 4.4 and productivity was 4.1. Remote reporting user experience did not differ significantly between CT versus MRI studies. Complete concordance rate was 80.4% (41/51) and only one of the studies had a significant discrepancy, which may have been due to extra time given to interpretation. All three radiologists reported factors influencing image display and quality as the top factor impacting remote reporting throughput. Conclusions Remote reporting over VA with visually calibrated monitors for CT and MR can be useful in periods of staffing difficulty to augment on-site radiologists, though attention must be paid to its limitations and policies defined by local leadership with reference to relevant national position

How Does Gender Moderate Customer Intention of Shopping via Live-Streaming Apps during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown Period?

Shopping through Live-Streaming Shopping Apps (LSSAs) as an emerging consumption phenomenon has increased dramatically in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown period. However, insufficient studies have focused on the psychological processes undergone in different customer demographics while shopping via LSSAs under pandemic conditions. This study integrated the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 with Flow Theory into a Stimulus-Organism-Response framework to investigate the psychological processes of different customer demographics during the COVID-19 lockdown period. A total of 374 validated data were analyzed by covariance-based structural equation modelling. The statistical results demonstrated by the proposed model showed a significant discrepancy between different gender groups, in which Flow, as a mediator, representing users’ engagement and immersion in shopping via LSSAs, was significantly moderated by gender where connection between stimulus components, hedonic motivation, trust and social influence and response component perceived value are concerned. This study contributed a theoretical development and a practical framework to the explanation of the mental processes of different customer demographics when using an innovative e-commerce technology. Furthermore, the results can support the relevant stakeholders in e-commerce in their comprehensive understanding of customers’ behavior, allowing better strategical and managerial development.

Evidence of co-circulation of multiple arboviruses transmitted by Aedes species based on laboratory syndromic surveillance at a health unit in a slum of the Federal District, Brazil

Background Vector-borne diseases, especially arboviruses transmitted by Aedes sp. mosquitos, should be a health policy priority in Brazil. Despite this urgency, there are significant limitations in the traditional surveillance system, mainly in vulnerable areas. This study aimed to investigate the circulation of dengue (DENV), Zika (ZIKV), and chikungunya viruses (CHIKV) by laboratory syndromic surveillance (LSS) in a slum area of the Federal District of Brazil, comparing the results with traditional surveillance data. Methods LSS for acute febrile and/or exanthematous symptoms was developed at a health unit of Cidade Estrutural, in order to identify the circulation of arboviruses transmitted by Aedes sp. mosquitos. Between June 2019 and March 2020, 131 valid participants were identified and sera tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for DENV (by serotype), ZIKV, and CHIKV acute infection and by immunoglobulin M enzyme-inked immunosorbent assay (ELISA-IgM) for DENV and CHIKV 15–21 days after symptom onset, when the participant reported no respiratory signs (cough and/or coryza). The results obtained were compared with traditional surveillance data for the study area and period. Results At least three DENV-1 (2.3%), four DENV-2 (3%), and one CHIKV (0.7%) cases were confirmed in the laboratory, showing evidence of hyperendemicity even though LSS had not reached the historic peak dengue fever months in the Federal District (April–May). When the results obtained here were compared with traditional surveillance, a significant discrepancy was observed, including underreporting of CHIKV infection. Conclusions In addition to the risks posed to the study population, the area investigated with its respective socio-environmental profile may be a potential site for spread of the virus, given the cosmopolitan presence of Aedes sp. and human mobility in the Federal District. It is also suggested that traditional epidemiological surveillance may be reporting acute viral infections other than DENV as dengue fever, while underreporting other arboviruses transmitted by Aedes sp. mosquitos in the Federal District. Graphical Abstract

Multi-institution Assessment of the Accuracy of Cardiac Computed Tomography in Preparation for Superior Cavopulmonary Connection

Background Patients with single ventricle (SV) congenital heart disease (CHD) undergo several interventions in the first years of life. Advanced diagnostics are required for interstage assessment of anatomy, but are associated with significant diagnostic risk. We sought to evaluate image quality, risk, and accuracy of cardiac computed tomography (CCT) for evaluation of anatomy prior to superior cavopulmonary connection (SCPC) compared to surgical findings across 2 institutions. Methods A retrospective evaluation of image quality, risk, and accuracy of pre-SCPC CCT was performed at 2 institutions between January 1, 2010 and September 30, 2016. Results CCT was performed in 90 SV CHD patients with a median age of 4.03 months (interquartile range [IQR] 3.36, 5.33) prior to SCPC. Image quality was optimal (84%) or good (16%) in all patients, without significant discrepancy compared to surgical findings. 7 patients (8%) required interventional cardiac catheterization subsequent to CCT and before surgical intervention. 49% of scans were performed without sedation, 43% of scans were performed with mild to moderate sedation, and 8% of scans were performed with general anesthesia. The median total procedural dose-length product (DLP) was 18 (IQR 14, 26) mGy*cm, estimating an age adjusted radiation dose of 1.4 millisievert (mSv). One minor (1%) adverse event was reported within 24 h of the CCT. Surgical complications were unrelated to the presurgical findings. Conclusions CCT for pre-SCPC evaluation is safe, with excellent accuracy for anatomy at the time of surgical intervention across 2 institutions. In select patients, noninvasive evaluation with CCT may be indicated.