Knowledge Of Familiarity Research Articles

Mask-Shift-Inference: A novel paradigm for domain generalization

Domain Generalization (DG) focuses on the Out-Of-Distribution (OOD) generalization, which is able to learn a robust model that generalizes the knowledge acquired from the source domain to the unseen target domain. However, due to the existence of the domain shift, domain-invariant representation learning is challenging. Guided by fine-grained knowledge, we propose a novel paradigm Mask-Shift-Inference (MSI) for DG based on the architecture of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). Different from relying on a series of constraints and assumptions for model optimization, this paradigm novelly shifts the focus to feature channels in the latent space for domain-invariant representation learning. We put forward a two-branch working mode of a main module and multiple domain-specific sub-modules. The latter can only achieve good prediction performance in its own specific domain but poor predictions in other source domains, which provides the main module with the fine-grained knowledge guidance and contributes to the improvement of the cognitive ability of MSI. Firstly, during the forward propagation of the main module, the proposed MSI accurately discards unstable channels based on spurious classifications varying across domains, which have domain-specific prediction limitations and are not conducive to generalization. In this process, a progressive scheme is adopted to adaptively increase the masking ratio according to the training progress to further reduce the risk of overfitting. Subsequently, our paradigm enters the compatible shifting stage before the formal prediction. Based on maximizing semantic retention, we implement the domain style matching and shifting through the simple transformation through Fourier transform, which can explicitly and safely shift the target domain back to the source domain whose style is closest to it, requiring no additional model updates and reducing the domain gap. Eventually, the paradigm MSI enters the formal inference stage. The updated target domain is predicted in the main module trained in the previous stage with the benefit of familiar knowledge from the nearest source domain masking scheme. Our paradigm is logically progressive, which can intuitively exclude the confounding influence of domain-specific spurious information along with mitigating domain shifts and implicitly perform semantically invariant representation learning, achieving robust OOD generalization. Extensive experimental results on PACS, VLCS, Office-Home and DomainNet datasets verify the superiority and effectiveness of the proposed method.

Preamplification-free viral RNA diagnostics with single-nucleotide resolution using MARVE, an origami paper-based colorimetric nucleic acid test.

The evolution and mutation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are urgent concerns as they pose the risk of vaccine failure and increased viral transmission. However, affordable and scalable tools allowing rapid identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants are not readily available, which impedes diagnosis and epidemiological surveillance. Here we present a colorimetric nucleic acid assay named MARVE (multiplexed, preamplification-free, single-nucleotide-resolved viral evolution) that is convenient to perform and yields single-nucleotide resolution. The assay integrates nucleic acid strand displacement reactions with enzymatic amplification to colorimetrically sense viral RNA using a metal ion-incorporated DNA probe (TEprobe). We provide detailed guidelines to design TEprobes for discriminating single-nucleotide variations in viral RNAs, and to fabricate a test paper for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Compared with other nucleic acid assays, our assay is preamplification-free, single-nucleotide-resolvable and results are visible via a color change. Besides, it is smartphone readable, multiplexed, quick and cheap ($0.30 per test). The protocol takes ~2 h to complete, from the design and preparation of the DNA probes and test papers (~1 h) to the detection of SARS-CoV-2 or its variants (30-45 min). The design of the TEprobes requires basic knowledge of molecular biology and familiarity with NUPACK or the Python programming language. The fabrication of the origami papers requires access to a wax printer using the CAD and PDF files provided or requires users to be familiar with AutoCAD to design new origami papers. The protocol is also applicable for designing assays to detect other pathogens and their variants.

Development and Evaluation of a Cesarean Hysterectomy Simulation Model

Introduction: Cesarean hysterectomy is a life-saving procedure considered during postpartum hemorrhage in cases of uterine atony refractory to management, placenta accreta spectrum, or other obstetric complications. The procedure has high morbidity and mortality despite the rising rates of worldwide and in the United States. A high percentage of OB/GYN residents graduate without preparedness to perform this procedure post-residency, citing insufficient residency exposure as the primary contributor. This study aims to use evaluation and assessment tools to validate a low-cost, low-fidelity cesarean hysterectomy model at multiple OB/GYN residency training sites across the United States to increase resident confidence and proficiency in performing this critical procedure. Materials and Methods: Model Design and Development: Gynecologic surgeons from two OB/GYN residencies reviewed the literature for cesarean hysterectomy education and simulation. A low fidelity, anatomically accurate model was developed for cesarean hysterectomy simulation purposes. Efforts were made to optimize for anatomic layout and realistic feel, particularly for the anatomic structures relevant to cesarean hysterectomy: uterine vessels, anterior and posterior peritoneum, relation of anterior uterus to the bladder and ureters. Study Design: The study received institutional board review exemption at the Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC) and the University of Toledo (UT). During the last two months of the academic calendar, OB/GYN residents were offered the opportunity to perform a cesarean hysterectomy on the model. Demographics were collected in addition to the number of cesarean and abdominal hysterectomies performed as well as the confidence in cesarean hysterectomies independently. A uniform set of surgical instruments with both appropriate and inappropriate tools were made available for residents to choose from. Throughout the simulation, residents were asked to verbalize each step being performed. One faculty rater at each institution was trained to use the objective and standardized assessment tools and had completed an inter- and intra-rater reliability assessment. All residents were evaluated using the same two objective assessment tools. The two validated assessment tools used to evaluate resident performance using the model were the Task Specific Checklist and the Global Rating Scale. The former assessed residents on a “performed or not” basis on 14 surgical steps specific to cesarean hysterectomy. The latter used a scale of 1 to 5, with higher values representing more advanced skill, to evaluate respect for tissue handling, time and motion, instrument handing, knowledge of instrument selection, operation flow, assistant use, and familiarity with the procedure. Results: A total of 26 residents, 18 of 19 at LUMC and 8 of 17 at UT, completed the cesarean hysterectomy simulation between May and June 2022. At LUMC, no graduating residents had performed a cesarean hysterectomy in their residency. At UT, graduating residents had performed up to 2. All of the residents, including PGY-4s, stated that they either disagree or strongly disagree with the statement “I feel confident performing cesarean hysterectomy independently.” As hypothesized, the median resident scores on the Task Specific Checklist and Global Rating scale correlated with increasing PGY level. The combined TSC+GRS score was a median of 40 out of 49 total for the PGY-4 class, while the PGY-1 class had a median combined TSC+GRS score of 12 of 49. The PGY-2 and -3 class had TSC+GRS scores of 14 and 28 respectively. The simulation model was well-received with a median 4/5 rating for improving comfort level with cesarean hysterectomy and a median 4/5 rating for model realism. Each uterine model cost $6.00 and took approximately 20 minutes to build. The optional base constructed for supporting the model, cost a one-time fee of $160. All materials used for construction were easily available online. Discussion: This study validated an affordable, easily reproducible model that highlights the most important anatomy relevant to a cesarean hysterectomy. The model was developed, produced, and tested at two residency programs with a total of 26 residents participating in the study. This is the first low-fidelity cesarean hysterectomy model inclusive of relevant surgical steps and offers near-real visceral feel that has been developed and assessed for validity. This multisite study created a realistic model with high reproducibility at a low cost. Limitations of this study included the fact that only 27 residents participated in the study from only two institutions. In addition, faculty evaluators were not blinded to the residents they rated. The model is a reliable and affordable way to introduce this procedure at residency programs, particularly those that do not perform a substantial number of cesarean hysterectomies.

Endoscopic transcavernous approach for functional pituitary adenomas

BackgroundInvasion of the CS is one of the limiting factors for total resection for PitNet tumors with cure rates less than 30%. Extended approaches may be considered in selective and well-studied cases of secreting adenomas.MethodWe describe the key steps of the endoscopic transcavernous approach for functional pituitary adenomas with a video illustration. The surgical anatomy is described along with the advantages and limitations of this approach.ConclusionA detailed knowledge of CS anatomy and familiarity with this surgical approach acquired in the laboratory is essential. Proper instrumentation is critical to decrease the risks of vascular injury.

Learning ambidexterity and technology innovation: The moderating effect of knowledge network modularity

The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of learning ambidexterity on firms’ technological innovation, especially in the context of varying degrees of modularity in firms’ knowledge networks. By combining temporal and cognitive aspects, this study focuses on the micro-level utilization of knowledge and redefines exploratory and exploitative learning as learning unfamiliar and familiar knowledge, respectively. Building upon previous research, we classify learning ambidexterity into combined and balanced forms, further investigate their influence on innovation performance. Utilizing a panel data set spanning 10 years of 63 semiconductor firms listed in the US market, our findings reveal that combined learning ambidexterity effectively harnesses the complementary effects of both learning patterns, resulting in a positive influence on technological innovation. Conversely, balanced learning ambidexterity hampers knowledge transferability between these two patterns leading to a negative impact on technological innovation. Additionally, we employ patent data to measure the degree of modularity within firms’ knowledge networks. Our results indicate that higher levels of modularity enhance the positive effect of combined learning ambidexterity on innovation while mitigating its negative impact for balanced learning ambidexterity. These findings suggest the importance for firms to strategically manage and dynamically orchestrate learning ambidexterity alongside double-loop learning practices, while continuously structuring and facilitating reuse within organizational knowledge networks to create favorable circumstances for the effective implementation of learning ambidexterity.

Right BA 10 lesions impair performance on real-world planning but are not sensitive to problem novelty or tower tasks

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is associated with many cognitive functions, including planning. In the neuropsychology literature planning is reduced to “look ahead” ability and most extensively studied with the “tower” tasks. The most influential theoretical explanation is that planning is required in the absence of a routine solution and PFC patients have difficulty coping with novelty. There is an alternate view of planning that emphasizes the distinction between real world tasks and laboratory tower tasks. This account focuses on the structure of problem spaces and why patients with lesions to right PFC have difficulty navigating ill-structured problem spaces.To further explore these issues we administered two real world travel planning tasks to 56 Vietnam War veterans with penetrating brain lesions and 14 matched normal controls. One planning task involved familiar knowledge while the other involved knowledge unfamiliar to our participants. Participants also completed the D-KEFS tower task. A subset of 18 patients—with lesions to right anterior prefrontal cortex (BA 10)—were impaired in the travel planning task compared to normal controls. The task familiarity/novelty dimension affected performance across participant groups (familiar-task scores were higher than unfamiliar-task scores), but it did not differentially affect any group. An examination of cognitive strategies utilized by participants revealed that the impaired patient group had difficulty maintaining a sufficient level of abstraction and engaged the task at a much more concrete level than other participants. Interestingly, patients impaired in the real-world planning tasks were not impaired in the tower tasks. We conclude that patients with lesions to right BA 10 have difficulty in real-world planning tasks that can be attributed to difficulties in engaging problems at the appropriate level of abstraction.

Toward Burnout Prevention: Can One Short Virtual Reality Relaxation and Mindfulness Training Session for Staff and Patients Decrease Stress and Improve Subjective Sense of Wellbeing?

Mental wellness of healthcare workers has deteriorated recently, increasing burnout rates. Cancer patients are also often highly distressed, reporting fear, pain, and fatigue. Relaxation and mindfulness training have been shown to decrease stress and anxiety. Currently, the use of virtual reality (VR) for relaxation and mindfulness for cancer patients and oncology clinical staff is an ongoing area of research. We aimed to test the preliminary efficacy of incorporating an innovative digital therapeutic (DTx) we developed at our center in this population. Cancer patients and clinic staff from one institution's Gastrointestinal and Radiation Oncology departments participated in the immersive VR-enhanced relaxation and mindfulness experience for this IRB-exempt study. Users completed a pre-VR survey via iPad assessing baseline knowledge and practice of stress reduction techniques, baseline stress, and familiarity with VR. In the VR app deployed on an Oculus Quest 2, users chose a relaxing water scene (e.g., stream, beach) and optional soothing background music. Users could also choose a relaxation or mindfulness training audio track. A post-VR survey assessed whether the experience affected their subjective stress and sense of wellbeing ("Yes" or "No") as well as the feasibility of using the app. A binomial test on a single proportion was used to test whether more participants (>50%) indicated their stress was reduced following the VR training than did not. Post-VR qualitative verbal feedback was also collected to identify future changes to the VR app. Six patients, a patient's son, and forty-three employees used the VR app. Users were aged ≤ 30 years old (18%), 30-50 years (60%), and 50-70 years (22%). Users completed the VR experience in a median of 14 min (IQR: 11-19 min). In the pre-survey, most (78%) reported they felt stress at this point in their lives. In the post-survey, significantly more than the expected proportion of participants (>50%) reported feeling less stressed after using the VR app (88%, n = 44, p <0.001). Most (90%) reported that the VR app improved their subjective sense of wellbeing. All (100%) users reported it was easy to learn the VR controls. Nearly all (96%) reported they would be interested in using this VR app again, including 30% and 38% who reported they would be "extremely likely" and "very likely," respectively, to use the app again. These findings suggest our VR relaxation and mindfulness training was well accepted and could be integrated into the hospital setting in short sessions. Further work should be done based on participant feedback to expand the offerings of this VR app to offer a wider range of relaxation experiences and gamified psychological interventions that can help de-stress, recharge, and build resiliency.

Perceptions of mindfulness practices as a support for individuals managing caregiving responsibilities and chronic disease: A qualitative study.

Explore the lived experience of individuals managing and/or caregiving for someone with a chronic disease and their perceptions of developing a mindfulness program for stress reduction. Sixteen participants with chronic disease and/or caregivers participated. Participants completed eligibility screening, demographic questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews (30-60 min each) online or by phone. Interviews (n = 16) were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis and NVivo® 12. Survey data were analyzed using SPSS® 28. Four themes emerged: (a) Chronic disease management and stress-perspectives on life's stressors; (b) Stress reduction techniques/perceptions of mindfulness-knowledge and implementation of stress reduction practices and familiarity with mindfulness; (c) Mindfulness program acceptability, barriers, and facilitators-interest, barriers, and facilitators to attending; (d) Mindfulness program structure-logistics to increase access and appeal to diverse audiences. Mindfulness has the potential for addressing the complexities of stress associated with disease management. Targeting mindfulness programs for populations with chronic disease management and caregiving responsibilities should include: Consideration of group formats with participation limited to this population, structuring programs to overcome barriers (i.e., culturally appropriate location), and equipping members of the community being served as instructors to ensure culturally relevant instruction.

Knowledge of identity reduces variability in trait judgements across face images.

Faces vary from image to image, eliciting different judgements of traits and often different judgements of identity. Knowledge that two face images belong to the same person facilitates the processing of identity information across images, but it is unclear if this also applies to trait judgements. In this preregistered study, participants (N = 100) rated the same 340 face images on perceived trustworthiness, dominance, or attractiveness presented in randomised order and again later presented in sets consisting of the same identity. We also explored the role of implicit person theory beliefs in the variability of social judgements across images. We found that judgements of trustworthiness varied less when images were presented in sets consisting of the same identity than in randomised order and were more consistent for images presented later in a set than those presented earlier. However, knowledge of identity had little effect on perceptions of dominance and attractiveness. Finally, implicit person theory beliefs were not associated with variability in social judgements and did not account for effects of knowledge of identity. Our findings suggest that knowledge of identity and perceptual familiarity stabilises judgements of trustworthiness, but not perceptions of dominance and attractiveness.

Prenatal magnetic resonance imaging of complex female genitourinary system abnormalities, what the fetal medicine specialist needs to know.

Complex female genitourinary system anomalies include a wide spectrum of uncommon pathologies, caused from the abnormal separation of the urorectal septum and the urogenital sinus in early embryonic life. The resulting fusion of the distal urinary, genital and intestinal tracts increases the risk of death in utero and alters the normal organ functionality and the quality of life in survivors. An accurate prenatal identification of these pathologies depends mainly on prior suspicion at ultrasound screening, but also requires a solid knowledge of embryology and familiarity with the different patterns of malformation. Prenatal MRI provides an excellent anatomic evaluation of the fetal anatomy that may improve the diagnosis in complex cases with inconclusive echographic findings. The additional information can help both families and medical teams to better evaluate the severity of the pathology and the postnatal prognosis and therefore to better orientate the management during pregnancy, at delivery and after birth. This review article describes the embryological basis and the clinical findings of the most relevant pathologies included in the spectrum. It also describes the imaging signs on prenatal MRI studies in a series of confirmed cases and proposes a diagnostic algorithm based on imaging findings for guiding prenatal diagnosis.

SHUMEN CITIZENS IN BELGIAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (END OF XIX - EARLY XX CENTURY)

The historical narrative depicts young people of Shumen who were educated in Belgian schools in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They studied in today's cities of Brussels, Liege, Ghent, Gembloux and Antwerp. In the period from 1879 to 1912, 39 young people born in Shumen studied in Belgian schools. Among them were the girls Hristina Velichkova and Elena Vitanova. Several of them studied at two or more universities. For example, Stefan Kurtev studied at the New and Old Universities in Brussels, as well as in Ghent, Boris L. Velev studied in Liege and Brussels. A significant number of these people later worked in various spheres of life – as military, officials, bankers, directors of institutions. Irrespective of the fact that some of them hadn’t graduated from the respective institutions, they returned to their homeland with a good knowledge of European languages and familiarity with the achievements of the Western European civilization. Their large number, as well as the specialties chosen by them, are a vivid testimony to the aspiration of the young people of Shumen to receive better education and to contribute to the modernization of the Third Bulgarian State and their native Shumen.

What's Important: Be That Doctor.

What's Important: Be That Doctor.

АКТУАЛЬНІСТЬ ВПРОВАДЖЕННЯ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ ЗАГАЛЬНОНАВЧАЛЬНИХ УМІНЬ ТА НАВИЧОК НА УРОКАХ МАТЕМАТИКИ В ОНЛАЙН ФОРМАТІ

The article deals with the peculiarities of the implementation of the technology of formation of the general-educational skills of elementary school’s pupils in the Mathematics lessons at the Elementary school. Besides it is revealed the content of each component of the educational activity: motivational, substantive and procedural. The motivational component provides the personality’s demand and striving to the cognitive activity. This is revealed in the active attitude of pupils to the mastering skill to study independently. It provides the opportunity to form and consolidate the positive attitude to the educational activity, curiosity, cognitive interest, personal importance of learning. But the motivational component of the cognitive activity doesn’t provide and doesn’t form technological and procedural cognitive activity. This means that it doesn’t provide the mastering practical and intellectual abilities and opportunities of the personality. These abilities provide the performing of the mechanism in itself during the process of the goal-oriented search. The substantive component includes familiar knowledge, skills which could be the base for the mastering new knowledge and ways of action. The interaction of familiar (known) knowledge with the new knowledge provides different level of organization of the process of cognition – reproductive, partly-search and creative. The core of this skill is the procedural character of the educational activity. Within modern conditions of the education’s development the attention is paid not to the amount of knowledge, certain strength, deepness but to the ways and methods of organization of the individual knowledge, which could be reliable base for the making effective decisions. The procedural component is represented by various ways of skills’ organization and realization (skills. Actions, operations, cognitive processes) at different levels of pupil’s cognitive independence: reproductive, partly-research, creative. The content of the defined components of the educational activity tell about their interdependence. It also characterizes the developed, deployed educational activity. The author makes stress on the necessary feature of the pupil’s independence. It is defined as the mastering control and self-control by the pupil. The article also characterizes peculiarities of each stage of forming elementary school pupil’s skills of self-control. Education of pupils of elementary school with the orientation on the self-control provides not only the increasing of their training but also it provides such personal features as independence, responsibility, goal-orientation, discipline. But the main fact is that ability to self-control provides the appropriate level of the development of “skill to study” which is the basis for the successful educational activity of primary education applicants. Key words: technology of formation of general-educational skills, skills of independence studying, components of the educational activity, control-self-control.

Hierarchical clustering optimizes the tradeoff between compositionality and expressivity of task structures for flexible reinforcement learning

A hallmark of human intelligence, but challenging for reinforcement learning (RL) agents, is the ability to compositionally generalise, that is, to recompose familiar knowledge components in novel ways to solve new problems. For instance, when navigating in a city, one needs to know the location of the destination and how to operate a vehicle to get there, whether it be pedalling a bike or operating a car. In RL, these correspond to the reward function and transition function, respectively. To compositionally generalize, these two components need to be transferable independently of each other: multiple modes of transport can reach the same goal, and any given mode can be used to reach multiple destinations. Yet there are also instances where it can be helpful to learn and transfer entire structures, jointly representing goals and transitions, particularly whenever these recur in natural tasks (e.g., given a suggestion to get ice cream, one might prefer to bike, even in new towns). Prior theoretical work has explored how, in model-based RL, agents can learn and generalize task components (transition and reward functions). But a satisfactory account for how a single agent can simultaneously satisfy the two competing demands is still lacking. Here, we propose a hierarchical RL agent that learns and transfers individual task components as well as entire structures (particular compositions of components) by inferring both through a non-parametric Bayesian model of the task. It maintains a factorised representation of task components through a hierarchical Dirichlet process, but it also represents different possible covariances between these components through a standard Dirichlet process. We validate our approach on a variety of navigation tasks covering a wide range of statistical correlations between task components and show that it can also improve generalisation and transfer in more complex, hierarchical tasks with goal/subgoal structures. Finally, we end with a discussion of our work including how this clustering algorithm could conceivably be implemented by cortico-striatal gating circuits in the brain.

A Systematic Review of Photolysis and Hydrolysis Degradation Modes, Degradation Mechanisms, and Identification Methods of Pesticides

The degradation modes and characteristics of different pesticides were introduced. In addition, this paper also describes the degradation mechanism of different pesticides, classifies, and summarizes the methods of degradation products identification. For the sake of human life health and better biological environment, we should have a familiar knowledge of the natural degradation of pesticides and understand the photo-hydrolysis and its influencing factors (temperature, pH, light, etc.). Through the degradation mechanism and influencing factors, the degradation time could be accelerated and it also provides a theoretical basis and basic support for the treatment of pesticide residues in the future.

The making and re-making of places along the St. Louis River in Duluth: From paintings to projects

Studies of the effectiveness of Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) call for the prioritization of placemaking and broadening of the definition of stakeholders. This paper argues that such stakeholder groups should include local historians, archivists, and art-or-architectural historians whose knowledge of local, place-based initiatives and familiarity with the built and visual landscape offer invaluable insights. In addition, instead of making new places as part of revitalization and remediation initiatives, such work should focus on the re-making of human-scaled spaces and places with unique histories to which residents are already attached. Several recent-and-ongoing projects in the St. Louis River AOC demonstrate the effectiveness of work that re-imagines places with clear and established identities and which does not turn away from problematic and complicated histories. An exploration of these initiatives in the St. Louis River AOC is combined with further consideration of placemaking and place attachment and an examination of industrial portraits created by Art Fleming for the Kom-on-Inn Bar in West Duluth in the 1950s, which are testament to the pride in place and the importance of the river and industries in the making and then breaking of the neighborhoods and the larger ecosystems of which they are a part.

The strength of strong ties: wasta and migration strategies among the Mappila Muslims of northern Kerala, India

ABSTRACT The scholarship on cross-border labour migration in India is characterised by the notoriety of the labour intermediaries. However, such a focus often eclipses the mutually beneficial social exchanges found among the migrants, would-be migrants, and their larger social circle. Against this backdrop, this paper focuses on the migration strategies of a leading migrant community in India- the Mappila Muslims of Kerala. Our findings suggest that, although there is a thriving migration brokerage industry in Kerala, Mappilas secure the crucial labour market information, facilitate their cross-border movement, and obtain the much-coveted Gulf job using close interpersonal connections. With their familiarity and first-hand knowledge of the market practices of the Persian Gulf, the Mappila migrants have internalised and strategically invested in the Arab cultural practice of wasta (securing favours via social connections). The paper also argues how the wasta-based connections of Mappilas help us broaden our understanding of social networks as understood in the Granovettarian tradition.

Harm reduction readiness for illicit IV drug use among safety-net primary care practices in the San Fernando Valley

BackgroundHarm reduction is an accumulation of strategies aimed at preventing adverse health outcomes associated with illicit substance use. Several harm reduction programs and services exist within Los Angeles County (LAC), however their success relies in part on the application of harm reduction principles by local primary care providers serving patients with substance use disorders. This study aims to assess the readiness of patient-centered medical homes in the San Fernando Valley to provide effective harm reduction to patients who use injection drugs and identify barriers to doing so.MethodsAn online survey was distributed to primary care providers and social workers via email at federally qualified health centers and LAC Department of Health Services clinics in the San Fernando Valley between May and June 2019. It consisted of 22 multiple-choice, Likert scale, and short answer questions. The survey assessed knowledge of injection drug use (IDU), familiarity and utilization of harm-reduction and resources, and self-evaluation of attitudes and skills.ResultsThere were a total of 41 survey respondents across all clinics. Of respondents, 98% correctly identified heroin as a drug typically injected, and 93% identified Hepatitis C as an infectious risk of IDU. 63% of respondents use harm reduction strategies every few months or less. 34% prescribe buprenorphine routinely, and 76% prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis to those at risk for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). 76% are comfortable discussing IDU with their patients, but 59% indicate that they lack the necessary skills, and 42% agree that they lack the time to address it.ConclusionKnowledge of IDU was adequate among those surveyed, although overall utilization of harm reduction was infrequent. There is a perceived deficit in skills and time to effectively provide harm reduction to primary care patients in the San Fernando Valley.

Грамматика учебного текста и предметные знания (пресуппозиция)

The paper describes the expository text as the model of disciplinary knowledge. Consideration is given to the type of epistemic modality associated with presupposition, i.e., knowledge known and relevant to the participants of communication. Text analysis functional methods are used to study expository texts from Russian textbooks on Social Sciences and Physics for secondary school. It has been found that presupposition is most often expressed through modal constructions referring to a reader (personal pronouns) occupying an initial or non-initial position in the text. The didactic function of the expressed presupposition is to actualize the reader’s knowledge necessary for text comprehension. At the same time, the expressed presupposition allows presenting a model of knowledge and a knowledge-building process by mapping a knowledge structure. The expressed presupposition represents the epistemic relations (1) between the familiar and unfamiliar parts of disciplinary knowledge and (2) between familiar parts of everyday life and unfamiliar disciplinary knowledge. The expressed presupposition presents the knowledge-building process by affecting the text deployment. The initial presupposition can occur as a global topic sentence expressing the most significant referents and determining the thematic text structure. Also, the initial presupposition can convey familiar segments of knowledge and set an information context to introduce unfamiliar significant referents in the following sentences. The non-initial presupposition expands the information context and tends to elaborate and detail the topic. To conclude, there is a correlation between the text-deployment potential of the expressed presupposition and the epistemic potential of the familiar knowledge.

The impact of using divergent thinking strategies on reading comprehension

Introduction. Divergent thinking strategies are based on brain activity represented by a series of successive and branching questions related to a particular reading text. These strategies stimulate the minds of sixth graders to think of new stimuli such as finding a solution to a specific problem, or making a specific judgment, or predicting future events, which produces new and innovative solutions and achieves a deeper understanding of the target reading text.The present research aims to investigate the impact of divergent thinking strategies in developing reading comprehension skills among sixth-grade students in the English language.Methodology and research methods. The authors used the quasi-experimental approach. A pre-post design was used to identify the effect of employing divergent thinking strategies in developing reading comprehension skills. The study sample consisted of 136 students, who were selected purposefully and distributed into two groups: experimental and control groups. Students in experimental group were taught using divergent thinking strategies. Students in control group were taught in the usual way.Results and scientific novelty. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) found statistically significant differences between the two groups in favour of the experimental group in achievement. In addition, significant differences were found in the Motivation for Learning English between the two groups. It was found that divergent thinking strategies stimulate students’ thinking through various questions and allow them to look at their familiar knowledge with a new vision, to produce and generate new ideas with creative features.Practical significance. The current study is useful in determining the appropriate reading comprehension skills for students, and targeting them in developing these skills. This research also draws the attention of teachers to the importance of including strategies compatible with the brain, including divergent thinking strategies, when planning reading lessons. As for the educational supervisors, it puts in their hand’s strategies based on the theory of learning in the brain, including the divergent thinking strategies and how to employ them in reading lessons in order to develop reading comprehension. Moreover, these research materials can be employed by mentors in directing teachers to depart from the framework of traditional methods through the use of divergent thinking strategies in their classroom teaching practices.