Experimental Estimation of Deviation Frequency within the Spectrum of Scintillations of the Carrier Phase of GNSS Signals

The term deviation frequency (fd) denotes the boundary between the variable part of the amplitude and phase scintillation spectrum and the part of uninformative noises. We suggested the concept of the “characteristic deviation frequency” during the observation period. The characteristic deviation frequency is defined as the most probable value of the deviation frequency under current local conditions. Our case study involved GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and SBAS data under quiet and weakly disturbed geomagnetic conditions (geomagnetic storm on 16 April 2021, Kpmax = 5, SYM-Hmin = −57 nT) at the mid-latitude GNSS station. Our results demonstrated that the deviation frequency for all signal components of GPS, GLONASS and Galileo varies within 15–22 Hz. The characteristic deviation frequency was 20 Hz for the mentioned GNSS signals. The SBAS differs from other systems: deviation frequency varies within 13–20 Hz. The characteristic deviation frequency is lower and equal to 18 Hz. We suggest the characteristic deviation frequency to determine the optimal sampling rate of the GNSS carrier phase data for the ionospheric studies. In turn, the deviation frequency can be considered as a promising index to estimate the boundary of non-variability of the ionosphere.

Towards an Adaptive Educational Course on the Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learning

Today the development of information technology is closely related to the creation and application of machine learning and data analysis methods. In this regard, the need for training specialists in this area is growing. Very often, the study of machine learning methods is combined with the study of a certain programming language and the tools of its specialized library. This approach is undoubtedly justified, because it provides the possibility of accelerated application of the knowledge gained in practice. At the same time, it should be noted that with this approach, it is rather not machine learning methods that are studied, but a certain set of methodological techniques for using the tools of the specialized library. The presented work is devoted to the experience of creating an adaptive educational course on the mathematical foundations of machine learning. This course is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students of mathematical specialties. It is divided into core and variable parts. The obligatory core part is built around the PAC learning model and the binary classification problem. Within the variable part, issues of the weak learning model and the boosting methods are considered. Also a methodology of changing the variable part of the course is discussed.

Experimental Estimation of Deviation Frequency Within the Spectrum of Scintillations of the Carrier Phase of GNSS Signals

The term deviation frequency denotes the boundary between the variable part of the amplitude and phase scintillation spectrum and the part of uninformative noises. We suggested the concept of the “characteristic deviation frequency” during the observation period which is defined as the most probable value of the deviation frequency under current local conditions. This work is a case study of the characteristic deviation frequency (fd) registered for GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and SBAS signals under quiet and weakly disturbed geomagnetic conditions in April 2021 at the mid-latitude GNSS station. Our results demonstrated that the fd value for all signal components of GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO signals varied within 15-22 Hz. The characteristic deviation frequency was 20 Hz for the mentioned GNSS signals. In difference, the deviation frequency was limited within 13-20 Hz for SBAS with the lower characteristic deviation frequency at 18 Hz. We assume that the concept of the characteristic deviation frequency can be used to determine the optimal sampling rate of the GNSS carrier phase data for the ionospheric studies. The characteristic deviation frequency can also characterize the state of the regular trans-ionospheric radio channel.

Assessing the Equity and Redistributive Effects of Taxation Reforms in Nigeria

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of poverty and inequality reduction through redistribution have indeed become critical concerns in many low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Although redistribution results from the effect of tax revenue collections, micro household-level empirical analyses of the distributional effect of personal income tax (PIT) and value added tax (VAT) reforms in Nigeria have been scarcely carried out. This study for the first time quantitatively assessed both the equity and redistributive effects of PIT and VAT across different reform scenarios in Nigeria. Data used in this study was mainly drawn from the most recent large scale nationally representative Nigeria Living Standard Survey, conducted in 2018/2019. The Kakwani Index was used to calculate and compare the progressivity of PIT and VAT reforms. A simple static micro-simulation model was employed in assessing the redistributive effect of PIT and VAT reforms in the country. After informality has been accounted for, the PIT was found to be progressive in the pre- 2011 tax scheme, but turned regressive in the post-2011 tax scheme. It was also discovered that the newly introduced lump sum relief allowance in the post-2011 PIT scheme accrues more to the high-income than to the low-income taxpayers – confirming the regressivity of the current PIT scheme. However, the study further shows (through counterfactual simulations) that excluding the relatively high-income taxpayers from sharing in the variable part of the lump sum relief allowance makes PIT progressive in the post-2011 scheme. The VAT was uncovered to be regressive both in the pre-2020 scheme, and in the current VAT reform scheme. Further, after putting informality into consideration, the PIT was found to marginally reduce inequality but increase poverty in the pre-2011 scheme. The post-2011 PIT scheme reduced inequality and increased poverty, but by a smaller proportion – confirming a limited redistribution mainly resulting from the concentration of the lump sum relief allowance at the top of the distribution. However, if the variable part of the lump sum relief allowance is provided for ‘only’ the low-income taxpayers below a predefined income threshold, the post-2011 PIT scheme becomes largely redistributive. VAT was uncovered to marginally increase inequality and poverty in the pre-2020 scheme. Though the current VAT scheme slightly increased inequality, it considerably increased poverty in the country. It is therefore suggested that a better tax reform, with well-regulated relief allowance and differentiated VAT rates, will help to enhance the equity and redistribution capacity of the Nigeria tax system.

On Extensive Training of University Students of the Faculty of Preventive Medicine in Food Hygiene as a Variable Part of the Educational Program

Introduction: The key objective of national projects is to maintain and promote health of citizens. Nutrition makes a significant contribution to health protection; yet, problems related to quantitative and qualitative characteristics of nutrition, food safety, and high risks of nutrition-related diseases are obvious. Current trends necessitate the development of new approaches to training specialists majoring in preventive medicine. The students mastering a specialty program shall acquire general cultural and professional competencies and be ready to perform medical, organizational, managerial, and research activities, including those needed to respond to challenges related to safe and high-quality nutrition. The required competency building occurs when studying the main academic disciplines and may be then reinforced and deepened by the variable part (or elective academic component) of the educational program. Objective: To substantiate the content of the variable part of the educational program on food safety aimed to improve the quality of training of public health physicians in this area. Materials and methods: Based on the requirements of the federal higher education standard, professional standard and an exemplary educational program of higher education for students majoring in medical and preventive care, the curriculum of the Ural State Medical University was supplemented with optional academic disciplines containing separate sections on food hygiene, as well as the discipline titled “Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance over Food Production and Sale”. Results and conclusions: The experience in the development and implementation of optional academic disciplines has demonstrated their high demand by students and general satisfaction with results of training. It has also created conditions for multiple repetition and consolidation of learning materials by means of food examinations in class, hygienic education according to individual and group programs, and studies of new technologies for food production, circulation, quality and safety assurance.

Intercultural competence formation at bilingual students through a set of exercises

Целью данного исследования является изучение эффективности применения комплекса упражнений для формирования межкультурной компетенции студентов-билингвов средствами профессионально-ориентированных текстов. Для достижения цели исследования была проведена опытно-экспериментальная работа. Участниками опытно-экспериментальной работы по апробации комплекса упражнений для формирования межкультурной компетенции стали студенты 1 и 2 курсов бакалавриата агротехнологического факультета ФГБОУ ВО «Арктического государственного агротехнологического университета» в условиях практических занятий по дисциплине «Профильный иностранный язык», входящей в вариативную часть дисциплин основной образовательной программы. По результатам проведенных контрольного и заключительного срезов были сделаны выводы по эффективности применения комплекса упражнений. Результаты настоящего исследования показали, что применение комплекса упражнений повлиял на прирост среднего показателя по уровням сформированности межкультурной компетенции студентов-билингвов. В результате применения комплекса упражнений произошёл абсолютный прирост среднего показателя сформированности МКК студентов-билингвов, что свидетельствует об эффективности применения, разработанного нами комплекса упражнений. The purpose of the current research is to study the effeciency of using a set of exercises for the intercultural competence formation of bilingual students by means of professionally-oriented texts. Experimental work was carried out to achieve the research goal. Participants of the experimental work on testing a set of exercises for the intercultural competence formation were 1-st and 2-nd year students (bachelors) of the agrotechnological faculty of the Arctic State Agrotechnological University in the conditions of practical classes in the discipline "Specialized foreign language", which is the variable part of the main educational program. Based on the results of the initial and final knowledge assessments, conclusions were made on the effectiveness of applying a set of exercises. The research results showed that the use of a set of exercises affected the average index increase for the levels of intercultural competence formation among bilingual students. The absolute average index increase of intercultural competence formation among bilingual students has occurred, which indicates the effectiveness of the complex of exercises developed by us.

Study on "ban-A-bu-B" Format

"ban-A-bu-B" format is a popular format in spoken expression in modern Chinese. Basing on the full analysis of the nature and characteristics of the variable part "A""B" and the invariant part of "ban" and " bu ", this paper holds that the format is a low-level expression with a format meaning: 1. When the semantemes of A and B are opposite, the whole format emphasis on "ban-A", which contains the expression of soft rejection and disgust;2. When the semantames between A and B are similar, this format contains inappropriate and disagree expression to things or events, etc. This kind of format has a function of low-level negative evaluation and the function of high-level subjectivity.

Experience of practical training of future pediatricians in academic discipline of choice “Orfan diseases”

A brief overview of problem relevance of rare (orfan) diseases in pediatrics and experience of Department of Pediatrics No. 1 of Irkutsk State Medical University on implementation of academic discipline of choice “Orfan diseases” into an academic process of the specialty 31.05.02 “Pediatrics”, relating to the variable part of block 1 «Disciplines (modules)».