bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Levetiracetam in Acute and Kindling Model of Epilepsy Through Adenosinergic Pathway in Mice: Possible Involvement of Adenosine A1 Receptor
Authors: Jamal Muhammad , Azam Muhammad , Simjee Shabana Usman
Published: June 2021

Objective: The present study aimed to explore the possible levetiracetam mechanisms of action in the adenosine signaling systems using the PTZ-induced acute seizure and the PTZ-induced kindling model of epileptogenesis.Method: In acute model, male mice received caffeine (non-specific adenosine receptor antagonist), or dipropylcyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX) (specific A1 receptor antagonist) prior to levetiracetam. After 30 minutes, a convulsant dose of PTZ (100 mg/kg) was administered to determine whether caffeine or DPCPX have any antagonistic effects on anti-seizure activity of levetiracetam by analyzing the onset of first myoclonic jerk (FMJ), generalized clonic seizures (GCS) and percent mortality.The chronic PTZ-induced kindling model was set to assess the gene expression changes in adenosine A1 receptor, inwardly-rectifying potassium channel (Kir3.2) and equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 (ENT-1) through RT-qPCR. Data were analyzed using Origin statistical software version 8.5 and represented as Mean ± SEM.Results: In acute study, we found that caffeine (100 mg/kg) and DPCPX (25 mg/kg) reversed the anti-seizures effects of the levetiracetam significantly by reversing the percent protection and shortening the delay in the FMJ and onset of GCS in animals. In kindling model of epileptogenesis, it was found that levetiracetam increased the gene expression of adenosine A1 receptor andKir3.2 in the brain. Furthermore, levetiracetam significantly reduced the gene expression of ENT-1 in the brain that supposed to enhance the extracellular adenosine in the brain.Conclusion: Based on these results, it can be concluded that in addition to its action on SV2A vesicular protein, levetiracetam also prevent epileptogenesis by acting on the adenosine pathway in the CNS.
ANGPLT3 Impacts Not Only Proteinuria But Also Hyperlipidemia in Nephrotic Syndrome
Authors: Zhong Fu , Gao Xin , Xu Zichuan , Li Guanyu , Qiu Bing , Cui Weijing , Suo Yanhong , Deng Huiying , Gao Xia
Published: June 2021

Background: Why primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) patients often accompany with dyslipidemia is unknown. Recent studies discovered that angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) is an important regulator in lipid metabolism. In this study, we explored how ANGPTL3 impact dyslipidemia in PNS development. Methods: We detected the expression serum level of ANGPTL3 in PNS patients. Further, degree of proteinuria and lipid metabolism were tested in angptl3 overexpression-transgenic (angptl3-tg) mice at different weeks of age. Meanwhile, this study used CRISP/Cas 9 system to build angptl3-knockout (angptl3-/-) mice to observe LPS-treated nephrotic mice. Results: There was a significant correlation between the expression level of serum ANGPTL3 and the level of cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein in PNS patients. Along with the age growing, the angptl3-tg mice emerged more and more severe hypertriglyceridemia and proteinuria. The pathological features showed rich lipid droplets deposition of hepatocytes and diffuse podocytes effacement with these angptl3-tg mice. Compared to wild type mice, angptl3-/- mice showed significant less degree of lipid dysfunction and proteinuria after treated with LPS. The ANGPTL3’ effects on nephrotic dyslipidemia was confirmed in the cultured hepatocyte with knock-down or overexpressed angptl3. Finally, the significant alters of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) were tested in liver tissues between Angptl3-/- and wild type mice with LPS treatment. Conclusion: ANGPTL3 could be involved in development of dyslipidemia, besides proteinuria in PNS pathogenesis. Inhibiting LPL expression is a reason why ANGPTL3 induce hyperlipidemia in PNS.
MiR-133a-3p Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Colorectal Cancer by Targeting PFKFB3
Authors: Zhou Yanjie , Jiang Lu , Cai Yuanjun , Tang Wendong , Wang Ke
Published: June 2021

Background: Recent studies reveal that PFKFB3 plays an important role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Our study aims to identify an novel microRNA which can suppress the expression of PFKFB3 and to provide a potential target for tumor therapy.Methods: Bioinformatics methods were implemented to explore the expression and clinical significance of PFKFB3 and miR-133a-3p in colorectal cancer (CRC). qRT-PCR was performed to detect PFKFB3, miR-133a-3p, KI67 and MMP9 mRNA expression, while western bot was carried out for the detection of protein expression of PFKFB3, miR-133a-3p, KI67 and MMP9. Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict the binding sites of miR-133a-3p on PFKFB3 3’UTR, while dual-luciferase assay was conducted to validate their binding relationship. CCK-8 assay, KI67 detection, Transwell assay and MMP9 detection were employed to measure CRC cell proliferative and invasive abilities. Results: PFKFB3 is up-regulated in CRC and significantly associated with poor prognosis. Overexpressed PFKFB3 promotes CRC cell proliferation and invasion. miR-133a-3p is down-regulated and has diagnostic value in CRC. Dual-luciferase assay confirmed that there was a binding relationship between miR-133a-3p and PFKFB3.Overexpressed miR-133a-3p remarkably reduced PFKFB3 expression in CRC cells, weakened the promoting effect of PFKFB3 on cell proliferation and invasion.Conclusions: Our study suggests that miR-133a-3p functions as a novel tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer by targeting PFKFB3.
Identifying Conservation Technology Needs, Barriers, and Opportunities
Authors: Hahn Nathan , Bombaci Sara , Wittemyer George
Published: June 2021

Amid accelerating threats to species and ecosystems, technology advancements to monitor, protect and conserve biodiversity have taken on increased importance. While most innovations stem from adaptation of off-the-shelf devices, these tools can fail to meet the specialized needs of conservation and research or lack the support to scale beyond a single site. Despite calls from the conservation community of its importance, a shift to bottom-up innovation driven by conservation professionals remains limited. We surveyed practitioners, academic researchers, and technologists to identify limitations of currently-available technologies, barriers to the development of new tools, and emerging technology needs. High cost was the main barrier to technology use across occupations, while development of new technologies faced barriers of cost and partner communication. Automated processing of data streams was the largest emerging need, and respondents focused mainly on applications for individual-level monitoring and automated image processing. Cross-discipline collaborations and expanded funding networks that encourage cyclical development and continued technical support are needed to address current limitations and meet the growing need for conservation technologies.
Perceptions of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Rehabilitation Care Among Women in Southeast China After Radical Hysterectomy: a Qualitative Study
Authors: Lai Yu-ting , Lin Ai-wu , Ge Li , Zheng Zhi-hui , Wang Ya-li , Yu Hong-hong , Jiang Xin-yong
Published: June 2021

Objective: To investigate the perceptions of pelvic floor dysfunction and rehabilitation care among women after radical hysterectomy and to explore ways to improve quality of care. Methods: Thirty-six women who underwent radical hysterectomy at a hospital in southeast China were enrolled via purposive sampling. One-on-one semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted. The texts were analyzed via qualitative content analysis (Graneheim & Lundman). Results: Four themes were attained: serious lack of knowledge of PFD and rehabilitation care; heavy psychological burden; different coping styles to PFD; and great eagerness to receive multiparty support on PFD rehabilitation care.Conclusion: The women had a low cognition of pelvic floor dysfunction and rehabilitation care after radical hysterectomy. Poor awareness of pelvic floor dysfunction among women is one of the reasons they do not ask for support from the society and even from family members. Knowledge of pelvic floor dysfunction should be shared and disseminated to the society to raise public awareness of this medical condition. Moreover, knowledge of medical insurance should be popularized, especially in rural areas in southeast of China. Family-centered care is an important way to support women with pelvic floor dysfunction.
The Association Between Coronary 18F-Sodium Fluoride Uptake With Pro-Atherosclerosis Factors in Patients With Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease: A Mono-Centric Pilot Study
Authors: Wen Wanwan , Gao Mingxin , Yun Mingkai , Meng Jingjing , Zhu Ziwei , Yu Wenyuan , Hacker Marcus , Yu Yang , Li Xiang , Zhang Xiaoli
Published: June 2021

Purpose: 18F-Sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) positron emission tomography (PET) is a novel approach to detect and quantify microcalcification in atherosclerosis. Peri-coronary adipose tissue (PCAT) is associated with vascular inflammation and high-risk atherosclerotic plaque. We aimed to assess the association between coronary 18F-NaF uptake with pro-atherosclerosis factors in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) and to explore the systematic vascular osteogenesis in the coronary artery and aorta in these patients. Methods: Patients with multivessel CAD prospectively underwent cardiac computed tomography (CT) and 18F-NaF PET/CT. PCAT density was measured in the coronary artery and the average PCAT value was calculated from the three coronary arteries in each patient. 18F-NaF tissue-to-blood ratios (TBR) in the coronary artery (TBRCoronary) and aorta (TBRAorta) were calculated. Correlations between coronary 18F-NaF uptake with PCAT density, coronary artery calcium (CAC) burden, CAD risk factors, serum biomarkers, and aortic 18F-NaF uptake were evaluated, respectively. Patients were categorized by a median of TBRCoronary 2.49. Results: 100 multivessel CAD patients (64.00 [57.00 - 67.75] years; 76 men) were prospectively recruited. 6010 active aortic segments (TBR ≥ 1.6) were identified. TBRCoronary was significantly associated with the PCAT density (r = 0.56, p < 0.001) and CAC score (r = 0.45, p < 0.001). TBRCoronary was also significantly associated with the TBRAorta (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). In addition, patients with higher TBRCoronary showed elevated PCAT density (-75.89[-79.07 - -70.06] vs -84.54[-90.21 - -79.46]; p < 0.001) and CAC score (1495.20[619.80 - 2225.40] vs 273.75[116.73 - 1198.18]; p < 0.001) in comparsion patients with lower TBRCoronary. TBRCoronary was correlated with the age (r = 0.24, p = 0.019) and the serum troponin I levels (r = 0.22, p = 0.039). There were no significant correlations between TBRCoronary with other conventional CAD risk factors and other serum biomarkers.Conclusion: Coronary 18F-NaF uptake was correlated with the PCAT density. A significant correlation between 18F-NaF uptake in the coronary artery and aorta might indicate a systematic vascular osteogenesis in patients with multivessel CAD.
Effects of Surge Tank Geometry on the Water Hammer Phenomenon: Numerical Investigation
Authors: Mahmoudi-Rad Mohammad , Najafzadeh Mohammad
Published: June 2021

A surge tank, as one of the most common control facilities, is applied to control head pressure level in long pressurized pipelines during the water hammer occurrence. The cost-effective operation of surge tank is highly affected by its characteristics (i.e., surge tank diameter and inlet diameter of surge tank) and can effectively reduce the repercussion of water hammer. This investigation utilized the method of characteristics (MOC) in order to simulate the behavior of transient flow at surge tank upstream and head pressure fluctuations regime for hydraulic system of a hydropower dam. The various types of boundary conditions (i.e., sure tank, reservoir, branch connection of three pipes, series pipes, and downstream valve) were applied to numerically investigate the simultaneous effects of the surge tank properties. In this way, all the simulations of water hammer equations were conducted for nine various combinations of surge tank diameter (D) and inlet diameter of surge tank (d). Results of this study indicated that, for the surge tank design with D=6m and d=3.4m, head pressure fluctuations reached minimum level in the large section of pipeline here is surge tank upstream. Additionally, occurrence of water hammer phenomenon was probable at the initial section of pipeline.
Vibration Characteristics of Spur Gear Under Tooth Fatigue Wear
Authors: Tian De , Tao Lizhuang , Hu Yue , Li Bei , Wu Xiaoxuan , Tang Shize
Published: June 2021

Tooth surface wear is one of the most common faults of gearboxes which increases the fatigue load on the gearbox and endangers its stable output characteristics and service life. Gear meshing characteristics vary significantly with the wear location and severity. Thus, the wear fault model considering tooth profile deviation, friction and time varying mesh stiffness (TVMS) was established in order to quantitatively study the vibration characteristics of tooth fatigue wear (TFW). Tooth profile modification and friction coefficient coupling were applied to characterize TFW, and the maximum wear depth was introduced to characterize TFW severity. The gear-pair simulation models under multiple wear severities were established and imported to a single-stage parallel gearbox whose dynamic differential equation was established under multiple torque conditions. The dynamic simulation results showed good agreement with the experimental data, which validated the method’s effectiveness. The vibration characteristics under different wear severities and simulation conditions were then obtained and compared.
Positive Association Between Body Mass Index and Hematologic Parameters, Including RBC, WBC and Platelet Count, in Korean Children and Adolescent
Authors: Jeong Hwal Rim , Shim Young Seok
Published: June 2021

Objective: To investigate the associations between hematologic parameters and obesity in children and adolescents.Methods: A total of 7,997 subjects (4,259 boys, 3,738 girls) aged 10–18 years was enrolled and hematologic parameters, including WBC, RBC, Hb, Hct, and platelet levels, were recorded and compared against body mass index (BMI) classified into normal-weight, overweight, and obesity groups.Results : The obesity group had significantly higher mean levels of WBC (7.16 vs. 6.16 (x103/mm3), p<0.001), RBC (4.90 vs. 4.82 (x106/mm3), p<0.001), Hb (14.07 vs. 13.99 (g/dL), p<0.05), Hct (42.31 vs. 41.91 (%), p<0.001) and platelets (311.87 vs. 282.66 (x103/mm3), p<0.001) than the normal-weight group after adjusting for obesity and sex. BMI SDS was significantly positively associated with WBC (β=0.275, p<0.001), RBC (β=0.028, p<0.001), Hb (β=0.034, p<0.001), Hct (β=0.152, p<0.001), and platelets (β=8.372, p<0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, and possible socioeconomic confounders in a multiple linear regression analysis.Conclusion: Higher BMI is associated with elevated WBC, RBC, Hb, Hct and platelet counts in children and adolescents. Because higher hematologic parameters are potential risk factors for obesity-related morbidity, more attention should be paid to evaluating and interpreting hematologic parameters in children and adolescents with obesity
Association of four gene polymorphisms in Chinese Guangxi population with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Jiang Dongdong , Ding Zhixiang , Xiong Yu , Jin He , Zeng Xinsheng , Liao Miaoyun , Zheng Liu , Yang Binbin
Published: June 2021

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common chronic microvascular complications of diabetes. Many studies have suggested that genetic factors are important in the context of DR. This study evaluated the associations of GWAS-identiﬁed DR-associated SNPs in a Chinese population in Guangxi Province with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods: A total of 386 hospitalized T2DM patients without proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and 316 hospitalized T2DM patients with PDR were included in this case–control study. Four tag SNPs, rs1800896 in the IL-10 gene, rs2010963 in the VEGFA gene, rs2070600 in the RAGE gene and rs2910164 in the miR-146a gene, were examined using KASP (Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR) Genotyping Assays.Results: There were no signiﬁcant differences in the genotype or allele frequencies of the miR-146a polymorphism (rs2910164) between subjects with DR and without DR. For rs1800896, the TT allele was determined to be associated with a decreased risk of PDR (P adjusted = 0.022). For rs2010963, 2 alleles (CC and GG) were associated with an increased risk of PDR (P adjusted-CC = 0.048, P adjusted-GG = 0.028). For rs2070600, 2 alleles (TT and CT) were associated with a decreased risk of PDR (P adjusted TT = 0.033, P adjusted CT = 0.002).Conclusions: The polymorphisms rs1800896 in the IL-10 gene, rs2010963 in the VEGFA gene and rs2070600 in the RAGE gene are associated with the risk of PDR in the Han Chinese population of Guangxi Province. Our ﬁndings provide suggestive evidence that these polymorphisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of PDR and should be investigated further.
Non-linear Optimization Scheme Applied to EIT Medical Images Based on the Gauss-Newton Method With Iterative Conductivity Update and Total Variation Regularization
Authors: Rosa Bruno Miguel Gil , Yang Guang-Zhong
Published: June 2021

Medical imaging modalities are vast and include the well-established techniques of Computerized Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Ultrasounds. Though the underlying physics differs amongst modalities, a similar Inverse Mapping is shared: the recovery of the internal physical property under analysis from measurements obtained at the exterior of the body. In the lesser common technique of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), measurement of the voltage levels around a body part are used to retrieve the internal distribution map for conductivity. The complexity of the Inverse Problem in EIT surpasses that found for the Forward Problem (or Mapping), both in terms of mathematical formulation and computational overload. The ill-posed nature of the Inverse Problem further contributes to that intricacy, and solutions to tackle it will be presented in this paper by means of a non-linear optimization scheme involving the iterative Gauss-Newton (GN) method with Total Variation (TV) regularization, applied to two-dimensional (2D) body domains only. The proposed scheme is also compared to other traditional reconstruction algorithms like 2D back-projection and the sensitivity approximation to the Jacobian matrix of the system of equations governing EIT. Results from conductivity map reconstructions in anatomical phantoms have shown an improvement in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and distribution map error (DME) of 36% and 11% for the proposed non-linear method relative to the back-projection and single-step GN method with sensitivity approximation.
Genome-wide Association Analysis Reveals a Novel QTL CsFS1 for Fruit Skin Color in Cucumber
Authors: Huang Hongyu , Yang Qinqin , Zhang Lidong , Kong Weiliang , Wang Huizhe , Wei Aimin , Du Shengli , Yang Ruihuan , Li Jiawang , Lin Tao , Geng Xiaolin , Li Yuhe
Published: June 2021

Fruit skin color is a crucial external trait that affects consumer preference in cucumber. In this study, an F2 population was constructed from a cross between the inbred lines G35 (with light-green fruit skin) and Q51 (with dark-green fruit skin) and used to investigate the inheritance patterns of fruit skin color in cucumber. Genetic analysis showed that dark-green fruit skin was dominant to light-green skin. A major QTL, Fruit skin 1 (CsFS1), was identified between 36.62 Mb and 39.77 Mb on chromosome 3 by BSA-seq and GWAS. We further narrowed down the CsFS1 locus to a 94-kb interval containing 15 candidate genes in three F2 recombinant individuals with light-green skin color and one BC4F2 recombinant individual with dark-green skin color. Among these genes, Csa3G912920, which encodes a GATA transcription factor, was expressed at a higher level in the pericarp of the NIL-1334 line (with light-green fruit skin) than in that of the NIL-1325 line (with dark-green fruit skin). This study provides a novel allele for the improvement of fruit skin color in cucumber breeding.
Characterization of Tensile Properties and Fracture Toughness of Equal Channel Angular Pressed Al-Zn Alloy
Authors: S Mohan kumar , Govindaraju H K , Kiran M D
Published: June 2021

Influence of Equal channel angular pressing on mechanical properties and Fracture toughness of Al-Zn alloy were studied in present investigation. Samples are successfully processed using the ECAP technique for up to a four passes by using route A. Al-Zn alloys were heated to a solid solution treatment temperature at 550oC for 2 hours prior to ECAP, this treatment introduces the precipitates which were capable of obstructing motions of dislocation and improves the refinement of the grain during ECAP process Finally, artificial ageing was performed at a temperature of 190°C for 0-20 hours with an interval of 2 hr and specimens are cooledat room temperature with natural air.Fracture toughness was found experimentally for ECAP processed samples using SE (B) specimens according to ASTM E399 standard.Study revealed the enhancement in mechanical properties such as yield strength, ultimate strength and microhardness after four passes by route A technique.The improvement in the fracture toughness properties of artificially aged ECAP samples can also be due to dislocation strengthening, grain boundary strengthening, and the creation of much finer UFG grains, according to the results. Despite the increased tensile strength after ECAP, the ductility behaviour has decreased due to the precipitation of GP zones and dispersion of η, ή, T and E within the Aluminium matrix Furthermore, scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs revealed that ductile fracture with large dimples occurred in the artificial aged samples after the ECAP procedure.
Humoral and cellular immune response against SARS-CoV-2 variants following heterologous and homologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/BNT162b2 vaccination.
Authors: Behrens Georg , Barros-Martins Joana , Hammerschmidt Swantje , Cossmann Anne , Odak Ivan , Stankov Metodi , Ramos Gema Morillas , Dopfer-Jablonka Alexandra , Heidemann Annika , Ritter Christiane , Friedrichsen Michaela , Schultze-Florey Christian , Ravens Inga , Bubke Anja , Ristenpart Jasmin , Janssen Anika , Ssebyatika George , Bernhardt Günter , Münch Jan , Hoffmann Markus , Pöhlmann Stefan , Krey Thomas , Bosnjak Berislav , Forster Reinhold
Published: June 2021

Cerebral venous thrombosis was reported as a rare but serious adverse event in young and middle-aged vaccinees following immunization with AstraZeneca’s ChAdOx1-nCov-19 vaccine. As a consequence, several European governments recommended using this vaccine only in individuals older than 60 years leaving millions of ChAd primed individuals with the decision to either receive a second shot of ChAd or a heterologous boost with mRNA-based vaccines. However, such combinations have not been tested so far. We used Hannover Medical School’s COVID-19 Contact (CoCo) Study cohort of health care professionals (HCP) to monitor ChAd primed immune responses before and three weeks after booster with ChAd or BioNTech/Pfizer’s BNT162b2. Whilst both vaccines boosted prime-induced immunity, BNT induced significantly higher frequencies of Spike-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells and, in particular, high titers of neutralizing antibodies against the B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and the P.1 variants of concern of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Haematological Indices and Obstetric Outcomes Among Pregnant Women with Preeclampsia at Iringa Regional Tanzania (14)
Authors: luyeko Salum , Mwampagatwa Proffesor Ipyana Hudson
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Preeclampsia is a common problem in pregnancy after 20 weeks of gestation age. This is when the systolic blood pressure is 140 and above and diastolic blood pressure is above 90mmhg with proteinuria. Hematological system is affected and can result into low platelets, low hemoglobin level, high packed cells volume, and reduced Red blood cells, this can result in bad obstetric outcome. This study aimed to assess the hematological indices in Preeclampsia and their maternal outcomes.
Objectives

Assessment of Hematological indices and maternal outcomes among women with Preeclampsia.
Material and methods

The study was conducted at Iringa Regional referral hospital, it was cross sectionals study. The sample size was 100 participants. Data were collected by using a well structured questionnaire which has been tested, the information’s collected. Full blood count investigation done in a cimex 300 machine.
Results

During the study above 18years of age 44% had diastolic above 160mmhg, 44% had platelets below 150, 31% had high hematocrit and 59% had low hemoglobin levels. Among the respondents 78% had bad maternal outcomes. Those with gestation age below 37 weeks are statistically significant with bad maternal outcomes; the blood loss above 500mls was statistically significant with the bad maternal outcomes
Conclusion

The finding of this study show that the preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia can result into changes in hematological indices and this can result into adverse obstetric outcomes. The study will help to Improve better care of the women with preeclampsia and reduce hospital stay.
Normalized unitary synaptic signaling of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex
Authors: Moradi Keivan , Aldarraji Zainab , Luthra Megha , Madison Grey , Ascoli Giorgio A.
Published: June 2021

Limited experimental yield, heterogeneous recordings conditions, and ambiguous neuronal identification have so far prevented the systematic characterization of synaptic signals for all connections of any neural system. Introducing a novel strategy to overcome these challenges, we report the first comprehensive synaptic quantification among all known neuron types of the hippocampal-entorhinal network. First, we reconstructed > 2,600 synaptic traces from ~ 1,200 publications into a unified model of synaptic dynamics. We then trained a deep learning architecture with the resulting parameters, each annotated with detailed metadata. The model learned to predict the synaptic properties of all 3,120 circuit connections in arbitrary conditions with accuracy approaching the intrinsic experimental variability. Analysis of normalized data revealed that synaptic signals are controlled by few latent variables associated with specific molecular markers and interrelating conductance, kinetics, and short-term plasticity. We freely release the tools and full dataset of unitary synaptic values in 32 covariate settings via Hippocampome.org.
Radiation collector systems comparison in Contaminants of Emerging Concern degradation by solar heterogeneous photocatalysis
Authors: Granda-Ramirez Fidel , Barrera Melissa , Castrillon Sara , Rueda Lady , Pino-Arango Juan , Hincapie-Mejia Gina
Published: June 2021

Wastewater with Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) can be generated from different sources as industry, agriculture and urban and hospital wastes. Heterogeneous Photocatalysis (HP) with TiO2 is one of the Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) most suitable for water treatment with CEC. In this research, three CEC: Safranin T (SF), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and Sulfacetamide (SAM) degradation was evaluated by solar-HP in a quartz wall reactor. First, 365 nm wavelength radiation was used and the best operating conditions was determined under the high flow and aeration configuration, obtaining a removal rate of 48.05% for SF, 11.64% for 2,4-D and 6.98 for SAM. Then, under these conditions, SF, SAM and 2,4-D degradation with solar lighting was made on 4 radiation collector systems configurations, Flat Plate Collector (FPC), V Collector (VC), Parabolic Collector (PC) and Compound Parabolic Cylinder Collector (CPC) until reaching the same value of accumulated energy (122.77 kJ m− 2) finding that the PC had the best performance in the treatment for the three pollutants. Finally, the Collector Impact Ratio Factor (CIRF) for the pollutants was calculated, achieving until 12 times degradation for SAM.
Do exposure to heavy metals mediate the associations between socioeconomic indicators and self-rated health among the US adult Populations: A Weighted Quantile Sum Mediation Approach
Authors: Rana Juwel , Renzetti Stefano , Islam Rakibul , Donev Metodi , Hu Kai , Oulhote Youssef
Published: June 2021

This study aimed to examine the associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and self-rated health (SRH) among US general adult populations and the extent to which blood and urinary metal mixtures explain these associations. We used 14 years of repeated cross-sectional data that consists of seven consecutive NHANES cycles from 2003-04 to 2015-16 (N = 9497). SRH was measured using a 5-point Likert scale, and SES was measured by Family Income to Poverty Ratio (FMPIR), levels of education, and employment status. Blood concentration of lead, mercury, and cadmium, and urinary concentrations of ten heavy metals (arsenic, barium, cadmium, cesium, cobalt, lead, mercury, molybdenum, thallium, tungsten) were used as metal mixtures. The total effects of SES on SRH were examined by linear regression. The direct effects of SES on metal mixtures were examined by weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression with Repeated Holdout Validation method, and causal mediation effect of mixtures was examined by model-based causal mediation technique. Results showed that SES (education β: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.18; employment β: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.21; and FMPIR β: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.11) were positively, and the WQS indices of blood and urine metal mixtures (blood β: -0.04; 95% CI: -0.05, -0.03, urine β: -0.07; 95% CI: -0.13, -0.004) were significantly inversely associated with SRH in the US adult population. The novel finding was the mechanism between SES and SRH that exposure to heavy metals may explain socioeconomic inequalities in SRH in the US. Longitudinal studies are needed to corroborate this study results.
Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language in Iranian Universities at the Present Stage
Authors:   University of Bojnord, Khalida Siyami Eidlak
Published: June 2021

The article is devoted to a brief overview of the problems of teaching Russian as a foreign language at the present stage to students of higher educational institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran from the point of view of the use of modern teaching aids in the absence of a language environment. This problem is relevant for modern linguistics, especially in Iran. In connection with the developing relations in the field of politics, economics and culture, between the two friendly states Iran and Russia in teaching the Russian language in higher educational institutions of Iran, there has been a partial departure from the language in favor of a communicative approach to teaching. Teaching Russian as a foreign language in Iran, in the absence of a linguistic environment and an acute shortage of textbooks, sharply raises the question of the need to constantly improve the learning process through the use of informational electronic learning tools in accordance with modern educational standards. Changes are taking place in the teaching approach, which requires constant professional development of teachers. Learning any foreign language in the absence of a natural language environment requires the creation of an artificial language environment. The modern educational process requires the use of traditional forms of education in conjunction with the introduction of innovative information and communication technologies, as a means of improving communication skills. The use of these technologies has a positive effect and allows us to achieve significant results in the process of teaching Russian in higher educational institutions in Iran. Keywords: Russian as a foreign language, learning tool, visual training, textbook, technical training, communicative learning approach
Factor Dynamic Model of Pedagogical Monitoring
Authors:   Transbaikal State University, Natalia N. Popova
Published: June 2021

The article examines the topical problems of scientific validity and practice-oriented monitoring in education in the context of increasing requirements for individualization, diversification and differentiation of education. Based on the data of psychological and pedagogical diagnostics, a dynamic factor model of pedagogical monitoring has been developed. For this, the essential characteristics of pedagogical monitoring as a continuous, dynamic and multifactorial technology for supporting students have been determined. Representative representation of the monitoring results was carried out on a sample of students from a number of educational institutions of the Transbaikal Territory, numbering 250 people. The focus of the article is on the creativity of students as a manifestation of their non-standard and individuality, capable of ensuring their success in professional activities. The results of dynamic monitoring of students creativity indicators collected using a battery of tests of verbal and non-verbal creativity, as well as a number of personal techniques are presented. It has been empirically proven that the factorial dynamic model, built on measuring the level of development of the main indicators of creativity, ensures the comparability of results and the identification of latent factors (activity, personality creativity and values). These explain the presence or absence of dynamics in the studied indicators (creative attitude to the profession, originality, uniqueness and personality traits). The data obtained demonstrate the presence of statistically significant changes at the level of originality, the uniqueness of the developed fluency and flexibility in the process of the correlation conditioning of the dynamics of the integral characteristics of the personality (values: traditions, hedonism; self-esteem; emotionality, sociability, high normality of behavior and sensitivity). Keywords: pedagogical monitoring, creativity, dynamic model, factor analysis, students
Trust in the Educational Process of the University: from Values to Tools
Authors:   Far Eastern Law Institute, Natalia B. Moskvina , Boris E Fishman ,   Amur State University, Svetlana P Mashovets ,   Far Eastern Academy of Physical Culture
Published: June 2021

The relevance of the phenomenon of “trust” in the field of higher education is due to the growing crisis of trust in all spheres of life of Russian society. This is a factor that enhances the attention of researchers to this topic. Trust in higher education is studied at three levels: 1) institutional; 2) interpersonal depersonalized; 3) interpersonal personified. Restoration and strengthening of trust is ensured primarily at the interpersonal personified level: 1) institutional level; 2) interpersonal depersonalized level; 3) interpersonal personified level. The authors note that development of trust can be ensured primarily at the interpersonal personified level, as the process of interaction of a particular teacher with a particular student or student group. The authors present their own values, which are connected with the phenomenon of trust at this level. The tools that allow transforming the educational process at the university into a space of activity, which is characterized by interpersonal personalized trust between the teacher and the students are described. These tools are: 1) a dialogue between a teacher and a student and an agreement that creates during the dialogue; this agreement defines the rights and obligations of the both of them; 2) a questionnaire or essay, showing, on the one hand, the students’ motives, attitudes, expectations associated with the upcoming learning process, and, on the other, the teacher’s interest of these characteristics of the students’ inner world; 3) a self-assessment system which helps student to assess their own educational results using specific criteria; 4) the final reflection of the teacher and students about their interaction, as well as about compliance with the contract. The article presents the experience of using these tools. The analysis of practice shows their significant influence on the building and strengthening of trust between the teacher and students. Keywords: trust, lack of trust, tools for building and strengthening of trust, dialogue, selfassessment, reflection
Application of Augmented Reality Technology as a Condition for the Formation of Students’ Skills as Future Specialists
Authors:   Transbaikal State University, Svetlana I. Desnenko , Alena D. Fedotova ,   Transbaikal State University
Published: June 2021

In the article, based on the analysis of studies devoted to the application of augmented reality technologies in teaching university students, the authors highlight the advantages and disadvantages of using this technology in education. It is substantiated that the effective use of digital technologies, including augmented reality technologies, is possible if the specialist has digital literacy, which includes digital skills. The authors of the study substantiate the importance of the problem of using augmented reality technology as a condition for the formation of students’ digital skills as future specialists. The article examines and analyzes three groups of digital skills that make up digital literacy: main functional (basic) digital skills, general digital skills, specialized professional digital skills. An analysis of the curricula implemented at the Transbaikal State University in several areas of training is carried out to identify the possibilities of using augmented reality technology in teaching students as future specialists. Examples of the use of various types of educational applications of augmented reality in the educational process of higher education are given; the difficulties arising in this are analyzed. In conclusion, it is concluded that the problem stated in the article can be solved by implementing special training of future specialists for the formation of specialized professional digital skills. The authors of the article outline the ways of organizing such training and provide recommendations for its implementation. Keywords: digital technologies, augmented reality technology, digital skills, university student
Family Values of Students of Pedagogical Specialties of Graduation Courses
Authors:   Bryansk State University named after academician I. G. Petrovsky, Yulia V. Ereschenko
Published: June 2021

An early work by Leon Batista Alberti, Books on the Family, is relevant to the concept of upbringing, the purpose of which is to open up to the child the opportunities that the civil society provides him with. Family values correlate each Personal Action with the actions of the “Other”. The family “We” is transformed into a public “We”. The vice and virtue of an individual, embodied in his concrete actions, create the life of the people. Family values form the needs of the individual, which have a cause and a way of satisfaction only in the material and spiritual community of families. Leon Batista Alberti’s pedagogical work, expanding the space of personal life, finds associations and a response in the works of domestic humanists and teachers. The survey involved 157 people. As a result of statistical processing of the survey data, a hierarchy of students’ family values was obtained. The data obtained make it possible to demonstrate the structural features of the system of humanistic values of future teachers. Some gender differences have been identified. The general tendencies in the hierarchy of family values of students who have undergone active practice in educational institutions are considered. Keywords: hierarchy of family values, pedagogical system, family education, family values, goal of education
The Problems of Meta-Subject Outcomes Assessment in General Education
Authors:   Aginsk okrug boarding school, Oyuna M. Damdinzhapova
Published: June 2021

The article is devoted to the problem of meta-subject outcomes evaluation in general education. The need to consider this issue is justified by the contradictions between the existing approaches to evaluating new results and the lack of approved, accepted diagnostic tools. In addition, there are clear gaps between the activity-based learning framework of the Federal State Educational Standard and the traditional (knowledge-information) system for evaluating educational results. In the course of comparative and problem analysis, a number of benchmarks is identified. This allows to distinguish between approaches, concepts and their bases. Thus, the reference points are the educational system itself and the methods of teaching in which the school and the teacher work (developmental training, Pedagogy of mental and action approach, competence-based approach, etc.). For example, the basis for evaluating the meta-subject results of education in the activity-based approach are the stages of forming mental actions from simple to complex. The criteria basis for evaluating the meta-subject results of education are the concepts of “thinking”, “activity” and “result”, as the indicators of personal development level. The assessment of meta-subject skills in the competence-based approach is focused on “outcome results”. The description of theoretical approaches to the assessment of meta-subject results of education gives grounds for proper selection and application of the necessary assessment tools, thereby contributing to the improvement of general education quality. Keywords: evaluation, diagnostics, activity approach, meta-subject outcomes, educational outcomes
Pedagogical Features of the Safety Culture Formation in the Process of Training Bachelors of Technosphere Safety
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko Lugansk National University, Vladislav V. Karpov
Published: June 2021

The solution of the strategic tasks of the Russian Federation development requires a significant improvement of the higher professional education system and training of competent specialists who are able to perform the professional and social functions necessary for society. In the article, the author analyzes the features of the safety culture formation in the process of training bachelors of technosphere safety, whose professional activity is aimed at ensuring human safety in the modern world. The main condition for the training of competent bachelors at the university is the formation of general cultural and professional competencies in life safety. The conducted theoretical and methodological analysis and generalization of the engineering education experience in the direction of training “Technosphere safety” has revealed the problems of the professionally significant qualities formation and safe thinking in technosphere safety bachelors. The content of the concepts: “general cultural competence of a bachelor of technosphere safety” and “culture of technosphere safety” and a group of general cultural competencies that should be formed in graduates of this direction are clarified, a connection between the level of the formed culture of life safety in the technosphere and the level of acceptable risk accepted in society have been established. Peculiarities of safety culture formation and competence value-semantic orientation, which a bachelor of technosphere safety has, are observed by using the developed training course “Cultural foundations of technosphere safety”. Keywords: life safety culture, technosphere safety, general cultural competencies, bachelor’s degree, safe thinking, technosphere, acceptable risk
Structure-Functional Model of Future Economists’ Professional Values Formation in the Educational Environment of the University
Authors:   Vladimir Dahl Lugansk State University, Igor P. Manchenko
Published: June 2021

The article substantiates the need to develop a structural and functional model for the formation of professional values in the educational environment of the university. Such a need is due to the lack of requirements in educational and professional standards for the formation of professional values among future economists and the presence of such requirements for a specialist in documents that determine the development of higher education and state youth policy. The author presents the structure of the model for the future economists’ professional values formation in the educational environment of the university, as the interaction of conceptual-targeted, content-activity and criterion-effective blocks. Methodologically, the model is based on the leading provisions of axiological, personality-oriented, competent and environmental approaches and a set of principles, which ensures the creation of an axiologically saturated educational environment in the university and the gradual formation of professional values in future economists in the process of their educational and extracurricular activities. The model is implemented through the axiologization of the content of the training of economists, the development and selection of tasks on a value-meaning basis, the use of didactic tools that activate the activities of students and ensure effective interaction between participants in the educational process. The author describes a criterion-diagnostic complex, which allows to identify the level of a personality’s professional values formation in students according to each of the criteria and establish the degree of effectiveness of all pedagogical influences. Keywords: structural-functional model, professional values of an economist, economist’s professional values formation, educational environment of the university
The Influence of Educational Policy on the Development of Domestic School Chemistry Education in the 30s of the Twentieth Century
Authors:   Lugansk State Pedagogical University, Elena G. Polupanenko
Published: June 2021

The article presents an analysis of the current domestic practice of school chemistry education in the 30s of the twentieth century and the changes that have occurred in the new educational environment under the influence of government decrees. A description of the main morning processes in the education system as a whole, which influenced the development and improvement of school chemistry in the Soviet period, is presented. The article examines the main legislative acts of the Soviet government in the field of education in the 30s of the twentieth century, which caused the renewal of the content and methods of chemical education in the new unitary school in accordance with the objectives of polytechnic education. A parallel is drawn with the state of modern school chemistry. Based on a comparative analysis of educational policy in relation to school chemistry education in the 30s of the twentieth century and in modern Russia, it is concluded that it is necessary at the legislative level to determine the main vector of development of school chemistry towards polytechnics and further direct state regulation of improving school chemistry in this direction. The article focuses on the need to carefully study the historical heritage of pedagogical theory and educational practice of school chemistry education in the 30s of the twentieth century, and its adaptation to the realities of the modern school. Keywords: Soviet education in the 30s, teaching chemistry, chemistry in the Soviet school, reform of the Soviet school