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The climatic features of the Murmansk region (low average annual temperature; insignificant number of sunny days) do not contribute to the effective use of natural methods of drying aquatic organisms and determine the use of artificial dehydration methods using appropriate equipment. The capabilities of ship fish processing complexes are limited; highly productive coastal fish processing plants are required to supply the population with fish products. The development and testing of new drying modes has been carried out using a small-sized drying unit UPOR-M2. In the course of the study, a drying unit modernization project has been developed, equipment has been selected (thermal imaging system; damper and fan control modules), the system has been modernized and a number of experiments has been conducted to determine the effectiveness of the work performed. The modernization of the drying unit has made it possible to increase the accuracy of the data obtained by 25 % (temperature), 20 % (relative humidity), 18 % (weight), to implement remote control of the processes and to ensure reliable operation of the drying system. Further research of different drying modes for aquatic organisms should include upgrading the air supply control system and improving communication equipment.

The study focused on evaluating the preparedness of government high schools in the implantation of the competence based curriculum (CBC) in Gweru district, Zimbabwe. A case study research design was adopted and thematic analysis was used in analysing data. This study sample included three (3) school heads, thirty (30) teachers including the three (3) heads of department from the three schools. Telephone interviews were used to collect data from teachers while face to face interviews were conducted with school heads. All the high schools under study are in the Gweru district, midlands province in Zimbabwe. The findings were that most heads and teachers had positive perceptions as well as positive attitudes towards the implementation of the CBC. However, Gweru government high schools lacked resources such as infrastructure, textbooks and equipment for practical subjects. It was recommended that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should improve infrastructure of government schools (including furniture and building labs) and provide adequate water and electricity. The high schools should fund-raise in order to procure learning and teaching materials.

Functional plants possess the ability to attract natural enemies or repel pests, and they play an important role in ecological regulation. While most studies have focused on the impacts of individual plants or plant combinations with similar functions on pests, there is a scarcity of research on the effects of combining plants with different functions, particularly in the case of orchard pests. In this study, we combined plants (Cnidium monnieri (L.) or Brassica napus L.) that attract predators with plants (Ocimum basilicum L. or Mentha haplocalyx Briq.) that repel pests to determine if these combinations can enhance biocontrol of Aphis spiraecola Patch on apple trees. All four combinations reduced the A. spiraecola population on apple trees. B. napus & M. haplocalyx achieved the highest reduction rate (88.58%), followed by C. monnieri & O. basilicum (88.06%), B. napus & O. basilicum (86.11%), and C. monnieri & M. haplocalyx (79.41%). Cage exclusion tests on 29 June and 4 July 2023 showed that biocontrol services index of all combinations was significantly higher than that of the control. Rubidium marking test showed that 61.90%–71.43% of Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder) individuals in trees had transferred from functional plants. Behavioral responses and field trapping indicated that compounds such as cis-citral, nepetalactone, caryophyllene, beta-pinene, and eugenol, which are present in repellent plants, had significant repellency against A. spiraecola. The use of functional plant combinations in apple orchards can enhance biocontrol of A. spiraecola by promoting predators and by repelling aphid. This supports the potential of functional plant combinations in agroforestry ecosystems for pest biocontrol.

Introduction. On the one hand, traditional forms, methods and means of teaching are used in the educational process of a university, on the other hand, education cannot be static, it must meet modern requirements and challenges. Artificial intelligence technologies are rapidly developing in society, and their introduction into education will provide students with a modern, high-quality education. The Russian higher education system needs digital transformation; it requires the introduction of the latest learning technologies into the educational process to ensure competitiveness in the global education market. Theoretical analysis. To qualitatively improve the learning process at a university and train highly qualified personnel, it is necessary to use the latest teaching technologies, such as augmented and virtual reality. Virtual reality technologies in the form of virtual campuses and laboratories make it possible to organize the learning process in a highly motivated way for students, to achieve the effect of complete immersion in the processes and phenomena being studied. Currently, there is positive experience in using virtual space as an interactive teaching method when modeling practice-oriented cases. Еmpirical analysis. It was revealed that the problems of using the virtual space of the metaverse in the process of university education lie in the legal field. Legal problems of the metaverse include problems of cybersecurity, confidentiality of personal data, problems with automated data collection systems Big Data and others. One of the main problems is that of information security, the solution to which is the development of domestic software, local standards in the field of using virtual space technologies as part of the educational process of the university. Results. The author has proven the need to improve the current legislation of higher education in accordance with the specifics of the use of the virtual space of the metaverse by the educational process of the university; to develop local regulatory legal acts regulating the specifics of using metaverses when training a specific specialist.

Cancer is one of the non-communicable diseases that causes the most death in Indonesia. In a study conducted by researchers from Northwestern University on 686 breast cancer patients, 36% of women chose to stop their treatment because they could not tolerate the side effects of the drug. The patient's side effects were joint pain, hot flashes, increased weight gain, and nausea. Mentangor plant (Calophyllum rufigemmatum) is a plant that grows a lot in Bangka Belitung and has been used by the people of Bangka Belitung as a traditional medicine to treat skin diseases. Research on the bark of the mentangor stem from Bangka Belitung has never been carried out regarding its phytochemical content and potential as an anticancer breast. For this reason, it is necessary to know breast cancer's pharmacological effects and phytochemicals on Mentangor Bangka Belitung's stem bark. Phytochemical identification was carried out qualitatively by observing changes in the test sample. Based on the results of phytochemical screening, several reactions showed that each test of the ethanol extract of the stem bark of Mentangor contained tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The measurement results of the IC50 value of inhibition of the proliferation ethanol extract with a diameter of 1 cm, 7 cm, and 17 cm against MCF-7 breast cancer cells were 326,195 g/mL, respectively; 186.178 g/mL; and 178.090 g/mL.

Abstract Background Homocystinuria is an inherited, inborn error of homocysteine metabolism, which leads to the abnormal accumulation of homocysteine and its metabolites in blood and urine, resulting in various complications. Variants in the cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genes interrupt the formation of the corresponding enzymes and prevent homocysteine from being metabolised; hence, the homocysteine levels in plasma increase than the optimum levels. Materials and methods In the current study, eight clinically confirmed children with homocystinuria were detected to study the chosen variants in the CBS gene (c.833 T>C and c.19del) and in the MTHFR gene (c.665 C>T, c.1286 A>C) using SNaPshot mini-sequencing and direct sequencing. Results After screening eight patients, none had the c.833T>C, but four patients were in the homozygous state for the c.19del variant in the CBS gene. Furthermore, seven were heterozygous for c.1286A>C, while one patient was heterozygous for c.665C>T in the MTHFR gene. Conclusion According to the results, c.19del is common in the studied cohort of Sri Lankan children, while c.833T>C is absent, whereas c.1286A>C was more frequent than c.665C>T. To our knowledge, the current study was the first report to discuss the genetic impact of homocystinuria in Sri Lanka; further comprehensive studies are necessary with a larger sample size to establish the association of these variants with the disease in Sri Lanka, which can be beneficial in enhanced patient care and for prospective studies.

BackgroundGlobally, over 20 million children are unvaccinated and over 25 million missed their follow-up doses during the COVID-19 pandemic; thus, they face vaccine-preventable diseases and unnecessary deaths. This is especially the case for those with HIV or living in vulnerable settings. Using cell phones to send reminders to parents has been shown to improve vaccination rates. ObjectiveWe aim to determine whether implementation of an automated SMS reminder will improve child vaccination rates in a turbulent, semiurban/semirural setting in a low-income country. MethodsThis will be a nonrandomized controlled trial that will be conducted at Azire Integrated Health Centre, Bamenda, Cameroon. ResultsA total of 200 parents per study group (aged over 18 years) who are registered at the clinic at least one month prior to the study will be recruited. The intervention group will receive 2 reminders: 1 week and 2 days prior to the scheduled vaccination. For those who miss their appointments, a reminder will be sent 1 week after their missed appointment. The control group will receive the regular care provided at the clinic. Baseline information, clinical visit data, and vaccination records will be collected for both groups. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize baseline characteristics between and within clusters and groups. The Fisher exact test will be used to compare parent-child units who return for follow-up visits (as a percentage) and children vaccinated as scheduled (as a percentage) between the study groups. Finally, we will compare how many members of both study groups return for 1 follow-up visit using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. ConclusionsDue to limited effective child vaccination interventions in unstable settings, this study will be of high importance for suggesting a holistic approach to improve child vaccination and public health. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/47018

This paper considers a computer model of a quasi-discrete group pursuit game. In which there are pursuers, targets, and defenders. In the models of the paper, the goal of the pursuers is to reach static goals. It is possible for more than one pursuer to reach a goal at different times. The goal of the defenders is to defeat the pursuers. A victory for the defenders is the defeat of all targets. For the defenders, the number of pursuers is uncertain. In the paper model, a uniform detection environment of pursuers is formed. The uniform detection environment is the result of set-theoretic operations on points in space. In the paper models, the uniform detection environment is a single connected numerous. A pursuer is considered detected if it enters the given area. As a variant of the optimization factor, the defender for a pursuer can be selected based on the minimum distance to the pursuer. The paper also considers variants of defender localization at a single point. Additional algorithms of the above models are developed that take into account the constraints of defenders at a single location. The difference of algorithms in case of presence or absence of information for defenders about the number of pursuers, their targets, etc. is considered. The results obtained in the paper can be demanded by the developers of robot complexes with autonomous control. Under the coordinated behavior of pursuers in the paper we consider following projected curvilinear trajectories from the locations of pursuers with timed launch to solve the following objectives: the task of simultaneously reaching static targets, the task of simultaneously entering the detection area. The paper does not consider the problems of automatic evasion of pursuers from defenders and from collisions with other pursuers.

The article deals with the relevance and development of technologies of dessert dishes of functional purpose - apple mousse with fructose and quinoa flour. Organoleptic, technological and physicochemical studies have been carried out, which proved the feasibility of using fructose and quinoa flour. In the process of technological developments, taking into account organoleptic evaluation, a prototype was selected and the technology of apple mousse with fructose and quinoa flour was developed. Technological developments were carried out to replace semolina with quinoa flour. It was introduced in the amount from 10 to 100% of semolina weight. It was established that the optimal is the dosage of quinoa flour in the amount of 45%. Organoleptic evaluation of apple mousse with full extraction of sugar and semolina with the use of quinoa, gelatin and fructose on a 5-point scale, where such quality indicators as appearance, colour, smell, taste, consistency were determined. According to the results of the conducted research the technology of apple mousse with fructose and quinoa with improved content of essential nutrients was developed. On the basis of the obtained data we can conclude that the developed apple mousse with fructose and quinoa, enrich the human diet with deficient nutrients and reduce the amount of easily digestible carbohydrates.

Throughout the twentieth century the International Art Exhibition Venice Biennale was seen as a major event by the art world of Belgrade and, more broadly, of Serbia and Yugoslavia. After the Second World War this biggest and most important international show of contemporary art provided Belgrade’s artists and art critics with an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the latest developments on the international art scene. At the same time, it was used as a platform for the leading figures of Belgrade’s artistic and cultural-policy establishment to create, through the exhibitions mounted in the national pavilion, an image of the country’s artistic contemporaneity aimed at achieving its desired standing in the West. The attitude of Belgrade’s art scene to the Venice Biennale went through a particularly interesting phase in the 1950s. Its transformations offer an opportunity to observe, analyse and expand the knowledge about the changes that marked that turbulent decade in the history of Serbian art, which went a long way from dogmatically exclusive socialist realism to the institutionalization of a high-modernist language as the dominant model. Based on the reconstruction of Yugoslavia’s sustained participation in the Venice Biennale (1950-60), this paper analyses the models of the representation of Serbian art in the international context of the Biennale within a broader context of the intensification of Serbian-Italian artistic contacts during the period under study.

Fitsum Demissie,1 Kelil Ereso,1 Getahun Paulos2 1Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Health, Bule-Hora University, Bule-Hora, Oromia, Ethiopia; 2Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Getahun Paulos, Tel +251-911-72-44-71, Email getahun.paulos@ju.edu.etBackground: Self-medication with antibiotics is being practiced worldwide with high prevalence, mostly in developing countries. Several factors induce the practice of self-medication, such as irrational and uncontrolled dispensing of medicinal substances, difficulty accessing health-care systems, and cost of diagnosis. Thus, this study assessed the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics, and its associated factors among the community of Bule-Hora town, South West Ethiopia.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was used. All households residing in Bule Hora town were used as source population and households in the selected kebeles were included by using a systematic random sampling method. Eight hundred twenty-six study participants were selected for the study. Pre-tested structured questionnaires had been used to collect the required data. Then the collected data were checked for completeness and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Odds ratios with 95% C.I. were used to measure the association between independent variables and outcome and variables with p-value < 0.05 had been considered statistically significant.Results: Prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in the past 12 months prior to the data collection was found to be 38.9% [95% CI (1.56, 1.64)]. Being male (AOR = 1.53; 95% CI: 0.489, 0.869) with p value of 0.004, no health insurance scheme (AOR = 2.16; 95% CI: 0.274, 0.779) and availability of some drugs in shop (AOR = 12.98; 95% CI: 0.017, 0.353) with p value of 0.001 were found to be significantly associated with self-medication of antibiotics.Conclusion: The study revealed that more than one-third of the respondents practiced self-medication. Availability and irrational dispensing of some drugs in the shops were significantly associated with self-medication practice. Therefore, it is important to educate society on the appropriate use of drugs and discourage the use of prescription drugs without medication order.Keywords: antibiotics, prevalence, self-medication, Bule-Hora

Abstract Background Contiguous gene deletion syndromes are rare genomic disorders caused by deletion of large segments of DNA resulting in co-occurrence of apparently unrelated multiple clinical phenotypes. We report a boy with contiguous gene deletion involving Xp21 genomic location. Case presentation A Sri Lankan boy with developmental delay and failure to thrive first presented at three years of age with hypovolaemia, hyperpigmentation and drowsiness. Investigations done at that time revealed hypoglycaemia, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, low cortisol, low aldosterone, high ACTH and low 17-hydroxyprogesterone. He was diagnosed to have primary adrenal insufficiency. During follow-up at five years, he was noted to have progressive difficulty in walking, waddling gait, hypotonia, calf hypertrophy and positive Gower’s sign. His creatine kinase was very high, and the electromyogram showed myopathy. Genetic analysis revealed hemizygous deletion involving the final 35 exons of the dystrophin gene confirming the diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Further investigations revealed pseudohypertriglyceridemia, large glycerol peak on urine organic acid analysis and hemizygous deletion of the glycerol kinase gene confirming glycerol kinase deficiency. Based on the presence of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, glycerol kinase deficiency and probable congenital adrenal hypoplasia along with genetic confirmation of deletions involving dystrophin and glycerol kinase genes, the diagnosis of Xp21 contiguous gene deletion syndrome was made. Conclusions We report a child with contiguous gene deletion syndrome who was initially diagnosed as having isolated primary adrenal insufficiency probably due to congenital adrenal hypoplasia. Later he was confirmed to have Duchenne muscular dystrophy and glycerol kinase deficiency, as well. This case report highlights the importance of pre-emptive evaluation and identification of genetic defects when patients present with seemingly unrelated diseases that could aid in accurate diagnoses of contiguous gene deletion syndromes.

Abstract Background Very long-chain acyl-coenzyme-A dehydrogenase deficiency is a rare, severe life-threatening metabolic disorder of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, caused by mutations in ACADVL gene. Here we present a genetically confirmed case of a South Asian baby girl with severe, early-onset form of very long-chain acyl-coenzyme-A dehydrogenase deficiency due to a novel mutation in ACADVL gene. Case presentation Index case was the second baby girl of second-degree consanguineous South Asian parents. She had an uncomplicated antenatal period and was born by spontaneous vaginal delivery at term with a birth weight of 2910 g. She had been noted to have fair skin complexion, hypotonia, and 3 cm firm hepatomegaly. Since birth, the baby developed grunting, poor feeding, and recurrent episodes of symptomatic hypoglycemia and convulsions with multiple semiology. Her septic screening and urine ketone bodies were negative. The baby had high anion gap metabolic acidosis and elevated transaminases and serum creatine phosphokinase levels. Echocardiogram at 4 months revealed bilateral ventricular hypertrophy. Acylcarnitine profile revealed elevated concentrations of tetradecanoylcarnitine (C14), tetradecanoylcarnitine C14:1, and C14:1/C16. Unfortunately, the baby died due to intercurrent respiratory illness at 4 months of age. Sequence analysis of ACADVL gene in perimortem blood sample revealed homozygous frame shift novel variant NM_001270447.1, c.711_712del p.(Phe237Leufs*38), which confirmed the diagnosis of very long-chain acyl-coenzyme-A dehydrogenase deficiency. Conclusions This case demonstrates the importance of early diagnosis and management of very long-chain acyl-coenzyme-A dehydrogenase deficiency in improving the outcome of the patients. Implementation of newborn screening using tandem mass spectrometry in Sri Lanka will be beneficial to reduce the morbidity and mortality of treatable disorders of inborn errors.

The ratio of index finger to ring finger length (2D:4D) is a sexually dimorphic feature and widely used as an indicator of prenatal androgen-estrogen exposure. Several studies have investigated the relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and the onset of the first menstrual period (menarche) in women.

Anna J Shangguan,1,* Kang Zhou,2,* Jia Yang,1 Aydin Eresen,1 Bin Wang,3 Chong Sun,4 Liang Pan,5 Su Hu,6 Ali T Khan,1 Samdeep K Mouli,1 Vahid Yaghmai,7 Zhuoli Zhang1 1Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; 2Department of Radiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Radiology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of Radiological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhuoli ZhangDepartment of Radiology, Northwestern University, 737 N Michigan Ave, 16 th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USATel +1 312 695 5753Fax +1 312 926 5991Email zhuoli-zhang@northwestern.eduPurpose: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a promising new ablation method for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment with few side-effects; however, tissue perfusion and differentiation between treatment zones have not been sufficiently studied. In this project, we analyzed HCC tumor perfusion changes immediately after IRE treatment using transcatheter intraarterial perfusion (TRIP)-MRI to monitor treatment zone margins.Materials and Methods: All protocols were approved by the institutional animal care and use committee. A total of 34 rabbits were used for this prospective study: tumor liver group (n=17), normal liver group (n=14), and 3 for growing VX2 tumors. All procedures and imaging were performed under anesthesia. VX2 tumors were grown by injection of VX2 cells into rabbit hindlimbs. Liver tumors were induced by percutaneous US-guided injection of VX2 tumor fragments into liver. For digital subtraction angiography (DSA), a 2F catheter was advanced through left hepatic artery via femoral artery access, followed by contrast injection. All rabbits underwent baseline anatomic MRI, then IRE procedure or IRE probe placement only, and lastly post-procedure anatomic and TRIP-MRI. Liver tissues were dissected immediately after imaging for histology. All statistical analyses were performed on GraphPad Prism, with P< 0.05 considered significant.Results: IRE generated central IRE zone and peripheral reversible electroporation (RE) zone on anatomic MRI for both normal liver and liver tumor tissues. The semiquantitative analysis showed that IRE zone had the lowest AUC, PE, WIS, Ktrans, ve, and vp as well as the highest TTP, followed by RE zone, then untreated tissues. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that WIS and AUC60 had the highest AUCROC. Histologic analysis showed a positive correlation in viable area fraction between MRI and histologic measurements. IRE zone had the highest %apoptosis and lowest CD31+ staining.Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that intraprocedural TRIP-MRI can effectively differentiate IRE and RE zones after IRE ablation in normal liver and liver tumor tissues.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, irreversible electroporation, liver cancer, perfusion, transcatheter intraarterial perfusion magnetic resonance imaging

Introduction: Effective, largescale, and nutrition-sensitive interventions addressing underlying determinants are required to accelerate progress in under-five nutrition. Objectives: To determine the effective coverage of Mother Supportive Group (MSG) intervention among its primary target population and its effectiveness in promotion of nutrition and growth of under-five children Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among under-five children of Monaragala District. The study population was categorized into ‘MSG’ if the child was registered with intervention and into ‘Non- MSG’ if it was not. MSGs were defined as effective, if MSG meetings were held once a month consecutively over the past six months with a meeting report for each meeting held. A sample of 1140 children (570 from each ‘MSG’ and ‘Non-MSG’ groups) was selected by systematic random sampling method. Weight and height of children were measured with appropriate instruments. Other information was collected by an interviewer administered questionnaire. Results: Effective coverage of primary target population by MSG intervention was 2.6% and it was not uniformly implemented in the community. Only one medical officer of health (MOH) area reported effective coverage of 25%, while it was 10-15% in five MOH areas and less than 1% in two MOH areas. Attending Growth Monitoring and Promotion Programme in more than the recommended frequency was significantly higher (77.5%) in MSG (Non-MSG=49.7%). Fathers’ smoking was significantly high (54%) in MSGs (Non-MSG=46%). Feeding on solid food during illness has significantly improved with MSG intervention (MSG=20.7% versus Non-MSG=11.9%). None of the other practices and selected behaviours showed significant improvement with MSGs. No significant difference in the prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was detected between MSG and Non-MSG groups. Conclusions: Effective coverage of MSG intervention was significantly low while its implementation was not uniform in the community. MSG intervention was not effective enough at its present level of implementation, to show significant nutrition and growth promotion among children of the under-five category. It is recommended to revisit the MSG intervention before further implementation.

Abstract Background Fabry disease is a rare inborn error of metabolism with profound clinical consequences if untreated. It is caused by the deficiency of α galactosidase A enzyme and is the only lysosomal storage disorder with an X linked inheritance. Confirmation requires genetic analysis of Galactosidase Alpha (GLA) Gene, which is often a challenge in resource-poor settings. Despite these technological limitations, specific clinical features in this condition can establish the diagnosis. Case presentation We report on a 13-year old male who presented with an afebrile convulsion with a background history of chronic burning sensation of hands and feet and anhidrosis for 2 years duration with a similar history of episodic acroparesthesia in the other male sibling. The early clinical diagnosis was based on the history and detection of Cornea Verticillata on eye examination. Biochemical confirmation was established with detection of low α galactosidase A enzyme levels and a missense mutation of the Galactosidase Alpha (GLA) Gene (c.136C > T) established the genetic confirmation. Conclusion This is the first case of Fabry disease reported in Sri Lanka. Awareness of specific clinical features aided clinical diagnosis long before access to genetic confirmation was available.

Graduate students emerging from STEM programs face inequitable professional landscapes in which their ability to practice inclusive and effective science communication with interdisciplinary and public audiences is essential to their success. Yet these students are rarely offered the opportunity to learn and practice inclusive science communication in their graduate programs. Moreover, minoritized students rarely have the opportunity to validate their experiences among peers and develop professional sensibilities through research training. In this article, the authors offer the Science Communication (Sci/Comm) Scholar’s working group at The University of Texas at San Antonio as one model for training graduate students in human dimensions and inclusive science communication for effective public engagement in thesis projects and beyond. The faculty facilitated peer-to-peer working group encouraged participation by women who often face inequities in STEM workplaces. Early results indicate that team-based training in both the science and art of public engagement provides critical exposure to help students understand the methodological care needed for human dimensions research, and to facilitate narrative-based citizen science engagements. The authors demonstrate this through several brief profiles of environmental science graduate students’ thesis projects. Each case emphasizes the importance of research design for public engagement via quantitative surveys and narrative-based science communication interventions. Through a faculty facilitated peer-to-peer working group framework, research design and methodological care function as an integration point for social scientific and rhetorical training for inclusive science communication with diverse audiences.

The Arctic is a strategically important region for Russia. In the process of searching for new solutions for the rapid construction of energy-efficient and safe buildings in the Arctic, it is necessary to develop systems for monitoring and maintaining indoor microclimate, ensuring optimal use of resources and implementing building management systems. Continuous automatic monitoring will help to increase comfort and safety in the room, as well as reduce energy consumption. The possibility of remote data transmission will allow you to quickly respond to emergencies and take actions to prevent the development of accidents. The article presents the results of the development and testing of a software and hardware complex based on a model object on the territory of the Murmansk State Technical University. The development and research of systems for automated monitoring of microclimate parameters and electricity metering of a model object in Murmansk has been carried out. The results of the study of the parameters of the deviation of temperature indicators are presented. The parameters of the deviation of the indicators of the humidity control system from the sensors are determined. A comparative analysis of the total electricity consumption of the model object for the main consumers of the log part and the frame part was carried out.

Background: NiemannPick (NP) disease is a genetically heterogeneous metabolic disorder caused by bi-allelic variants in NPC1, NPC2, or SMPD1, with initial symptoms and age at onset varying widely. The interpretation of variants in NP disease genes is challenging when these alterations have never been observed before, and when parental samples are not available. Case Presentation: We clinically, genetically, and biochemically characterized an infant with a complex presentation and a negative family history. Clinical and paraclinical observations were consistent with NP disease. Genetic screening identified two previously unreported SMPD1 missense variants, which were initially classified as variants of unknown significance. Based on strongly increased plasma levels of lysosphingomyelin-509, both variants could be re-classified as likely pathogenic, thus establishing a diagnosis of NP disease type A/B. Conclusion: A combination of genetics with biochemical approaches facilitates conclusive diagnosis of metabolic disorders including NP disease. Blood-based biomarkers are particularly promising in this respect. [JBCGenetics 2019; 2(2.000): 147-150]

Abstract Background Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiencies are disorders affecting phenylalanine homeostasis, and catecholamine and serotonin biosynthesis. GTP-Cyclohydrolase I deficiency (OMIM 600225) is an extremely rare variant of inborn error of BH4 synthesis which exists in recessive and dominant forms. The recessive form presents with complex neurological and autonomic dysfunction whilst the dominant form presents as Dopa-responsive dystonia. Case presentation We describe a South Asian child who initially presented with neurological dysfunction and recurrent vomiting and later developed recurrent hyperthermia for several months. The child did not have screening for hyperphenylalaninemia at birth and was found to have marked hyperphenylalaninemia after clinical presentation at 5 months. Further evaluation revealed BH4 deficiency. GTP-Cyclohydrolase I deficiency (GTPCH) was identified based on normal dihydro pteridine reductase activity and markedly reduced neopterin in dried blood spot test. After institution of treatment and control of high phenylalanine levels, clinical deterioration decelerated yet with noticeable residual neurological dysfunction. Conclusion To authors’ knowledge, this is first report of GTPCH deficiency in a South Asian child. The case highlights practical issues regarding diagnosis of GTPCH deficiency, especially in countries without broader universal newborn screening programs for early detection of inherited metabolic disorders. Testing for GTPCH deficiency should be considered for patients with unexplained neurological and autonomic symptoms following initial metabolic screen.

Abstract Background Cystic fibrosis has been largely under-diagnosed and thus, limited data is available on the incidence of cystic fibrosis in Sri Lanka. Our aim is to describe the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of children with cystic fibrosis in Sri Lanka. Case presentation This report describes 10 unrelated cystic fibrosis cases with phenotypic features of cystic fibrosis and abnormal or intermediate sweat tests. The most common phenotypic features in this sample of symptomatic patients were persistent or recurrent lower respiratory tract infections, failure to thrive and Pseudo-Bartter syndrome. Altogether 7 cystic fibrosis causing mutations were identified in 10 patients. Except delta F508 which is the commonest mutation worldwide all the other mutations detected in Sri Lankan patients are rare mutations. 1161delC and V456A detected in our patients are South Asian mutations. The other mutations such as [C.1282C > G; C.2738A > G], C.53 + 1G > C, 2184insA and a deletion encompassing exons 4 to 11 have been reported previously from European patients with cystic fibrosis. Conclusion These cases highlight the importance of considering the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in children and young adults presenting with persistent respiratory tract infections associated with severe malnutrition and Pseudo-Bartter syndrome, especially in low income countries where newborn screening for cystic fibrosis is not available. The spectrum of CFTR mutations in Sri Lanka is heterogeneous and possibly linked to genetic flow from Indian subcontinent and Europe. The common mutations should be identified by sequencing the entire CFTR gene in adequate number of cystic fibrosis patients in order to design a mutation panel for common regional mutations.

Abstract Background Series of biochemical and haematological changes occur during the course of dengue infection, which vary depending on the clinical disease. The patterns of change are not well documented and identifying these patterns in children with dengue infection would help to anticipate the progression to different clinical stages thus enabling effective management. Methods A prospective follow up study was conducted during the period of July 2013 – April 2014 at Professorial Pediatric unit, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Children (5–12 years) admitted within the first 84 h of fever, with a clinical diagnosis of dengue infection were recruited. Children who became positive for dengue IgM were included in the final analysis. Blood was collected on admission for complete blood count, Alanine aminotransferase, Aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, cholesterol and corrected calcium. These tests were repeated at 12 hourly intervals during the hospital stay. Results Data of 130-subjects were analyzed (Dengue fever /Dengue hemorrhagic fever: 100/30). There was a significant difference in the pattern of white cell counts, platelets and haematocrit in the two clinical groups. Both transaminase rose initially in both dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever and a steep rise were seen between 8th and 9th days in hemorrhagic fever. Both albumin and cholesterol decreased significantly at the time of entering into the critical phase. According to Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, albumin level crossing 37.5g/L (sensitivity 86.7%, specificity 77.8%) and a 0.38 mmol/L reduction in cholesterol level (sensitivity 77.3%, specificity 71.9%) between day 3 and 4 were the best predictors of entering into critical phase. Calcium levels did not show any distinct pattern. Conclusions There is a clear difference in the pattern of change of both hematological and biochemical parameters in dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever. Reduction in albumin and cholesterol levels seen between the completion of day 3 and day 4 were highly valid predictors of entering into critical phase in dengue hemorrhagic fever.

The present article is dedicated to analytical and numerical investigation of behavior of end elements of high-pressure casings for nuclear reactors. Nuclear energy generated inside the high-pressure casings will become an actual power-related choice of the human kind in the very near future. In this respect, development of methodology for proper calculation of axisymmetric plates resting against conical surface and bearing the evenly distributed load is becoming state of the art issue. In order to perform analytical calculation the authors used established concrete strength criteria and prerequisites assumed, while ANSYS WORKBENCH software package was applied to calculate the ultimate load value and stress state. Calculations were made considering a keyed connection between thick plate and load-bearing wall of the high-pressure casing and referring to considerably high, in one case, and low (variable), in the other case, plate stiffness. The article presents comparative analysis of calculation results that demonstrates calculation methods adequacy. The authors developed original methods of analytical and numerical calculations allowing to investigate stress state of end elements designed in the form of axisymmetric plates resting against conical surfaces. End elements behavior in load condition is characterized by formation of spheric vault where stress condition typical for concrete three-dimensional compression state occurs. Investigations presented show that sudden disintegration does not occur when concrete end elements are affected by cracks in the stretched area; instead, the spheric vault is formed. Strength of such spheric vault occurring in the element is rather depending upon load bearing wall stiffness, i.e. the lower the stiffness the smaller the strength and vice versa. The following scientific results have been obtained: – end elements shaped as thick axisymmetric plates in condition of ultimate load are characterized by spheric vault formation; -authors, based on assumptions and guided by approximate procedure have obtained the formula for spheric vault thickness calculation; – authors obtained original methods of analytical and numerical calculation to evaluate stress condition of high-pressure casings’ end elements shaped as thick axisymmetric plates resting against conical surface; – comparison of calculation results displays minor discepancies between analytical and numerical calculation models.

Antiepileptics drugs are the mainstay of the management of epilepsy in children. Sodium valproate (VPA) and carbamazepine (CBZ) are widely used medications in childhood epilepsy. Hyperammonemia has been described as a known side effect of valproate therapy. It is known that VPA-associated HA is common among patients who hold genetic mutations of the carbomoyl phosphatase synthase 1 gene (CPS1). Aggravation of self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SLECTS) is a rare side effect of CBZ. Here, we present a child who had CBZ-induced aggravation of rolandic epilepsy and VPA-induced HA encephalopathy in the background of an unrecognised heterozygous gene variant of CPS1. An 8-year-old boy with SLECTS presented with a history of abnormal behaviours and drowsiness. He was apparently well until six years when he developed seizures in favour of rolandic epilepsy. His electroencephalogram (EEG) showed bilateral predominantly on the right-sided central-temporal spikes and waves. The diagnosis of SLECTS was made, and he was commenced on CBZ. Though he showed some improvement at the beginning, his seizure frequency increased when the dose of CBZ was increased. His repeat EEG showed electrical status in slow-wave sleep, and CBZ was stopped. Subsequently, he was started on VPA, and with that, he developed features of encephalopathy. He had elevated serum ammonia with normal liver functions. VPA was stopped with the suspicion of VPA-induced hyperammonemia. Tandem mass spectrometry did not show significant abnormality in the amino acid profile. Specific genetic analysis revealed a c.2756 C > T.p (Ser919Leu) heterozygote genetic mutation of the CSP 1 gene. This is a classic example where side effects of treatment determine the choice of antiepileptics drugs (AEDs) in childhood epilepsy. It is essential to keep in mind that SLECTS can be aggravated with certain AEDs, and VPA-induced HA in the absence of live failure could be due to underlying inherited metabolic disorders.

BackgroundUniversity students are vulnerable to poor mental health, psychological distress, and loneliness relative to nonuniversity student peers. However, the rate of seeking mental health treatment among university students is low. Web-based psychological interventions may provide an opportunity for supporting vulnerable university students who are unlikely to otherwise seek support. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to examine the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and efficacy of an existing web-based transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) mental health program for use among Australian university students. MethodsThis is a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing a self-directed web-based CBT mental health program with a waitlist control. The self-directed modules will be augmented with optional webchat or telephone coaching with a therapist. The recruitment target is 70 university students who do not present with a clinical mental health disorder. Allocation will be made in a 1:1 ratio and will occur after the initial baseline assessment. Assessments will be completed at baseline, upon completion of a 4-week waitlist (waitlist group only), upon completion of the program, and at 3 months after completion of the program. ResultsThe trial was funded in June 2018, and the protocol was approved by the Swinburne University Human Research Ethics Committee in September 2018. Recruitment commenced in October 2018, with the first participant allocated in November 2018. A total of 70 participants were recruited to the trial. The trial recruitment ceased in June 2019, and data collection was finalized in December 2019. We expect the final data analysis to be completed by November 2020 and results to be published early in 2021. The primary outcomes are feasibility, acceptability, safety, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. The secondary outcomes are psychological wellbeing, quality of life, loneliness, self-reported physical health status, emotion regulation, and cognitive and mindfulness processes. ConclusionsThe acceptability, feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a web-based mental health program in university students will be evaluated. Web-based mental health programs offer the opportunity to engage university students who may be reluctant to seek support through traditional face-to-face mental health services, and the transdiagnostic approach of the program has the potential to address the breadth of mental health concerns of university students. Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12618001604291; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12618001604291 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/21307

The article is devoted to practical calculation of strength of flexible members made on the basis of non-linear deformation model taking into account experimental diagrams of materials deformation. The relative deformations are determined in the proposed calculation depending on maximum flexion of a member. The calculation of maximum flexion of a member will be performed using two iteration methods. The basic calculation formula, original block diagrams of methods and comparison of calculation parameters proceeding from results of practical calculations made as exemplified by typical girder are provided.

Immigrant entrepreneurship, like other facets of entrepreneurship, contributes towards a country’s productivity, partly through employment creation. However, the specific factors, in the form of social capital, that lend themselves to this employment creation potential, remain largely unknown. It is against this background that this study sought to determine if the variables of language proficiency and networking ability bear an association with the employment creation ability of African immigrant entrepreneurs.This quantitative study was executed from a positivism philosophical standpoint. Relying on the population of African immigrants in the small business sector in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique, the non-probability sampling techniques of convenience and snowball sampling were used to identify 2,500 participants. Data were collected in a cross-sectional manner, with self-administered questionnaires and an effective 33% response rate was realized.Findings reveal a statistically significant relationship between language proficiency and employment creation, while that between networking ability and employment creation was not significant. Nonetheless, most of the studied African immigrant entrepreneurs across the countries agreed that language proficiency and networking ability have helped them cope with the rigors of operating their businesses. These findings signal the need for interventions for building language proficiency and networking ability for African immigrant entrepreneurs.

Abstract Background Renal hypouricemia is a rare heterogeneous inherited disorder characterized by impaired tubular uric acid transport, reabsorption insufficiency and /or acceleration of secretion. The affected individuals are predisposed to nephrolithiasis and recurrent episodes of exercise-induced acute kidney injury. Type 1 is caused by dysfunctional variants in the SLC22A12 gene (URAT1), while type 2 is caused by defects in the SLC2A9 gene (GLUT9). To date, more than 150 patients with the loss-of-function mutations for the SLC22A12 gene have been found (compound heterozygotes and/or homozygotes), most of whom are Japanese and Koreans. Case presentation Herein, we report a nine year old Sri Lankan boy with renal hypouricemia (serum uric acid 97 μmol/L, fractional excretion of uric acid 33%).The sequencing analysis of SLC22A12 revealed a potentially deleterious missense variant c.1400C > T (p.T467 M, rs200104135) in heterozygous state. This variant has been previously identified in homozygous and/or compound heterozygous state with other causative SLC22A12 variant c.1245_1253del (p.L415_G417del) in Roma population. Conclusions This is the first identification of a family with mild renal hypouricemia1 associated to the p.T467 M variant. Detailed investigations of urate blood and urine concentrations in patients with unexplained hypouricemia are needed and renal hypouricemia should also be considered in patients other than those from Japan and/or Korea. Our finding confirms an uneven geographical and ethnic distribution of Romany prevalent SLC22A12 variant that need to be considered in Asian patients (population data Genome Aggregation Database: allele frequency in South Asia 0.007055, in East Asia 0.001330).

Abstract Background Dubin–Johnson syndrome and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy are rare chronic liver disorders. Dubin–Johnson syndrome may manifest as conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, darkly pigmented liver, presence of abnormal pigment in the parenchyma of hepatocytes and abnormal distribution of the coproporphyrin isomers I and III in the urine. Intrahepatic cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy presents as pruritus, abnormal liver biochemistry and increased serum bile acids. Case presentation A Sri Lankan girl presented with recurrent episodes of jaundice. She had conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia with diffuse, coarse brown pigments in the hepatocytes. Urine coproporphyrin examination suggested Dubin–Johnson syndrome. Genetic studies confirmed missense homozygous variant p.Trp709Arg in the ATP-binding cassette sub-family C member 2 gene ABCC2 that encodes the Multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 that causes Dubin–Johnson syndrome. The gene study of the mother revealed the same missense variant in ABCC2/MRP2 but with a heterozygous status, and in addition a homozygous missense variant p.Val444Ala in the ATP-binding cassette, sub-family B member 11 gene ABCB11 that encodes the bile salt export pump. Conclusion Dubin–Johnson syndrome should be considered when the common causes for conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia have been excluded, and patient has an increased percentage of direct bilirubin relative to total bilirubin concentration. Its early diagnosis prevents repeated hospital admissions and investigations. Knowledge of a well known homozygous variant in ABCB11 gene could help in the management of pregnancy.

Abstract Background Uric acid is the metabolic end product of purine metabolism in humans. Altered serum and urine uric acid level (both above and below the reference ranges) is an indispensable marker in detecting rare inborn errors of metabolism. We describe different case scenarios of 4 Sri Lankan patients related to abnormal uric acid levels in blood and urine. Case 1 A one-and-half-year-old boy was investigated for haematuria and a calculus in the bladder. Xanthine crystals were seen in microscopic examination of urine sediment. Low uric acid concentrations in serum and low urinary fractional excretion of uric acid associated with high urinary excretion of xanthine and hypoxanthine were compatible with xanthine oxidase deficiency. Case 2 An 8-month-old boy presented with intractable seizures, feeding difficulties, screaming episodes, microcephaly, facial dysmorphism and severe neuro developmental delay. Low uric acid level in serum, low fractional excretion of uric acid and radiological findings were consistent with possible molybdenum cofactor deficiency. Diagnosis was confirmed by elevated levels of xanthine, hypoxanthine and sulfocysteine levels in urine. Case 3 A 3-year-10-month-old boy presented with global developmental delay, failure to thrive, dystonia and self-destructive behaviour. High uric acid levels in serum, increased fractional excretion of uric acid and absent hypoxanthine–guanine phosphoribosyltransferase enzyme level confirmed the diagnosis of Lesch–Nyhan syndrome. Case 4 A 9-year-old boy was investigated for lower abdominal pain, gross haematuria and right renal calculus. Low uric acid level in serum and increased fractional excretion of uric acid pointed towards hereditary renal hypouricaemia which was confirmed by genetic studies. Conclusion Abnormal uric acid level in blood and urine is a valuable tool in screening for clinical conditions related to derangement of the nucleic acid metabolic pathway.

Background: Improvement in dentistry shows some progresses, due to patients awareness on the importance of dental care. Cervical lesion is the most common phenomenon which oftenly found 46.36% in man and 38.13% in woman. Cervical lesions need composite restoration for treatment to stop the process of tissue damage. The process of adhesion of composite restoration material to the structure of the tooth is not easily separated and it needs optimal function in the oral cavity. Application of dentin bonding agents to attach the composite is needed. Selection of HEMA-based bonding material and Hema free-based bonding material which have a different solvent in their composition, as applied to the dentin superficial and deep dentin, affect the results of debonding test. Debonding test is done to measure the adhesion strength of a bonding material. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze differences in tensile bond strength of dentine bonding HEMA-based and HEMA-free based after application in superficial and deep dentine surfaces. Method: The tooth of the bovine was as samples. A superficial dentine sample was taken from 0.5-1 mm of dentino enamel junction and a deep dentine sample was taken from 0.5 mm culmination of pulp horn. Dentine surface area was equal to p x r2 = (3.14 x 22) = 12.56 mm2. Six samples of HEMA-based bonding was applied to the dentine superficial. Six samples of HEMAfree based bonding was applied to the superficial dentine. Six samples of HEMA-based bonding was applied to the deep dentine. Six samples of HEMA-free based bonding was applied to the deep dentine. Tensile strength was measured using an Autograph AG-10TE. Result: There were differences tensile bond strength of dentine bonding HEMA-based and HEMA-free based after the application on superficial (p=0.000) and deep dentine surfaces (p=0.000). Conclusion: There were differences tensile bond strength of dentine bonding HEMA-based and HEMA-free based after the application on superficial and deep dentine surfaces. The use of dentine bonding materials HEMA-free based were better than HEMA-based after application on different dentine depths.

BACKGROUND:We explored the contributions of the Family Health Days (FHDs) concept, which was developed by the Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) and UNICEF as a supplementary quarterly outreach program in addition to strengthening the routine expanded program for immunization (EPI), with the aim to increase coverage, through improved access to the unimmunized or unreached and under-immunized children under 5 years. METHOD:A cross-sectional descriptive study of the Uganda MOH, Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) and UNICEF in house FHDs data was conducted covering six quarterly implementations of the program between April 2012 and December 2013. The FHDs program was implemented in 31 priority districts with low routine vaccination coverage from seven sub-regions in Uganda in a phased manner using places of worship for service delivery. RESULTS:During the six rounds of FHDs in the 31 districts, a total of 178,709 and 191,223 children received measles and Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus (DPT3) vaccinations, respectively. The FHDs' contributions were 126% and 144% for measles and 103% and 122% for DPT3 in 2012 and 2013, respectively of the estimated unreached annual target populations. All implementing sub-regions after two rounds in 2012 attained over and above the desired target for DPT3 (85%) and measles (90%). The same was true in 2013 after four rounds, except for Karamoja and West Nile sub-regions, where in some districts a substantial proportion of children remained unimmunized. The administrative data for both DPT3 and measles immunization showed prominent and noticeable increase in coverage trend in FHDS regions for the months when the program was implemented. CONCLUSION:The FHDs program improved vaccination equity by reaching the unreached and hard-to-reach children and bridging the gap in immunization coverage, and fast tracking the achievement of targets recommended by the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) for measles and DPT3 (85% and 90% respectively) in implementing sub-regions and districts. The FHDs is an innovative program to supplement routine immunizations designed to reach the unreached and under immunized children.

Phosphatidate phosphatase-1 (lipin-1) is encoded by LPIN1 gene. Lipin-1 deficiency has been reported as the second most common cause of early-onset rhabdomyolysis after primary fatty acid oxidation disorders. We report a case of a 32-year-old Sri Lankan female with a history of more than 10 episodes of rhabdomyolysis and exercise intolerance since childhood. These episodes were triggered by infections and exercise. A temporal relationship between the acute episodes and use of drugs such as theophylline, mefenamic acid, co-trimoxazole, and combined oral contraceptive pills was also noted. There was marked elevation of serum creatine kinase and transaminases during acute episodes. Family history revealed parental consanguinity and an affected sibling who died of an acute episode associated with muscle weakness, dark coloured urine, and cyanosis, at the age of 2 years. The histochemical findings of the patient under discussion were consistent with a metabolic myopathy affecting membrane integrity. A homozygous, likely pathogenic variant c.1684G>T encoding p.(Glu562∗) was identified by clinical exome sequencing. Even though the studies to date give no convincing evidence of a possible causal or contributory relationship between the drugs under discussion and lipin-1 related rhabdomyolysis, this case highlights the importance of pharmacovigilance and reporting adverse drug reactions in patients with lipin-1 deficiency.

In the future, digital technologies will make it possible to increase the transparency of the economic activities of tax organizations, the transparency of the economy of all economic entities in Russian Federation, which guarantees the stability of receipts to the country's budget, an improvement in the quality of budget planning and economic stability. The purpose of this study is to substantiate the optimization of the economic activities of tax organizations based on the introduction of digital technologies. The object of the research is the economic activity of tax organizations. The subject of the research is digital technologies as a factor in optimizing economic activity and the sustainability of tax organizations. The analysis of the efficiency of tax organizations is presented. The author's vision of the influence of digital technologies on the optimization of economic activity is given on the example of the branch of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation in terms of tax control and the provision of public services. It is concluded that the optimization of the economic activities of tax organizations based on the introduction of digital technologies will reduce the costs of current activities, tax administration, time costs for tax transactions.

The study is dedicated to identifying effective PR practices for building mutually beneficial relations between governmental organizations and the corresponding social groups, the problems of the organization's first person positive image creation, selection of the best technologies for dealing with negative messages in the web, detection of the governmental organization PR errors that inflict harm to the image and reputation both of the first person of the organization and the institution itself. The study purpose is to evaluate governmental body Press Relations Department and the target audience interaction efficiency. The conclusions drawn up based on the research methods used: expert inquiry, content analysis, linguistic text analysis, comparative analysis, benchmarking, data extrapolation, and TIPS (the theory of inventive problem solving) methods set, represent a program for the City Authorities Press Relations Department, fostering the publicity capital increase and aimed at the positive public awareness development, the organization chief executive image visualization and identification, use of information and more complex and combination level PR actions development, prevention methods selection and negative message processing.

In 2016, the “E-SiCure” project (standing for “Engineering Silicon Carbide for Border and Port Security”), funded by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme was launched. The main objective is to combine theoretical, experimental and applied research towards the development of radiation-hard SiC-based detectors of special nuclear materials (SNM), with the end goal to enhance border and port security barriers. Prototype neutron detectors, configured as 4H-SiC-based Schottky barrier diodes, were developed for the detection of secondary charged particles (tritons, alphas and lithium atoms) which are the result of thermal neutron reactions on 10B and 6LiF layers above the surface of the 4H-SiC diodes. We designed a stand-alone prototype detection system, consisting of a preamplifier, shaping amplifier and a multichannel analyser operated by a laptop computer, for testing of neutron detector prototypes at the Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI) TRIGA reactor using a broad beam of reactor neutrons. The reverse bias for the detector diode and the power to electronic system were provided by a standalone battery-powered voltage source. The detector functionality was established through measurements using an 241Am alpha particle source. Two dedicated experimental campaigns were performed at the JSI TRIGA reactor. The registered pulse height spectra from the detectors, using both 10B and 6LiF neutron converting layers, clearly demonstrated the neutron detection abilities of the SiC detector prototypes. The computed neutron detection sensitivity of the single prototype detectors demonstrates that scaling SiC detectors into larger arrays, of dimensions relevant for border and port radiation detectors, could enable neutron sensitivity levels matching gas-based detector technology.

Turmeric grown in state of Tamil Nadu in India was analysed for its change in Curcumin content when subjected to varying pressures of steam during pressurised steam boiling under laboratory scale conditions.The same were tested in the field for optimized conditions in the already existing turmeric boiling system with the farmers, the locally available parboiling drum used for paddy parboiling and the improved steam boiling vessel developed at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.The varying pressures which brought about varying degrees of gelatinization of starch which in turn affecting the Curcumin content were studied. Consequently the bioavailability of Curcumin and its antioxidant properties were analysed considering its health benefits. The best quality of turmeric in terms of Curcumin content was obtained at 46.43 % degree of starch gelatinization. The highest RSA (24%) was obtained at 5 minutes at 5 kg cm-2 pressure treatment. The correlation between degree of starch gelatinization and antioxidant property of turmeric was found to be highly negative (-0.9577).

We report three symptomatic children with profound biotinidase deficiency from Sri Lanka. All three children presented with typical clinical features of the disorder. The first is homozygous for a missense mutation in the BTD gene (c.98_104 del7insTCC; p.Cys33PhefsX36) that is commonly seen in the western countries, the second is homozygous for a novel missense mutation (p.Ala439Asp), and the third is the first reported instance of a contiguous gene deletion causing the enzyme deficiency. In addition, this latter finding exemplifies the importance of considering a deletion within the BTD gene for reconciling enzymatic activity with genotype, which can occur in asymptomatic children who are identified by newborn screening.

Results of comparison of optimization methods of thermal sterilization temperature-time regimes have been described. It has been shown that due to simulation the final canned foods’ quality factors are significantly improved, sterilization process time is decreased and energy consumption is reduced without sacrificing actual final lethality value

We have attempted to analyse the features of communicative strategies of a media discourse. The paper describes the notions of “discourse”, “media discourse”, “social media discourse”, and “communicative strategies”. The research is performed using the social media texts collected by the authors. Up to date no linguistic investigations of communicative strategies used in social media discourse have been conducted. We have focused on news texts from information, news, educational, and entertaining platforms, in social networks. The most important thing is to identify the ways of communicative strategies generation and the methods of their association in a social media discourse. The article shows some typical features of a social media discourse. The subject of the research is a set of communicative strategies used during implementation of the communicative functions of texts. The purpose of the paper is to identify and organise communicative strategies, the characteristics of their use depending on the social text topic, and to review the impact of such a text. The main aim of the research is to study the social media discourse as one type of an institutional media discourse; to identify and describe the factors impacting its formation.

In 2016, the ”E-SiCure” project (standing for Engineering Silicon Carbide for Border and Port Security), funded by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, was launched. The main objective is to combine theoretical, experimental and applied research towards the development of radiation-hard SiC-based detectors of special nuclear materials (SNM), and by that way, to enhance border and port security barriers. Along the plan, material modification processes are employed firstly to study, and secondly to manipulate the most severe electrically active defects (which trap or annihilate free charge carriers), by specific ion implantation and defect engineering. This paper gives an overview of the experimental activities performed at the JSI TRIGA reactor in the framework of the E-SiCure project. Initial activities were aimed at obtaining information on the radiation hardness of SiC and at the study of the energy levels of the defects induced by neutron irradiation. Several Schottky barrier diodes were fabricated out of nitrogen-doped epitaxial grown 4H-SiC, and irradiated under Cd filters in the PT irradiation channel in the JSI TRIGA reactor with varying neutron fluence levels. Neutron-induced defects in the material were studied using temperature dependent current-voltage (I-V), capacitance-voltage (C-V) and Deep-Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) measurements. Our prototype neutron detectors are configured as 4H-SiC-based Schottky barrier diodes for detection of secondary charged particles (tritons, alphas and lithium atoms) which are result of thermal neutron conversion process in 10B and 6LiF layers above the surface of the 4H-SiC diodes. For field testing of neutron detectors using a broad beam of reactor neutrons we designed a standalone prototype detection system consisting of a preamplifier, shaping amplifier and a multichannel analyser operated by a laptop computer. The reverse bias for the detector diode and the power to electronic system are provided by a standalone battery-powered voltage source. The detector functionality was established through measurements using an 241Am alpha particle source. Two dedicated experimental campaigns were performed at the JSI TRIGA reactor. The registered pulse height spectra from the detectors, using both 10B and 6LiF neutron converting layers, clearly demonstrated the neutron detection abilities of the SiC detector prototypes.

The purpose of this study was to explore the opportunities and risks associated with the implementation of new educational formats, including project laboratories, hackathons, startup challenge, co-working, microlearning with regard to their social and axiological aspects into training of high-skilled professionals. The article includes the review of priority areas of the modern education meeting the trends of the digital economy and the description of its specific characteristics. The paper also dwells on the models of cluster education developed by the group of tutors, containing problem cases, draft solution to socio-humanistic tasks, prototypes of engineering projects, business cases, and innovative entrepreneurship technologies. The conducted analysis shows that the use of the opportunities provided by modern educational technologies allows designing am individual educational path, selecting principal subjects and optional courses. During studies at the project office the students develop the skills and competences making them competitive in the global market. The work allowed for the analysis of advantages and disadvantages of the innovative forms and technologies of education into the educational process, as well as for the forecast regarding the efficiency of its long-term implementation.